CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 17, 2022) – IFC Films announced today that they are acquiring North American rights to R.M.N., from award winning writer, director and producer Cristian Mungiu ahead of its world premiere in Cannes. The acquisition marks the fifth time IFC Films and Mungiu have partnered on distribution. The film stars Marin Grigore and Judith State. R.M.N. is produced by Cristian Mungiu with Mobra Films and executive produced by Tudor Reu. Co-producers include Pascal Caucheteux and Gregoire Sorlat of Why Not Productions, Sean Wheelan of Filmgate Films, Anthony Muir and Kristina Börjeson of Film I Väst, and Delphine Tomson of Les Films Du Fleuve. IFC Films will release the film theatrically in 2022.
A few days before Christmas, having quit his job in Germany, Matthias (Marin Grigore) returns to his multi-ethnic Transylvanian village. He wishes to involve himself more in the education of his son, Rudi, left for too long in the care of his mother, Ana, and to rid the boy of the unresolved fears that have taken hold of him. He’s preoccupied with his old father, Otto and also eager to see his ex-lover, Csilla (Judith State). When a few new workers are hired at the small factory that Csilla manages, the peace of the community is disturbed, underlying fears grip the adults, and frustrations, conflicts and passions erupt through the thin veneer of apparent understanding and calm.
Mungiu’s first feature OCCIDENT premiered in Quinzaine Réalisateurs in 2002. In 2007 he was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS. He next returned to Cannes in 2009 as a writer, producer, and co-director with the collective episodic film TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE.LHis next feature BEYOND THE HILLS (2012) won Best Screenplay and Best Actress and was later shortlisted for Best International Feature for the 85th Academy Awards. He returned to Cannes in 2016 with GRADUATION and won Best Director.
Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Films said, “This Cannes marks the 15th anniversary of when IFC Films started working with Cristian for the first time after the premiere of Palme D’or winning 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS. He is one of the best directors working in cinema today and his incredible body of work has made a lasting impression on the global stage. We are so honored he has made IFC Films his home once again. We were absolutely blown away by the R.M.N. and are delighted to work with Cristian to bring the film to North American audiences.”
Of the acquisition, Director Cristian Mungiu said, ““I am very happy that 15 years after 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS I am back in Cannes and part of the Official Selection. It means even more that I am able to continue working with the people who have stood by me all these years, in my attempt to make my films reach as many people as possible, in as many theaters as possible .I hope they will help me communicate that once again through a story set in a tiny little place, I try to speak about us, today. I think it’s also good to check what are the limits of our freedom as filmmakers today in a world where political correctness started setting limits about what is appropriate to say – and what is not. I feel I owe one explanation: RMN in English is NMR: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance – basically a brain investigation. Given how the world looks today, I feel we need one.”
The deal was negotiated by SVP of Acquisitions and Productions for IFC Films, Scott Shooman with Eva Diederix on behalf of Wild Bunch, and CAA Media Finance. Wild Bunch is handling international sales.
ABOUT IFC FILMS
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on cable’s Video On Demand (VOD) and digital platforms.
Upcoming releases include Clarie Denis’ BOTH SIDES OF THE BLADE, Andrea Arnold’s first documentary COW, Jacques Audiard’s PARIS 13TH DISTRICT, and the Venice Golden Lion award-winner, HAPPENING, directed by Audrey Diwan. Some of the company’s successes over the years have included BOYHOOD, THE DEATH OF STALIN, FRANCES HA, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, THE BABADOOK, TOUCHING THE VOID, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, CHE, SUMMER HOURS, ANTICHRIST, IN THE LOOP, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, TINY FURNITURE, and CARLOS. IFC Films has worked with established and breakout filmmakers, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noé, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Paul Dano, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, Abdellatif Kechiche, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Abbas Kiarostami, Alfonso Cuaron, Noah Baumbach, Lena Dunham, Ethan Hawke and many more. IFC Films is a sister label to IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.