# Release of animated film Tangles

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-animated-film-tangles
> Updated: 2026-09-14T16:04:47.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

The animated feature film ‘Tangles’, directed by Leah Nelson and based on Sarah Leavitt’s graphic memoir, has secured North American distribution rights through an acquisition by Independent Film Company (IFC) and Sapan Studio.

Following its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, the film is scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The 2D digital-animated project, which utilizes predominantly black-and-white animation to depict the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, features an ensemble voice cast including Abbi Jacobson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, and Seth Rogen. 

IFC intends to release the film in select theaters for an Academy Awards-qualifying run before the end of 2026, with a broader theatrical expansion anticipated in early 2027.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: Tangles animated film premieres at Toronto International Film Festival

The animated film “Tangles,” an adaptation of Sarah Leavitt’s graphic novel about Alzheimer’s, is screening at the Toronto International Film Festival with a star-studded voice cast.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tangles-animated-film-premieres-at-toronto-international-film-festival

### 2026-08-27: IFC and Sapan Studio acquire animated film ‘Tangles’

IFC and Sapan Studio have acquired North American rights to ‘Tangles’, an animated film about Alzheimer’s, planning an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release in 2026.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ifc-and-sapan-studio-acquire-animated-film-tangles

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Cite as: Release of animated film Tangles. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/release-of-animated-film-tangles