A Belgian animated feature about a teenage circus acrobat who becomes trapped in her own body is heading to the Toronto International Film Festival market. Studio 100 Film has picked up worldwide sales rights to “Juul,” a 90-minute CGI drama made for young adult and adult audiences. The Munich-based sales agency is presenting the project to international buyers at TIFF Market, which runs alongside the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for delivery in Q4 2026.
The news marks a notable shift for Studio 100 Film, an agency known for family-friendly titles like “Maya the Bee” and “100% Wolf.” “Juul” is a darker, more mature story that tackles loss and identity through magical realism.
What Is Juul About
Set in the 1950s, “Juul” follows 17-year-old circus acrobat Juul. A tragic accident during a performance leaves her in a coma, and doctors declare her brain-dead. With the family circus facing financial ruin, her magician father makes a desperate choice: he steals her body from the hospital and presents her as a “living puppet” to save the failing show.
The twist is that Juul is still conscious. She is fully aware of everything happening around her but cannot control her own body. As her anger and resistance grow, her body begins to transform into porcelain. This physical change becomes a symbol of her silent rebellion and her fight to hold on to her identity.
The film explores themes of letting go, the bond between a father and daughter, and the right to independence and survival.
Who Is Behind the Film
Tom Van Gestel, CEO of Belgian studio Fabrique Fantastique, directs and produces “Juul.” The screenplay is written by An De Gruyter. Van Gestel has described the project as deeply personal.
“Juul is an incredibly precious project to me, both as its producer and director. For the past eight years, the development has been treated like a precious diamond carefully cut, shaped and polished into a multifaceted jewel, with every aspect crafted to shine,” Van Gestel said.
He added that the film “dares to go where most animated films don’t.”
“It tackles a dark, raw and difficult subject, but does so by keeping every character deeply human. At its heart, Juul is the story of a young girl who is constantly being pulled down by the world around her. Yet, no matter how hard she is pushed, she finds a way to fight back.”
Liesbet van Loon serves as art director. Her approach uses hand-drawn ink, paint, and pencils to create a stop-motion-like look within a 3D-animated framework. Van Gestel explained that 3D animation was chosen because of the physicality it brings to the story.
“This technique was a clear choice for us, because of the physicality it brings to our story. Juul is all about flesh, and how does one turn from flesh to porcelain, visually speaking,” he said.
The film’s score comes from five-time Grammy Award winners Michael League and Bob Lanzetti of the jazz collective Snarky Puppy. Van Gestel said the music mirrors the film’s spiraling descent into dark places.
“Like a carousel, they draw you in as well, into these dark places,” he said. “And as we kept exploring, it all came together. Form met substance, and our story informed our technique as well.”
Voice Cast and Production Partners
The English-language voice cast features Sir Lenny Henry. The film is produced by Fabrique Fantastique (Belgium) in co-production with M.A.R.K.13 (Germany), Keplerfilm (The Netherlands), Mr Miyagi (Spain), and Avalon Films (Ireland).
Studio 100 Film’s senior manager of sales and acquisitions, Lorena Booth, said the project stood out immediately.
“Juul represents the kind of ambitious animated storytelling we are increasingly looking to bring to international audiences. Its remarkable visual identity, emotional depth and universal themes demonstrate the creative breadth of animation today. We are excited to present the project to buyers at TIFF and to continue expanding our slate with distinctive, filmmaker-driven productions.”
Studio 100 Film Expands Its Slate
Taking on “Juul” signals a new direction for Studio 100 Film. The company has built its reputation on family entertainment, but “Juul” is aimed squarely at older viewers. Booth noted that the film reflects a growing demand for sophisticated animated stories that go beyond the traditional family market.
Van Gestel recalled that it took almost a year for Studio 100 Film to respond after he first pitched the project.
“They called me and basically said ‘look, it’s now been a year, and we’re still thinking about this movie. We can’t get it out of our head. So even though it goes beyond our catalog, we just feel that we need to do it,’” Van Gestel said.
The sales agency then helped Fabrique Fantastique find a German co-producer and complete the film’s financing.
Related:
Release and Availability
“Juul” is scheduled for delivery in Q4 2026. Studio 100 Film is handling worldwide sales, excluding Belgium, Germany, Spain, and The Netherlands. An international premiere is expected in early 2027, according to industry reports. No specific streaming platform or theatrical release date has been announced for the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, or other global markets yet.
The film runs 90 minutes and is produced in 4K.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on the world of animation and global entertainment.
Leave a Reply