EXCLUSIVE: China’s Rediance has taken worldwide sales rights to Tristan Forever, a docufiction directed by Tobias Nölle, which is set to premiere in Panorama at the upcoming Berlinale.
The Swiss film follows French doctor Loran Bonnardot, who is also the co-director, as he travels to Tristan da Cunha, the most isolated, inhabited island in the world, to fulfil his lifelong search for solitude.
For three decades, Bonnardot has been visiting this volcanic island located in the middle of the South Atlantic, which has become his spiritual refuge, and has maintained a friendship with local fisherman Martin. Now aged 50, he wants to become one of the island’s 230 permanent residents, but whether he can stay there for good is subject to the island council’s decision.
Based on an original idea by Bonnardot, the screenplay was written by Nölle with Bonnardot as co-author.
Nölle was captivated when Bonnardot shared with him the idea of making a film about his long relationship with Tristan da Cunha. Focusing on a journey to a utopian place far beyond the horizon, the film pursues the question of where one’s soul belongs, oscillating between documentary, fiction and the dreams of its protagonist.
Producer is Christof Neracher, CEO of Zurich-based Hugofilm Features, with Swiss broadcasters SRF and SRG SSR as co-producers.
Based in Zurich and Berlin, Nölle won a Golden Leopard at Locarno with his 2007 short film Rene before making his feature debut Aloys, which won the Fipresci prize at the 2016 Berlinale. He is a co-founder of Swiss filmmakers collective 8horses.
Bonnardot is a French doctor and filmmaker, having co-produced 2013 short film 37°4 S, winner of a special prize at Cannes.
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