SANTA’S APPRENTICE
IN CINEMAS: 10 NOVEMBER 2011
ON DVD: 7 NOVEMBER 2012
Santa’s Apprentice is a heart-warming, animated adventure for the whole family. We follow Nicholas, a 7 year old Australian boy on his adventure as he struggles with the ups and downs of being the next Santa Claus.
It’s a big responsibility that would scare the bravest boy. Nicholas wants to be the best Santa ever and will learn a few lessons along the way. But Christmas has a way of making even the biggest mishaps alright and thanks to his loving mentors, Santa and Waldorf, Nicholas learns, as we all do, the true meaning of Christmas!
Santa’s Apprentice takes you to a place where wishes really do come true and prove that sometimes happy endings are only the beginning.
7 Nov 12: DVD in shops now and available online through JB Hi-Fi (Web link).
14 Nov 11: Matt’s Movie Reviews and Shane talk Santa’s workshop (Web link)
10 Nov 11: Shane talks to Jesse Kuch about all things Santa (Web link)
9 Nov 11: Shane co-hosts the Conversation Hour with Jon Faine (MP3 audio)
8 Nov 11: Shane speaks to Simon Miraudo about voicing Santa (Web link)
7 Nov 11: Shane talks to Kyle and Jackie O about Santa’s Apprentice (MP3 audio)
7 Nov 11: Shane chats with Kerri-Anne about Santa’s Apprentice and more (Video)
Read an interview with Shane from the October 2011 issue of Film Ink.
Santa’s Apprentice set for cinema release, wins award
By Brendan Swift for Inside Film
French-Australian co-production Santa’s Apprentice is set to open in Australian cinemas in the second half of 2011.
The feature animation has an all-star local voice-cast including Shane Jacobson, Magda Szubanski, Delta Goodrem and Hugh Sheridan and recently won the UNICEF award at the Annecy International Animation Festival in France. The award recognises the best animation which highlights the goals of the convention on the rights of the child.
Santa’s Apprentice follows the story of seven-year old Nicolas as he struggles with the ups and downs of being the next Santa Claus.
The co-production was led by Gaumont-Alphanim and Avrill Stark Entertainment and also marks a return to the big screen for Australia’s Flying Bark Productions, which is also producing a 3D feature animation of its iconic Blinky Bill series.
Creative producer Avrill Stark said the film is a delight for children of all ages.
“We had a fantastically talented Australian team working on the key animation of the film headed up by Ian Harrowell and a wonderful composer in Nerida Tyson-Chew whose music, with a 50 piece orchestra, brought the emotion of the story to life. It is a true honour for all involved for Santa’s Apprentice to win the UNICEF Award at this year’s Annecy festival.”
Santa’s Apprentice was released last year in France, where it sold over 100,000 tickets in the first week and 650,000 over the life of the release. The film made over €3.2 million at the box office and has also been sold to other countries including Austria, Canada, Greece, India, Russia and the USA.
The film will be distributed in Australia by Becker Entertainment.
Check out the latest issue of IF Magazine (June-July #141) for a special on the local animation industry, featuring Flying Bark Productions.
