Breakthrough Entertainment
Ride, produced by Toronto’s Breakthrough Entertainment, has landed a publishing deal with Massachusetts-based book company Candlewick Entertainment. The three-book deal begins with Ride: Kit Meets Covington and is scheduled for release in the U.S. in September. Two additional books will be released in 2018. Canada/Engand copro Ride debuted on Corus Entertainment’s YTV in September 2016 and earlier this week made its U.S. premiere on Nickelodeon. 

AMBI
Open Road Films has picked up all U.S. distribution rights to AMBI’s Arctic Justice: Thunder Squad. Produced out of AMBI’s Toronto studio, AIC Studios, the CGI animated feature tells the story of a group of unlikely heroes who must band together to prevent the film’s villain from executing his plan to accelerate global warming. AMBI co-principal Andrea Iervolino negotiated the deal with Open Road CEO Tom Ortenberg, COO and General Counsel Elliott Kleinberg and SVP Acquisitions Lejo Pet. Directed by Aaron Woodley, the film is voiced by John Cleese, Jeremy Renner, Alec Baldwin, Heidi Klum, John Cleese, James Franco, Anjelica Huston and Omar Sy.

Guru Studio
Toronto, Canada-based Guru Studio has chosen California-based Brand Central to serve as the exclusive licensing agent for its new CGI series True and the Rainbow Kingdom, which will premiere on Netflix and on Canada’s TVO this summer. Brand Central will produce a full-scale licensing program based on the preschool series. True and the Rainbow Kingdom follows eight-year-old True and her cat Bartleby as they help the people of Rainbow Kingdom by activating the powers of the wishing tree. It is produced in collaboration with Pharrell Williams’ artist collective, I am OTHER (Hidden Figures), FriendsWithYou and Home Plate Entertainment.

Seville International
Seville International has acquired the international rights to Hochelaga, Land Of Souls, a historical drama directed by François Girard (Boychoir) and produced through Roger Frappier’s MAX Films banner, which also produced Two Lovers and a Bear. Currently in production, the film stars Vincent Perez, French Canadian rapper Samian, Naiade Aoun, Raoul Trujillo, Emmanuel Schwartz, David La Haye, Karelle Tremblay, Caroline Dhavernas, Linus Roache and Sian Phillips. Seville will launch international sales of the feature film at the European Film Market later this month.

With files from Alexandra Whyte, Kidscreen