Producers Fabian Driehorst and Frédéric Schuld, at the helm of Fabian&Fred, are consolidating an eclectic portfolio that ranges from auteur cinema to family films. Their next big challenge is Karmic Knot, the new feature film by Latvian star Signe Baumane, which is already generating buzz with a voice cast that includes Patrick Wilson, Matthew Modine, and Gracie Lawrence. The team is finalizing European financing ahead of Cannes and Annecy.
Analog technique and 2D narrative for a karmic knot 🎬
Baumane maintains her signature hand-drawn animation style, combining analog techniques with a rigorous digital storyboard. The production of Karmic Knot is advancing with a pipeline that prioritizes the expressiveness of the stroke over the polish of CGI. Driehorst details that sound post-production and musical composition will be carried out in studios in Riga and Berlin, while the animation team works in batches from Latvia. The budget, still to be finalized, is seeking distribution partners at key festivals.
How to survive a karmic knot without breaking a sweat 😅
Baumane, who already taught us in Rocks in My Pocket that fate can be a jerk, is now tying up loose ends with a Hollywood cast. Having Patrick Wilson lend his voice to an existentialist character sounds like group therapy with an Oscar. Meanwhile, the producers negotiate at festivals with a smile that only near-finalized financing can bring. If karma fails, there's always the merchandise.