Los Angeles-based sales and distribution company Lightning Entertainment has boarded the edgy Australian drama West and will introduce the project to buyers in Berlin next week.

The film will receive its world premiere in the Generation 14plus section of the festival and explores what happens when two slacker cousins find their friendship threatened when they fall for the same girl.

Daniel Krige directed West, which stars Nathan Phillips, Khan Chittenden, Gillian Alexy and Michael Dorman. Palace Films holds Australian and New Zealand rights.

'In his theatrical debut, Daniel Krige has delivered with West a powerful film that resonates with tension and realism,' said Lightning's Richard Guardian, who negotiated the deal with producers Anne Robinson and Matthew Reeder. 'I was immediately captivated by the brilliance of the performances of the entire cast.'

West is a West Films production, financed by the Australian Film Commission through its feature production initiative IndiVision, and in conjunction with post-production house Cutting Edge.

Lightning's European Film Market slate includes: the coming-of-age comedy Hey Hey, It's Esther Blueburger; the Weitz Brothers comedy Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas; the spiritual drama Conversations With God; and the psychological thrillers Grimm Love and The Killing Floor.

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