Kino Lorber has acquired North American rights to Andres Veiel’s Venice prize-winning documentary Riefenstahl about the infamous German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl.
Veiel uses previously unpublicised materials from Riefenstahl’s estate, including private films, photos, recordings and letters, to explore how she become the Reich’s preeminent filmmaker.
The film won the Cinema & Arts Award on the Lido, went on to screen at Telluride, and will play at Zurich Film Festival.
It shows how, after starting out as an actress, Riefenstahl broke into filmmaking and became a propagandist of huge influence. She directed Triumph Of The Will (1935), the documentary about the 1934 Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg, as well as the two-part Olympia chronicling the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Despite becoming friends with Hitler and other high-ranking Nazis, after the Second World War Riefenstahl spent decades denying her association with Nazi ideology and claimed ignorance of the Holocaust.
Her work resonates today as far right politicians gain ground across Europe.
Kino Lorber plans a theatrical release in 2025 followed by digital, educational, and home video release. Head of theatrical acquisitions and distribution Lisa Schwartz negotiated the deal with Dirk Schuerhoff, CEO of Beta Cinema.
Riefenstahl is produced by Vincent Productions in co-production with WDR, NDR, BR, SWR and rbb, in collaboration with Rai Cinema. The production is supported by FFA, BKM, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Filmstiftung NRW, and DFFF. Sandra Maischberger served as producer.
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