Treasure City

Source: Courtesy of Sovereign Film Distribution

‘Treasure City’

Sovereign Film Distribution has acquired UK and Ireland rights to Szabolcs Hajdu’s Hungarian drama Treasure City in a direct deal with the filmmakers.

The film received its international premiere at Germany’s Film Festival Cottbus in December and was also selected for Russia’s Sofia International Film Festival.

Sovereign is scheduling a theatrical release in the UK on June 18 and is also making the title available for virtual cinema release, currently closing agreements with several sites.

Treasure City explores the darker side of human relationships, weaving together stories involving 22 people across one night in the city. The ensemble cast includes Lilla Sárosdi, Magdó Pálfi, Domokos Szabó and writer/director Hajdu himself.

It marks the latest feature from the Hungarian writer, director and actor, whose sports drama White Palms played in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight in 2006 and fantasy drama Bibliothèque Pascal screened at the Berlinale in 2010 and won two awards at Sarajevo. Hajdu’s previous film, It’s Not The Time Of My Life, won him best actor and the Crystal Globe for best film at Karlovy Vary in 2016.

Treasure City is produced by Jim Stark, Hajdu and Orsolya Török-Illyés for Hungary’s Látókép-Production and Art-Játék Association, and was co-produced by Romania’s Filmtett and Switzerland’s Bord Cadre Films. Sovereign Films boarded the project as a co-producer at script stage.

Sovereign Film Distribution is a recently established offshoot of Sovereign Media Group, founded by Andreas Roald and former Merchant Ivory president Donald Rosenfeld. It has steadily been picking up festival titles in recent months including Venice award-winning Pilipino drama Verdict, Francisco Márquez’s Argentinian thriller A Common Crime, which premiered at the Berlinale, and Peruvian drama Song Without A Name, which debuted at Cannes.

Sister company Sovereign Films is known for productions including Effie Gray, written by and starring Emma Thompson, and backed Terrence Malick’s Palme d’Or winner The Tree Of Life and Voyage Of Time.