Four Souls of Coyote

Four Souls of Coyote (Kojot négy lelke) is a 2023 Hungarian animated adventure drama film directed by Áron Gauder, who co-wrote the film with Géza Bereményi. The film, set in the present day, shows Native American protesters confronting the crew of an oil pipeline project, just down the hill from the land of their ancestors, and highlights the pressing need to live in harmony with the environment. It was released in Hungarian cinemas on 16 March 2023 by Vertigo Media.

Four Souls of Coyote was selected as the Hungarian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards. On December 7, it appeared in the eligible list for consideration for the 2024 Oscars, but it did not make it to the shortlist.

Story outline
The film has tagline: "Nothing is eternal but the Earth and the mountains".

The film is set in the present day, with a scenario where Native American protesters confront the crew of an oil pipeline project, located near their ancestral land. The grandfather shares an ancient tale of their Creation myth, reminding humans that the challenges facing humanity are universal and that they need to find their place in the great circle of creation.

The story highlights that humans are just a small part of creation, and that destroying Earth because we think we are special is self-damaging. The story is a clarion call to act, to correct course before it's too late.

The story filled with adventures featuring animals, magic, hunger, greed, and the sacred circle of all creations, gives us hope that it is not too late to save Earth.

English

 * Lorne Cardinal for Old Man Creator/Grandpa
 * Diontae Black for Coyote
 * Stephanie Novak for woman (16–50 years old)
 * Danny Kramer for man (16–50 years old)/Sanders
 * Priscilla Landham for Mataoka
 * David Mattle for Boy (2–9 years old)
 * Lily Rose Silver for Girl (2–9 years old)
 * Bill Farmer for Duck/Racoon
 * Cle Bennett for Buffalo/ Commander/Wolf
 * Bob Klein for Eagle/Chancellor/CEO
 * John Bentley for Lightning/Mountain lion/Grandson
 * Fred Tatasciore for Bear/ Captain/ Lawyer/ Antelope /Opossum
 * Karin Anglin for Gloria

Production
Áron Gauder began working on the film in 2017 with Cinemon and producer Réka Temple. In February 2022, first photos from the animated film showing the creation story of the Indians were published. By May 2022, 95% animation was completed. The film was shot in 2D animation with audio in 5.1/stereo format.

Music
The music and songs are composed by Joanne Shenandoah, Mariee Siouthe, Session Voices, Ulali, and Northern Cree.

Release
The film was released in Hungary on 16 March 2023. In April, it competed in Arizona International Film Festival and was screened on 28 April 2023. It was also selected at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in Feature competition, where it won Jury Award and at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival, where it won Golden Goblet for Best Animation Film on 18 June 2023. At the Kecskemét Animation Film Festival it was screened on 25 June as winner of Grand Prize.

The film will be celebrated at the Hungarian Film Festival of Los Angeles, where it will be screened on October 28, 2023. It will open the Red Nation Film Festival on 3 November 2023.

It was reported on 6 June 2023, that Gebeka International, a France based sales company, has taken the sales rights of the film.

Reception
Wendy Ide review for ScreenDaily gave positive views and opined, "With its emphasis on mythic storytelling and its elegant, stylised graphic approach, the film could connect with a similar audience to that of Cartoon Saloon’s forays into Irish folkloric fantasy: The Song of the Sea, The Secret of Kells and Wolfwalkers." Ide felt that by framing the beauty of nature in every frame and "using a striking blend of 2D and 3D animation and a strong graphic style pleasingly reminiscent of the work of mid-century artist Charley Harper, the film is a timely reminder of the importance of living harmoniously with the natural world." Fabien Lemercier reviewing for Cineuropa highlighted the theme of the film with the quote placed at the beginning of the film, "Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realise that we can't eat money." Concluding Lemercier wrote, "Four Souls of Coyote is both simple and subtly sophisticated, both narratively and visually," Lemercier added, "[it is] a mystical ode to nature that rightly reminds us that 'man does not weave the web of life. He is only a strand of it'".

Accolades
In addition to the selection of the film as the Hungarian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, it won Golden Goblet Award for Best Animation Film at the Shanghai International Film Festival.