Distributors Curzon, Cineart and Madman have united on a multi-territory deal for post-Second World War film The Offing starring Helena Bonham Carter.
The trio have joined forces to acquire all rights for UK-Ireland, Benelux and Australia-New Zealand, from Germany-based sales company Beta Cinema.
Beta has reported “severe competition” on the title and says further deals in major territories will be confirmed shortly.
The Offing will go into production later this year. It will be the debut feature for New Zealand filmmaker Jessica Hobbs, who has directed extensively for television including seven episodes of The Crown, winning the Emmy for outstanding directing for a drama series for season four finale episode ‘War’.
Adapted by Amy Roberts from Benjamin Myers’ 2020 novel of the same name, The Offing is set in North East England shortly after the Second World War. It centres on a shy 16-year-old son of a miner, who encounters a hard-drinking, foul-mouthed bohemian recluse who opens his life through her eccentric tutelage.
The film is produced by Charlotte Walls and Emily Barttelot for the UK’s Catalyst Global Media, which has credits including 2017 comedy-drama Finding Your Feet. Catalyst developed the film with support from Beta Cinema; Bonham Carter is also an executive producer.
“It is rewarding to see these top-notch distributors team up in order to secure this title,” said a statement from Beta Cinema. “Curzon, Cineart and Madman are amongst the most prestigious players in the industry and yet they are sending the right signal to the market that these times are about finding synergies and join forces as much as you can in attracting audiences back into cinemas. They will be great partners in an aligned campaign across the territories.”
In February 2020 Curzon, Cineart and Madman united on a £1.2m development fund, through which each distributor has a first look option for local distribution rights on projects financed through the fund. The first projects were revealed the following year, including Justin Anderson’s Swimming Home which is tipped for a festival berth this year.
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