Cannes Jury Prize Winner ‘EO,’ Following the Life Of a Donkey, Acquired By Sideshow and Janus Films for North America
01.06.2022 - 16:17
/ variety.com
Manori Ravindran International EditorCannes sensation “EO,” which tells the story of a donkey’s life, has been acquired for North America by Sideshow and Janus Films. The film is the latest collaboration for the U.S.
distribution duo that brought this year’s best international feature Oscar winner, “Drive My Car,” to audiences Stateside.Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, “EO” shared the Cannes Jury Prize with Félix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch’s “The Eight Mountains.”The film, a word-of-mouth hit on the Croisette, shares a vision of modern Europe through the prism of a gray donkey, who meets all sorts of people on his life’s path, experiences joy and pain, as well as disasters and unexpected bliss — all without losing his beautiful innocence. Upon accepting the Jury Prize in Cannes, Polish director Skolimowski thanked “all six” of his donkeys.
The project is the latest collaboration between filmmaker and HanWay Films founder Jeremy Thomas and Skolimowski, who have been working together since 1978 when their film “The Shout” won the Grand Prix at Cannes. Sideshow and Janus Films are planning a fall 2022 theatrical release.“EO” is presented by Skopia Film and Thomas and stars Sandra Drzymalska, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz and Isabelle Huppert.
It was produced by Ewa Piaskowska and Skolimowski. Eileen Tasca is the Italian co-producer, while Thomas is the executive producer.
The screenplay was written by Piaskowska and Skolimowski.Sold globally by Thomas’s HanWay, “EO” has been picked up by ARP for France, as well as The Searchers (Benelux), I Wonder (Italy), A Contracorriente (Spain), BFI Distribution (U.K. & Ireland), Odeon (Greece), Bir (Turkey), Nitrato (Portugal), Front Row (Middle East), DDDREAM
.