Paris-based distributor ARP Sélection has snapped up the well timed Sudanese drama “Goodbye Julia” for French distribution forward of its Cannes Un Sure Regard premiere subsequent week.
The movie, which is Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani’s function debut, marks the primary function from Sudan to bow from the Croisette and takes place simply earlier than the 2011 secession of South Sudan. In “Goodbye Julia,” two girls — one from the North, the opposite from the South — are introduced collectively by destiny in a posh relationship that makes an attempt to reconcile variations between northern and southern Sudanese communities.
in an interview with Variety, Kordofani expressed the hope that his movie “Might be the beginning of a motion for reconciliation between all of the Sudanese individuals” within the war-ravaged nation.
The 2 central roles are performed respectively by Eiman Yousif and Sudanese supermodel Siran Riak (pictured above), making her big-screen appearing debut. The forged additionally consists of Nazar Goma and Ger Duany, who is thought for his efficiency in “The Nile Hilton Incident.”
“Goodbye Julia” is produced by Amjad Abu Alala, director of “You Will Die at Twenty,” which received Venice Movie Pageant’s Lion of the Future award for finest first function in 2019.
ARP Sélection acquired “Goodbye Julia” from pan-Arab distributor MAD Options, which moved into worldwide gross sales with this title.
“We had been extraordinarily moved by the wonder, depth, narrative energy and the emotion rising from this debut movie, which positions Sudan on the map of world cinema,” commented Michèle Halberstadt of ARP in an announcement. “We’re additionally proud to start out a brand new collaboration with MAD Options, one of many main distribution and gross sales agent corporations within the Center East,” they added.
Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, co-founders and co-CEOs of MAD Options, described the number of “Goodbye Julia” at Un Sure Regard as a “turning level for the Sudanese movie business” and expressed their delight at ARP’s acquisition of the movie. “We’re assured the movie is in secure, nurturing palms with ARP, who’ve established themselves as a frontrunner within the distribution of boundary-pushing, eye-opening cinema all through France,” they stated.
ARP is a distinguished French arthouse distributor whose current titles embrace Jerzy Skolimowski Oscar-nominated “EO,” Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” and Jafar Panahi’s “No Bears,” winner of the Particular Jury Prize at Venice final yr.