Santapprentice is a 2D feature, co-produced in association with The Cartoon Saloon, about a reluctant-to-retire Santa searching for a replacement.

A five-minute promo reel for Santapprentice, Gaumont/Alphanim’s English-language animated coproduction with Avrill Stark Entertainment, has enticed several buyers to close deals with the French studio.

The film has been sold to Germany (Universum), Australia (BFG), India and Singapore (WEG), Greece (Odeon), Portugal (Lusomundo), Poland (Vision), Hungary (Cinetel), Turkey (Yenibir) and Switzerland (Monopole Pathe). Deals in further European and Asian territories are about to be finalized.

The 2D feature, co-produced in association with The Cartoon Saloon, sees a reluctant-to-retire Santa searching for a replacement. The chosen one will be selected from among millions of children, must be named Nicholas, must be an orphan and must have a pure heart. The perfect candidate, though, is a little boy whose lack of self-confidence - and fear of heights - make him a poor contestant.

Santapprentice will be ready for the Christmas season. Gaumont is releasing in France on November 24.Gaumont has also closed a series of deals on Joel Schumacher’s Twelve. Gaumont financed and produced the film in association with Radar Pictures and Original Media.

The chronicle of privileged New York teenagers has gone to Metrodome (UK), Transmission (Australia), Telexel  and Europa (Latin America), EEAP (Eastern Europe), Shapira (Israel), Four Star (Middle East), Horizon (Turkey), Weg (Singapore), PT Amero (Indonesia), IPA (Thailand), Videovision  (South Africa), AB Svensk (Scandinavia), Monopole Pathe (Switzerland), Dutchfilmworks   (Benelux) and Keowon (Korea).