Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman, whose 2008 “Waltz With Bashir” nabbed a foreign-language Oscar nom, is set to write and direct “Horse Boy,” an English-language feature based on Rupert Isaacson’s New York Times bestseller that will topline current Cannes jury member Léa Seydoux and Joel Kinnaman. Film i Väst is co-producing and the film will partially be shot in Film i Väst’s Region Västra Götaland, Sweden.

Full House, label of Maneki Films and Borsalino Productions (FR) and Belgium company, Beluga Tree, are happy to announce Ari Folman (Waltz with Bashir, The Congress)’s new film Horse Boy adapted from Rupert Isaacson’s NYT best-seller « The Horse Boy », in coproduction with Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma, Zentropa Sweden, Pie Films (Israel), Proximus (Belgium) and Monte Rosso Production; in association with Film i Väst and the Swedish Film Institute; with the participation of Canal + and Cine +; with the support of Creative Europe Program – MEDIA, Caviar Film Financing and the Tax Shelter of the Federal Belgium Government, screen.brussels and the Federation Wallonia Brussels.

This English-language film will be shot in Sweden, in the UK and in Mongolia starting from October 2018. Gaumont Distribution will distribute in France. International sales are helmed by Gaumont. Gaumont and Endeavor Content will co represent US rights.

Synopsis: Emily and Jonathan’s son Noah, is an autistic child. He rarely talks and isn’t improving despite his parents’ efforts to connect with him. Yet, there is a silver lining: Jonathan notices that Noah is more peaceful and seems more able to communicate while riding horses. It sparks a crazy idea: he will take his family for a ride through the Mongolian plains to meet shamans. The journey will be transformative.

Horse Boy is the powerful story of two parents’ love for their child as they decide to take the biggest risk imaginable. A life-changing experience not only to rescue their son, but also to rescue their family.

Casting: Léa Seydoux, Joel Kinnaman Director & Script: Ari Folman Producers:

Diana Elbaum For Beluga Tree (Belgium); Didar Domehri, Laurent Baudens, Gael Nouaille For Full House, label of Maneki Films and Borsalino Productions (France). In co-production with Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma, Zentropa Sweden (Lizette Jonjic), Pie Films (Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Talia Kleinhendler), Proximus, Monte Rosso Production. In association with Film I Väst, Swedish Film Institute. With the participation of Canal + and Cine +. With the support of Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA, Caviar Film Financing and Tax Shelter of the Federal Belgium Government, screen.brussels, The Federation Wallonia Brussels. Distribution: Gaumont Distribution (France) International Sales: Gaumont