Israeli director Ari Folman will direct a feature film based on the novel Death and the Penguin by Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov. The project is reported by Chytomo, citing the industry outlet Variety.
The film is being developed as a co-production between the German company bildundtonfabrik (btf) and Anonymous Content. It is said that Folman will use his signature cinematic language, incorporating elements of animation.
Folman is best known for the animated documentary Waltz with Bashir (2008), which was nominated for an Academy Award. His work often blends animation with documentary storytelling and explores themes of memory, war, and traumatic experience, making him one of the most influential voices in contemporary auteur animation.
The author also noted that actress Maria Bakalova will play Nina, the main female character in the adaptation of Death and the Penguin.