RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Brussels-based company Best Friend Forever has acquired international rights to Priscilla Kellen’s animated feature “Papaya” following its world premiere at the Rio Film Festival earlier this week. Animation specialist label Gebeka Films acquired French distribution rights to the title, which will be released in the country next year.
“Papaya” is Kellen’s feature debut following years of experience in the industry, including directing the TV-Series “Vivi Viravento” for Discovery Kids and working as the assistant director in Alê Abreu’s Oscar-nominated “The Boy and the World.” Abreu serves as the artistic supervisor in “Papaya,” a dialogue-free animation about a tiny papaya seed wandering through the Amazon forest. Passionate about flying, it must keep moving to avoid rooting. Through perseverance, the seed discovers the power of her roots, triggering a revolution that transforms her world and fulfills her dreams in an unexpected way.
Speaking about the film, Kellen said the story was “born from a deep connection with nature and the idea of transformation.” “I wanted to tell a story about movement, growth, and the courage to take root. Having Best Friend Forever and Gebeka embracing the film gives me confidence that Papaya will reach hearts around the world.”
Martin Gondre and Charles Bin from Best Friend Forever have called the animation “a beautiful ecological and universal tale about the cycle of life.” “Without dialogue, it creates its own very poetical musical language, with an explosion of colors. We love how it introduces young kids to the length of a feature film.”
Letícia Friedrich, the film’s producer under her Boulevard Filmes banner, said she is “thrilled” to partner with Best Friend Forever and Gebeka Films. “This collaboration reinforces our belief in the universal strength of Brazilian animation and in stories that connect across cultures and ages. It’s a joy to see this delicate and powerful film finding its wings internationally.”
Best Friend Forever’s 2025 fall line-up is headlined by Valentyn Vasyanovych’s TIFF Platform Winner “To The Victory!” and TIFF sci-fi title “Egghead Republic” by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja. The company was launched in Cannes in 2019 and is a sister company of Paris based Indie Sales. The management is handled by Indie Sales former Head of Marketing & Festivals Martin Gondre & former entertainment lawyer Charles Bin, alongside Indie Sales’ co-founder Nicolas Eschbach.
“Papaya” is produced by Letícia Friedrich of Boulevard Filmes, in co-production with Birdo Studio, Alê Abreu, and Priscilla Kellen. “Papaya” is a production from Boulevard Filmes. The film will be released in Brazil by Cajuína Audiovisual.
