EXCLUSIVE: Wide Management has acquired world sales rights to Russian crime drama Break Loose, directed and produced by Alexey Uchitel.
The film will have its world premiere in Toronto’s Contemporary World Cinema section.
Break Loose is based on the autobiographical best-selling Russian novel Vosmerka by Zakhar Prilepin, and tells the story of a police operative who falls for a ganster’s moll.
Uchitel’s Rock Films produced. The Wide deal excludes Russia and the CIS, where Rock Films has already sold the rights to Timur Bekmambetov’s Bazelevs Distribution (which will launch in early 2014).
The sales deal was negotiated by Loïc Magneron, President and founder of Wide Management, and Olga Aylarova on behalf of Rock Films.
“Loïc Magneron of Wide Management is impressive in his knowledge of the market trends and the buyers but even more impressive in his individualized handling of each film and each filmmaker,” said co-producer Kira Saksaganskaya.
“This powerful film is a perfect fit for Wide Management. Break Loose is highly entertaining, and equally impressive in addressing vital and very current issues,” said Magneron. “We very much look forward to representing the film across the world.”
“Alexey Uchitel’s last film, The Edge, scored international success with awards nominations giving Break Loose a great entrée to international distributors. With Loic Magneron and Wide Management handling worldwide sales, we are confident that this compelling Russian film premiering at Toronto will be a major success for Alexey, Rock Films and Russian cinema,” added Catherine Mstitouridze, CEO of Roskino.
Break Loose, which has support from the Russian Cinema Fund, will also feature in Roskino’s Doors showcase in Toronto.
Uchitel previously directed 2010’s Golden Globe nominated The Edge. He will next shoot epic Mathilda Ksessinskaya, about the 19th century ballerina.
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