Winter In Wartime, the biggest Dutch box-office hit of recent months, has been picked up for international sales by London-based High Point Films.

The first market screenings of the film are planned for Berlin next month.

The film is proving a minor box-office phenomenon in the Netherlands and attracted over 50,000 spectators on its opening weekend. Produced by Els Vandervorst's Isabella Films and San Fu Maltha's Fu Works, and directed by Martin Koolhoven, the film has now racked up around 700,000 admissions.

Winter In Wartime takes place in the Netherlands during the last cold winter of the Second World War. Fourteen year-old Michiel becomes responsible for the care of a British pilot, which turns out to be more dangerous than he could have imagined.

'We are delighted to be launching and selling Winter In Wartime in Berlin,' High Point's Carey Fitzgerald commented.

'Our clients seem terribly excited about it, as we are. It's such an unusual film. There are plenty of films about the Second World War out there at the moment. What's different about this film is that it's through the eyes of a boy who became involved in the Resistance. It's a coming of age story and a story of betrayal,' Fitzgerald added.

Winter In Wartime is based on prominent Dutch scientist, politician and author Jan Terlouw's novel. The screenplay is written by Mieke de Jong, Paul Jan Nelissen and Martin Koolhoven.

The film is also directed by Martin Koolhoven and produced by Isabella Films and Fu Works in association with the Netherlands Film Fund, Inspire Pictures, CoBo Fund, VTM, VAF, Eurimages in co-production with Prime Time (Antonino Lombardo) and Broadcast Company MAX.

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