Animated Alzheimer’s Memoir ‘Tangles’ Lands Oscar-Qualifying Theatrical Run with IFC and Sapan Studio
In a major acquisition out of the festival circuit, Independent Film Company (IFC) and Sapan Studio have acquired North American distribution rights for Tangles, the animated feature film adapted from Sarah Leavitt’s acclaimed graphic novel memoir. The distribution partners plan to release the film in theaters before the end of 2026 for an official Academy Awards-qualifying run.
The film made its world premiere in the Special Screenings section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and subsequently screened in official competition at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and San Sebastián.
A Personal Story of Loss, Love, and Growing Up
Based on Leavitt’s graphic novel Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me, the 2D digital-animated feature follows a young woman who returns home when Alzheimer’s disease begins stripping away her mother’s vibrant personality. As she takes on a caregiving role, she navigates the complexities of coming of age, coming out, and searching for her own identity while facing the loss of her mother.
“Tangles is one of those rare films that can be deeply specific and profoundly universal at the same time,” said Ayo Kepher-Maat, Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions at IFC Entertainment Group. “Leah has created something visually singular, extraordinarily moving and also genuinely funny—a film that looks honestly at an experience millions of families understand while never allowing illness to define its characters.”
All-Star Ensemble Cast and Creative Leadership
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Leah Nelson, who co-wrote the screenplay alongside original graphic novelist Sarah Leavitt and Trev Renney.
The animated feature boasts a star-studded voice cast that includes Abbi Jacobson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Beanie Feldstein, Seth Rogen, and Samira Wiley, Pamela Adlon, Sarah Silverman, Bowen Yang, Wanda Sykes, Phil Rosenthal, Adam Shapiro, Pat Finn, and Sugar Lyn Beard.
Production Partners
The Canada–U.S. co-production brings together several major indie animation and film outfits, including Giant Ant (Ross Murray, Teresa Toews, Jay Grandin, Leah Nelson), Monarch Media (Vicky Patel, Steve Barnett, Alan Powell), LYLAS Pictures (Lauren Miller Rogen, Jen W. Ray, Sophie Hoegh), and Point Grey Pictures (Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Alex McAatee, Madeline Blair). Julia Louis-Dreyfus also serves as a producer on the project.
