Progress Film-Verleih will handle world sales on Karola Hattop's new children's film Morphus which is shooting in Berlin until Easter after completing location work near Berchtesgaden and Wernigerode.

The story of a young boy's adventure to recover the last composition by Ludwig van Beethoven, which was stolen from him by two wily gangsters after they discover its magical soporific effect, will be released theatrically in Germany by Central Film at the end of this year.

Ten-year-old Nicki is played by Berlin youngster Jonas Hammerle, with Michael Roll and Charlotte Crome as his parents, and Oliver Korittke and Arndt Schwering-Sohnrey as the gangsters Max and Kwapisch.

Morphus is a co-production between Provobis Film and Switzerland's Lang Film with backing from broadcasters RBB, BR and MDR, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF).