FEATURE FILM
in post-production
© deFilm 2026
Synopsis
In the scintillating, pop-infused world of a Japanese boarding school that trains teenage girls to become professional mermaids, 17-year-old Akame learns to hold her breath, perform for adoring crowds, and swim alongside sharks. Under her silicone mermaid tail, Akame will find her siren voice, discover first love and experience a metamorphosis, turning performance into transformation.
Project details
- Production countries: GREECE | GERMANY | ROMANIA | FRANCE | SPAIN | JAPAN
- Produced by HOMEMADE FILMS in co-production with WUNDERLUST FILM| deFilm | MANNY FILMS | FRIDA FILMS | HAPPINET PHANTOM STUDIOS | MAM FILM | BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK | ERT S.A | VODAFONE TV | ONASSIS CULTURE |
- With the support of: EURIMAGES | ROMANIAN FILM CENTER | FFA | FILM- UND MEDIENSTIFTUNG NRW | CNC | ÎLE-DE-FRANCE | THE CNC AND THE GFC – FRENCH-GREEK CO-PRODUCTION FUND | ROMANIAN GOVERNMENT – OFIC THE OFFICE FOR FILM AND CULTURAL INVESTMENTS | MEDIA INVESTMENT COMMUNICATION | INSTITUT CATALÀ DE LES EMPRESES CULTURALS GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA | CREATIVE EUROPE – MEDIA PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION | ROMANIAN TELEVISION | XUNTA DE GALICIA
- In association with: QUIDDITY | FINITE FILMS | FELONY | ARTE | AVANPOST MEDIA | HOLLOW FILMS
- Funded by: HELLENIC FILM & AUDIOVISUAL CENTER | INSTITUTO DE LA CINEMATOGRAFÍA MINISTERIO DE CULTURA GOBIERNO DE ESPAÑA | TORINO FILMLAB
- Running time: 132 minutes
- Genre: drama, fantasy
- Original language: Japanese
- Released: 2026
Credits
- Writer and Director: KONSTANTINA KOTZAMANI
- Producers: MARIA DRANDAKI | NINA FRESE | RADU STANCU | LUISA ROMEO | KEISUKE KONISHI | HIROTO OGI
- Co-producers: KYVELI SHORT | IOANA LASCAR | ANDREAS GEORGIADIS
- Executive producers: EMILY MORGAN | AMY GARDNER | DANA HØEGH | STELIOS KAMMITSIS | EMILIE GEORGES | SATA CISSOKHO | ALEXANDRE MOREAU | MATHIEU DELAUNAY
- Cast: ARISA SASAKI | MELINA MARDINI | HARUNA MATSUI | KOTONE HANASE | HANNA MURO | RIKU NAKAMURA | AKI KIGOSHI | MASAHIRO HIGASHIDE SEI MATUBO
- Director of photography: RAPHAËL VANDENBUSSCHE
- Editor: LIVIA NEROUTSOPOULOU | VINCENT TRICON | JULIE WUILLAI
- Sound: MARIUS LEFTARACHE | LIVIU LUPȘA | VICTOR MIU | DRAGOȘ ȘTIRBU
- Original music: PATRICIA FERRAGUD
- Production design: SEBASTIAN VOGLER
- Costume designer: AZUNA SAITO
- Make-up: BIANCA SIMION
- Hair: GEORGE NEGRIȘAN
WORKSHOPS AND CO-PRODUCTION MARKETS
- TFL FeatureLab
- Oxbelly
- Cinemart –IFFR
- EAVE – Ties That Bind
- IFFAM
- APOSTLAB
- Venice Production Bridge
- Next Step Vol II – Semaine de la Critique
AWARDS
- IFFAM – Creative Excellence Award
FESTIVALS
- CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | 2026
© HOMEMADE FILMS (GR) | WUNDERLUST (DE) | deFilm (RO) | MANNY FILMS (FR) | FRIDA FILMS (ES) | HAPPINET PHANTOM (JP) | MAM FILM | ONASSIS CULTURE | BR / ARTE | ERT S.A. | 2026