EXCLUSIVE: German production company Neue Mediopolis Filmproduktion has boarded Aamir Bashir’s Winter as co-producer.

Produced by India’s Jar Pictures, Winter was selected for this year’s edition of NFDC Screenwriters’ Lab. The second film in a trilogy, following Bashir’s Autumn (Harud), it tells the story of a Kashmiri village shawl weaver whose husband has abandoned her to join the militants.

Neue Mediopolis’ Alexander Ris said he was attracted to the project by the universal themes in the story. “After reading the script, it was clear that I should board the project. It’s a strong script and Aamir is willing to make it even stronger. I’m always looking for universal stories in a local setting with local people,” said Ris.

The project will be the first Indian co-production for Neue Mediopolis, which recently co-produced Huseyin Karabey’s Come  To My Voice (2014), with Turkish and French partners, and produced Serbian director Srdan Golubovic’ Circles (2013).

Autumn received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010 and screened at several other film festivals, including London and Mumbai.  It also won best feature in Urdu at India’s National Film Awards.