'Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song' ,'River'

Source: Photographer unknown. Courtesy of The Leonard Cohen Family Trust/ Chris Burkard

‘Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song’ ,’River’

UK documentary specialist Dogwoof has reported sales on Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song and River following this year’s European Film Market (EFM).

Venice premiere Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song has sold to The Jokers for France and Prokino for Germany and Austria. As previously announced, the documentary feature was taken for the world by Sony Picture Classics, excluding the aforementioned territories. 

The title takes inspiration from the book The Holy Or The Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley & The Unlikely Ascent Of Hallelujah by Alan Light. It is directed and produced by US filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, and explores Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen through the lens of his most famous work, ‘Hallelujah’.

River has sold to North America (Greenwich), Italy (Koch), CIS and Russia (Russia Report), (Germany, theatrical) Kinotext, Turkey (Filmarti), Poland Against (Gravity), and the Czech Republic and Slovakia (ACFK). A UK theatrical release, with Dogwoof distributing, is planned for March 18, while Madman will release on March 24 in Australia and New Zealand.

The feature is an exploration of the relationship between humanity and rivers. It is directed by Jennifer Peedom and Joseph Nizeti, and produced by Jo-anne McGowan and Jennifer Peedom from Australia’s Stranger Than Fiction and John Smithson from the UK’s Arrow Pictures. Willem Dafoe narrates the script, written by Robert Macfarlane.

The project received production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Screen NSW. It is a collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and a co-production with the Australian broadcaster ABC, the BBC, Dogwoof and Madman Entertainment.

The title, which Dogwoof describes as “an orchestral concert film, an ode to the natural word and a retelling of the history of both rivers and human civilisation” features a score written by William Barton, Piers Burbrook de Vere and Richard Tognetti from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, with additional music from William Barton, Jonny Greenwood and Radiohead.