Bankside Films has acquired Michael Winterbottomís next film Trishna, which will star Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) and Riz Ahmed (Four Lions).

The film is a contemporary adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic Tess Of The d’Urbervilles, now relocated to India.
Bankside is exclusively handling worldwide sales and is starting talks with buyers here at the EFM.

The story is about the tragic relationship between Jay, the son of a wealthy property developer, and Trishna, the daughter of a rickshaw owner.

The film starts shooting on Feb 28 for six weeks on location in Rajasthan and Mumbai.

Revolution and Bankside said they plan to work together on future productions as well.

Funders for Trishna are Bankside, the UK Film Council, Sweden’s Film I Vast, VTR Media Investment and Revolution Films, which is run by Winterbottom and his producing partner Andrew Eaton. Melissa Parmenter will produce for Revolution.

“Bankside Films is thrilled to be in business with Michael, Andrew and Revolution Films,” said said Hilary Davis, Co-Managing Director of Bankside. “Michael is one of the UK’s most prolific directors whose following in international territories is significant. We look forward to bringing his exciting new take on this classic story to the international marketplace. Our business plan is more and more about creating long lasting relationships with established filmmaking teams and this deal is certainly a significant one in Bankside’s continuing evolution.”

Eaton added: “Revolution is delighted to be in business with Bankside, as an international sales company and financier. We hope this will be the first film in a long and fruitful relationship.”

Winterbottom previously directed an adaptation of Hardy’s Jude The Obscure in 1996.

Tess was previously brought to the big screen by Roman Polanski in 1979.

Bankside’s slate also includes Istvan Szabo’s The Door starring Helen Mirren and Martina Gedeck, thriller The Caller, David Mackenzie’s You Instead and Innocence starring Julianne Moore.

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