The 3D-animated Canada-Germany copro Butterfly Tale has spread its wings at the box office, grossing more than $750,000 in Canada since its premiere on Oct. 13.

Directed by Sophie Roy and written by Heidi Foss and Lienne Sawatsky, the film follows two misfit butterflies (voiced by Mena Massoud and Tatiana Maslany) as they face many obstacles over the course of the monarch butterfly migration. It is the first 3D-animated feature produced in Cineplex’s ScreenX format from the pre-production stage, according to a news release.

Butterfly Tale is produced by Montreal’s CarpeDiem Film & TV and Hamburg-based Ulysses Filmproduktion. Vortex Media and Maison 4:3 handle distribution in Canada, with Pink Parrot Media handling international sales.

Financing for the film was provided by Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, Bell Media, Vortex Media, Maison 4:3, SODEC, Le Fonds Harold Greenberg, Quebecor, Radio-Canada, Deutscher Filmförderfonds, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schlewsig-Holstein, FFE, Film-und Mdeienstiftung NRW, Studio Rakete, Senator Film Köln, Wild Bunch, and Pink Parrot Media.

It will be released on VOD in Canada on Dec. 1.

Canadian comedy among selections for Content London pitch program

Toronto-based prodco Window Dreams Production is heading to the U.K. as part of Content London’s Drama Series Pitch program. The prodco’s comedy Layla Is Relevant, from writer-producers Rabiya Mansoor and Shreya Patel, is one of 12 projects selected to pitch.

Layla Is Relevant follows a 20-something Indian woman and former child star who attempts to revive her failed career with a self-released reality series. Window Dreams Productions is seeking coproduction partners for the project, as well as potential commissioners and presales from Canada, the U.K., India and other territories.

The pitch program takes place on Nov. 28, with the winning pitch receiving a marketing package worth £30,000.

Actor Ayisha Issa becomes ambassador for Batshaw Foundation

Transplant actor Ayisha Issa has been named as an ambassador of the Batshaw Youth and Family Centres Foundation (Batshaw Foundation). The charitable organization helps vulnerable children, youth and families with financial support, as well as services and programs to enable access to education and employability, among others.

As ambassador, Issa will help increase awareness of the Batshaw Foundation’s work to reduce the stigma of being a youth in care, having utilized its services in her own youth. She will also join the Batshaw’s Youth Advisory Council as an advocate for clients.

Issa is a lead on CTV original series Transplant, produced by Sphere Media. The series’ fourth and final season debuted in October.

Canadian shorts set for Arab Cinema showcase

Three Canadian projects will be showcased as part of the NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) monthly festival programming. December’s InFocus: Middle Eastern & Arab Cinema program, held in partnership with the Arab Film and Media Institute, features short films from emerging Middle Eastern and Arab filmmakers, all screening on Dec. 9.

The Infocus: Arab Cinema program include two scripted projects out of Canada: Toronto-based Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller’s 15-minute short Eitr, which first premiered at Outfest LA in July; and Montreal-based Aziz Zoromba’s 23-minute short Simo, which made its international debut at Sundance earlier this year.

NFMLA’s December Shorts program also includes a Canadian project, Meredith Vuchnich’s three-minute short Untangling.

Image courtesy of Maison 4:3