The Salt Company closes further sales on The Infidel

Provocative new UK comedy The Infidel has racked up further sales.

The $1.5m (£1m) film, produced and scripted by comedian David Baddiel, is the story of a Muslim cabbie who discovers that he was actually adopted and is really Jewish.

The Salt Company has sold the political comedy to Italy (Mikado), CIS (Film Depot) and Switzerland (Ascot Elite). It follows the project’s recently announced US deal with Tribeca Film. It has now been sold to 14 territories.

The film, which stars comedian-actor Omid Djalili, will have its world premiere in the UK on April 9 followed by its North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25. It will receive a platform theatrical release day and date with a nationwide VOD launch, as part of the festival’s inaugural distribution slate.

Dubai-based Front Row Entertainment, which acquired rights to the entire Middle East region outside of Israel, will be releasing the film in the Middle East, where its themes are likely to prove especially provocative.

Gianluca Chacra of Front Row Entertainment and Djalili are planning to tour the region and meet with censorship authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon and Oman. Chacra has also reportedly received an enquiry from a theatre in Iraq.

“We hope this movie will bring in a clear message of tolerance and therefore respect and a sign of peace in this region,” Chacra.

“The Infidel, which deftly combines daring comic instincts with socio-political commentary, is a perfect fit for our new distribution initiative Tribeca Film,” said Geoff Gilmore, chief creative officer of Tribeca Enterprises. “We are excited to be bringing it to US audiences.”