‘Our summer of freedom’ is nominee for the Annecy Festival

The first episode entitled “The Slap” will premiere exclusively during the festival, offering attendees a special sneak peek of adventures of Khadidja, Lyes, Philippe, and Ahmed.

This 2D animated series is produced by French producer Darjeeling, coproduced by Panique! and Lunanime (Belgium), directed by Antoine Colomb and commissioned by France Télévisions (France), RTBF and VRT (Belgium). It is summertime, in Algier, back in 1955 when nine years-old little girl Khadidja meets Lyes, Philippe, and Ahmed. Together, they will do everything in their power to rescue Malek, Khadidja’s older brother who has been unfairly arrested, and embark on an investigation!  We follow the squad of children from their secret playhouse on the roofs of the Casbah to the market, in a summer full of action. These four friends, coming from different communities, seemingly with nothing in common, will be forever bound by this adventure.

Co-created and co-written by Alice Zéniter, author of the multi-awarded novel ‘The Art of Losing‘, the serialized adventure series, delves into universal themes. Noam Roubah, Producer at Darjeeling comments:

It explores how children can transcend community differences, advocating for justice and understanding across communities. OUR SUMMER OF FREEDOM nurtures a dialogue across generations, ensuring that history is not only just learned from books but shared within families and schools, shaping our collective future.

An additional documentary series (5×6′ – mix of live and 2D animation) is currently in production to accompany the series. These clips will capture the diverse cultural and community backgrounds of Algeria, fostering an intergenerational dialogue between the children of the past and the children of today.

Mélanie Errea, Head of Sales and Acquisitions at MIAM! distribution says:

We are thrilled to add OUR SUMMER OF FREEDOM to our lineup, as it perfectly aligns with MIAM’s commitment to distribute programs that make a significant impact. With its high artistic ambitions, strong stories, and exploration of universal themes, we are proud to bring this series to the international market.

MIAM! distribution is overseeing the international sales of the series, with the French version set to be delivered by the end of summer and the English version expected in Q4 2024. In addition to France Télévisions, RTBF and VRT, RTS (Switzerland), DR (Denmark), and TV5 Monde (French territories worldwide) are on board to share Khadidja’s adventures with audiences all around the world.

OUR SUMMER OF FREEDOM (6 x 26’) is a 2D animated series created and written by Alice Zeniter (The Art of Losing, Take This Man) and Alice Carré and directed by Antoine Colomb (Lupin’s Tales) for a family audience (6-10).