The Colombian-Spanish animated musical "Mu-ki-ra", from Colombian creative Estefanía Piñeres Duque and Spain's Ábano Producions, will be brought to the international market by Latido Films at the Locarno Festival. Now completed, the film will screen in August at Locarno Kids, an increasingly important sidebar of the festival that is driving a growing share of its business dealings. The project matters as a showcase for young Colombian talent and for Ábano, the outfit behind Annecy winner "Decorado".

The film follows Cleo, 13, who ventures into the jungle to rescue her kidnapped younger brother Martín, helped by an elderly witch and a mischievous anteater, only to learn that the monsters plaguing their world are not as monstrous as they seem. Framed as a political allegory about diversity, empathy and turning fear into friendship, it was selected for the Annecy Animation Showcase at Cannes' 2024 Marché du Film. Ábano is headed by five-time Goya winner Chelo Loureiro and partners with Colombian producer Letrario, led by Alejandro Zapata, while Piñeres Duque is also known as the star of Netflix thriller "Delirio". The film blends picturesque 2D visuals with vibrant Caribbean tropical tones, and Latido chief Antonio Saura praised it as a delightful, beautifully crafted all-family title.