Dreamworks Unveils New Film “Island of Memories” at Surprise Annecy Screening!

At the Annecy Animation Film Festival, directors Joel Crawfort and Januel Mercado discussed their brand new feature film set to hit theaters this fall: The Island of Memories.

Set against the backdrop of the Philippine landscapes, the story follows two childhood best friends, Raissa and Jo. However, as one is accepted into an American university, the prospect of distance threatens their relationship. Their lives take a further turn when they find themselves on Nakali, a mysterious island where strange creatures and magic may take hold of their memories.

A heartfelt tribute to Januel’s Filipino roots and Joel’s wife’s heritage, this family fantasy film boasts a mythology and settings not often portrayed in cinema. “To stay as true to reality as possible, we experienced the beauty of the country and its people firsthand by visiting the Philippines,” Joel Crowford shared.

Their love for the locale and culture is evident in every detail of the scenes and settings produced by the film’s technical team, predominantly made up of professionals who worked on The Wild Robot. They also enlisted the help of another studio that specializes in 2D animation, perfect for handling the film’s anime-style flashbacks.

Regarding the story, Januel and Joel admit to incorporating their personal views on family and friendship. “That’s what we share, too,” Januel said. “And the character of Jo is clearly a representation of Januel’s sister,” Joel added. “In general, the women in our lives inspire our characters.”

Drawing from their own lives and experiences, the directors have set the film in the 1990s. “There’s something tangible about that decade,” Joel revealed. “Especially in terms of creating memories. There were no phones or social media, and when you left a friend, you didn’t know when you would reconnect. Today, we take instant photos without really knowing if we’ll ever look at them again.”

To tackle all these themes, the duo has assembled an impressive voice cast including singer H.E.R and actress Liza Soberano as the protagonists, supported by James Franco, Manny Jacinto, and Kevin McCann.

All these announcements thrilled the audience at the presentation held Tuesday morning at Bonlieu. At the end, Joel Crowford and Januel Mercado announced the screening of the entire film (although unfinished) the following morning at a special session. The slot was quickly filled by the few informed during the conference and sold out almost instantly.

The Island of Memories, by the producers of Puss in Boots 2, will be released in French theaters on October 21, 2026.

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