The Chambermaid

Source: Picture Tree International

‘The Chambermaid’

Berlin-based sales outfit Picture Tree International (PTI) has boarded period drama The Chambermaid by leading Slovak writer-director Mariana Čengel Solčanská.

PTI is handling international sales for the film produced by Slovakia’s Bright Sight Pictures and the Czech Republic’s Cineart TV Prague. It is set in the period of social and political disruption around World War I and the collapse of the Austria-Hungary empire in Eastern Europe. 

It tells the story of a teenage girl who arrives in Prague from a small Slovak town to serve as a maid in a wealthy family where she meets the daughter of a noble Austro-Hungarian family. Both girls find a soulmate in each other - and shyly discover their love for each other in a rigid society dominated by men and old conventions.

The Chambermaid will be released in Slovakia on Feburary 2, 2023, by distributor Continental Film. The Czech release will follow on March 16, 2023, and will be handled by Cinemart.

PTI will present the project, which is in post-production, as one of its market premieres during next month’s AFM.

The film is Solčanská’s seventh feature following political thrillers The Kidnapping and The Scumbag which both performed well in Slovakia. She is also a writer and has published six novels. 

PTI’s AFM slate includes A Whole Life by Hans Steinbichler based on the best-selling novel by Robert Seethaler and adapted for the screen by Ulrich Limmer, whose credits include Oscar nominee Schtonk. PTI is also presenting the Vienna-set historical biopic Alma & Oskar by Dieter Berner and starring Emily Cox.

Also on its slate is the Iranian debut feature and genre crossover Without Her by Arian Vazirdaftari which premiered internationally at Venice Orizzonti Extra 2022. PTI’s market line-up also includes the Toronto 2022 world premiere This Place featuring Devery Jacobs.

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