IFC and Sapan Studio acquire animated film ‘Tangles’

Independent Film Company (IFC) and Sapan Studio have acquired the North American distribution rights for ‘Tangles’, an animated feature film directed by Leah Nelson. The film is adapted from Sarah Leavitt’s graphic memoir, ‘Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me’.

Following its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, the film is set to screen as part of the Centerpiece program at the Toronto International Film Festival. IFC plans to release the film in select theaters for an Academy Awards-qualifying run before the end of 2026, with a wider theatrical expansion expected in early 2027.

The 2D digital-animated feature utilizes predominantly black-and-white animation to explore the complexities of caregiving, identity, and the impact of Alzheimer’s disease. The film features an ensemble voice cast including Abbi Jacobson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Beanie Feldstein, Seth Rogen, and Samira Wiley, among others.