Beta Cinema has unveiled a fresh set of deals for Fatih Akin’s Amrum – his Cannes-selected coming-of-age drama set in the final days of WWII – ahead of its German theatrical release on Thursday.
The film, which made its festival debut in the Cannes Premieres section has since sold to Australia & New Zealand (Palace Films), India (Big Tree Entertainment), Latin America (Synapse Distribution), Portugal (Pris Audiovisuais), Scandinavia (Angel Films), Italy (BIM Distribuzione), Greece (Rosebud.21), Turkey (Filmarti) and Ukraine (Svoekino).
Previously announced deals include to North America (Kino Lorber), France (Dulac Distribution), Spain (A Contracorriente), Japan (Bitters End) and Benelux (Cherry Pickers).
Warner Bros. Pictures Germany will release the film in German-speaking territories on Oct. 9 while Dulac Distribution is eyeing a French release on Dec. 24.
The drama follows 12-year-old Nanning as he unravels a family secret in the final weeks of WWII on the secluded island of Amrum, where the inhabitants feel the effects of the conflict but are far from the frontline, with little idea of what is going on.
The tale is based on the childhood memories of German director and screenwriter Hark Bohm, a long-standing friend and mentor of Akin.
Bohm, who is in his 80s had planned to make this film, but had to drop out after writing a first screenplay. Akin stepped in, reworking the script, on which they both share credit, and directing.
Deadline chief critic praised for work for showing a side of WWII rarely seen on the big screen in his review out of Cannes.
It stars newcomer Jasper Billerbeck in the leading role, alongside Laura Tonke (AEIOU, The People vs. Fritz Bauer), Lisa Hagmeister (System Crasher), Kian Köppke, Matthias Schweighöfer (Army of the Dead) and Diane Kruger (In The Fade, Inglourious Basterds).
It is produced by Bombero International, Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany in co-production with Rialto Film. The production was supported by FFA, DFFF, Moin Film Förderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, BKM, MBB, MFG and Bayerischer Filmpreis.
“These deals reflect the film’s universal appeal,” said Dirk Schürhoff, Managing Director of Beta Cinema. “The outstanding cast, the emotional and relevant story and the precise, unique handwriting of one of Germany’s most beloved directors, made Amrum become one of the bestselling German movies this year.”
