Strand Releasing Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Strand Releasing has acquired North American rights to “Fantastic Machine,” a documentary which is executive produced by Ruben Östlund (“Triangle of Sadness”) and won Sundance Festival’s Creative Vision Award. Directed by Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck, “Fantastic Machine” went on to win both the Youth Jury Special Mention and the Cinema Vision 14+ awards at the Berlin Film Festival. The documentary examines humanity’s infatuation with images of itself, and the impact that has on an untethered free market flooded with photos from 45 billion cameras worldwide each minute.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Strand Releasing has bought all North American rights to Emily Atef’s last two movies, “Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything” which competed at the Berlin Film Festival, as well as her Cannes entry “More Than Ever.” Both films are represented in international markets by The Match Factory. Based on Daniela Krien’s novel, the film is set in the summer of 1990, shortly after the fall of the Berlin wall, in the countryside of former East Germany. Marlene Burow plays Maria, who is about to turn 19, lives with her boyfriend at his parents’ farm. She engages into a passionate and lustful affair with Henner (Felix Kramer), a reclusive neighbor who is twice her age.“More Than Ever,” meanwhile, premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard. It stars Vicky Krieps (“Corsage,” “Phantom Thread”) and late French actor Gaspard Ulliel as a couple whose bond is tested when one of them is diagnosed with a terminal disease.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Strand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Matt Carter’s “In From the Side” which had its world premiere at the British Film Institute’s Flare Festival. The movie will be released in the the U.K. by Verve Pictures on Sept. 16. Set in the world of gay rugby, “In From the Side” follows two men from a cash-strapped gay rugby club who unwittingly embark into an adulterous affair and must confront their growing feelings or risk destroying the club that they love. Produced by Andrew Faure, “In From the Side” marks the debut feature of Carter who has a background in visual effects. “Strand is the perfect partner for any independent filmmaker- we are delighted they are brining our film to a wide American audience” said Adam Silver, the film’s co-producer who reps the title and negotiated the deal with Jon Gerrans at Strand Releasing.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has bought North American rights to João Pedro Rodrigues’ “Will-O’-The-Wisp” which had its world premiere at Director’s Fortnight in Cannes. Films Boutique represents the movie in international markets.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Alain Guiraudie’s “Nobody’s Hero” which is handled by Films du Losange and world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. The movie, which opened the Berlinale Panorama section, is set in Clermont-Ferrand revolves around Frederic, a 35 year-old man who falls in love with with a middle-aged sex worker who is married.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFollowing its world premiere as the Berlin Film Festival opener, Francois Ozon’s “Peter von Kant” has been acquired by Strand Releasing for U.S. distribution.Represented in international markets by Playtime, the critically acclaimed movie is inspired by Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s cult film “The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant,” with Denis Menochet playing the tormented filmmaker, opposite Isabelle Adjani, who stars as his muse.Ozon previously told Variety that the movie was a “universal tale of passion, timely as ever” and “explores the relationships of domination, control and submission in the creative world.”“Peter von Kant” marks Ozon’s sixth movie that played in competition at the Berlin Film Festival.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to Georgis Grigorakis’ feature debut “Digger,” Greece’s official entry for the Oscars’ international feature film race.Set in the rich forests of Northern Greece, “Digger” is a modern-day psychological Western starring Vangelis Mourikis as an iconoclastic farmer at war against the encroachments of a ravenous industry and the demons of his past.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has unveiled the trailer for Eric Steel’s coming-of-age film “Minyan” which world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and won a special mention at the Jerusalem fest. The feature debut will have its North American premiere in New York on Oct.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to “Cicada,” Matthew Fifer’s Brooklyn-set debut feature, which premiered last year at several festivals, including Frameline, Outfest and BFI London.“Cicada” was written and directed by Fifer and Kieran Mulcare. The film was inspired by events in Sheldon Brown’s and Fifer’s own lives.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Christopher Makoto Yogi’s “I Was a Simple Man” which stars Constance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians”) and had its world premiere at this year’s Sundance film festival.A lyrical ghost story set in the lush, Hawaiian countryside, the film follows Masao (Steve Iwamoto) whose life is slowly fading away because of a terminal illness.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all U.S. rights to Oscar-nominated Cambodian director Rithy Panh’s “Irradiated,” which world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and won best documentary.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer“Minyan,” an acclaimed tale of sexual and spiritual identity directed by Eric Steel, has sold to Strand Releasing in North America.The film, starring stage breakout Samuel H. Levine of Broadway and the West End’s “The Inheritance,” played in the official selection at last year’s Berlin International Film Festival and went on to win Outfest’s grand jury prize for U.S.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent“Bad Tales,” a drama written and directed by Damiano and Fabio D’Innocenzo, has been acquired by Strand Releasing for North American distribution. Sold by The Match Factory, the movie world premiered in competition at Berlin in 2019 and won the Silver Bear for best screenplay.

Ben Croll Strand Releasing has picked up U.S.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Anthony Chen’s “Wet Season,” which represents Singapore in the Oscar race for best international feature film.The movie world premiered in the Platform section at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is being represented in international markets by Memento Films International.Penned and directed by Chen, “Wet Season” revolves around a Chinese language teacher whose marriage and school

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired North American rights to Bassam Tariq’s “Mogul Mowgli,” co-written, starring and produced by Riz Ahmed. The movie world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival where it won the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize.Produced by Thomas Benski, CEO of Pulse Films, and Ahmed’s Left Handed Films banner, “Mogul Mowgli” recently received seven British Independent Film Award nominations.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired all North American rights to Agnieszka Holland’s critically acclaimed “Charlatan” from Berlin-based company Films Boutique.“Charlatan” competed at the Berlin Film Festival this year in the Special Gala section, and was most recently selected at Telluride.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentStrand Releasing has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Majid Majidi’s “Sun Children,” which competed at Venice and represents Iran in the international feature film race at the 2021 Academy Awards.Represented in international markets by Hengameh Panahi’s Celluloid Dreams, “Sun Children” has been critically acclaimed in the festival circuit, and its young leading actor Ruhollah Zamani won Venice’s Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor.

Christopher Vourlias Strand Releasing has acquired North American distribution rights for “Africa,” Israeli director Oren Gerner’s personal story about an aging man learning to reinvent himself, Variety has learned.“Africa” is the story of 68-year-old Meir, a retiree who discovers that after 30 years of planning the annual village celebration, the job has been given to an inexperienced group of local teens instead.

By Elsa Keslassy

By Elsa Keslassy

By Elsa Keslassy

By Elsa Keslassy

By Dino-Ray Ramos