NEW YORK, NEW YORK (September 14, 2022) – IFC Films announced today it is acquiring North American rights to THE ALMOND AND THE SEAHORSE, ahead of its World Premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, starring Rebel Wilson (Pitch Perfect, Jojo Rabbit, The Hustle, Bridesmaids) in her first dramatic role. The film is directed by BAFTA winning Celyn Jones (Six Minutes To Midnight, The Vanishing, Set Fire To The Stars) and Academy and BAFTA Award nominee Tom Stern (American Sniper, Sully, Changeling, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby), starring Charlotte Gainsbourg (Melancholia, 21 Grams, The Snowman), Trine Dyrholm (Queen of Hearts, Nico 1988, The Commune, The Legacy), Meera Syal and Celyn Jones. The screenplay is also written by Jones and award-winning playwright Kaite O’Reilly, based on the successful theater production of the same name by O’Reilly. IFC Films will release the film in theaters and on demand December 16, 2022.
For Gwen (Trine Dyrholm), it’s always 1999. The face in the mirror is unfamiliar and her partner, Toni (Charlotte Gainsbourg), isn’t recognisable to her despite waking up together every day. For Joe (Celyn Jones), his past is coming undone and his partner, Sarah (Rebel Wilson), fears she will be forgotten. A doctor refuses to give up on them, determined not to let them all unravel. THE ALMOND AND THE SEAHORSE is a funny, poignant and moving story which follows two couples where one partner has survived Traumatic Brain Injury and how it impacts their lives together.
THE ALMOND AND THE SEAHORSE is produced by Andy Evans, Alex Ashworth and Sean Marley for Mad As Birds, and Alison Brister for REP Productions SF. The film was financed by REP Productions SF alongside Head Gear, Picnik Entertainment, Creative Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, with funding from the National Lottery. Executive producers include Laure Vaysse for Harcourt Capital, Bizzy Day and Pauline Burt for Ffilm Cymru Wales Phil Hunt, Compton Ross for Head Gear, Nicola Pearcey for Picnik Entertainment Ltd, with Stephen Kelliher and Yana Georgieva for Bankside Films and Eddie Izzard.
Directors Celyn Jones and Tom Stern said, “To have IFC Films as a partner is a stamp of quality for us as their cinematic taste and care is impeccable. We wanted to make a film where the performances could take center stage, underpinned by a unique and daring script about a subject that affects many. It’s a fresh, yet familiar story, with phenomenal performances about people who become broken and then must put the pieces back together again like a precious vase.”
The deal for the film was negotiated by Acquisitions Manager for IFC Films, Adam Koehler with WME Independent and Bankside Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
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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 Julian Higgins’ GOD’S COUNTRY and the Cannes Un Certain Regard award-winner, CORSAGE, directed by Marie Kreutzer and starring Vicky Krieps (BERGMAN ISLAND, PHANTOM THREAD). 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.
ABOUT BANKSIDE FILMS
Founded in London in 2007, Bankside Films is a leading international sales company providing worldwide distribution, executive producing and financing services to independent producers globally. The company also manages an in-house development and production slate, originating its own projects as well as partnering with filmmakers to commission and develop new material. Bankside Films also enjoys a close relationship with its sister company, Head Gear Films, a leading financier of global content whilst maintaining relationships with a broad range of international financiers. The company is driven by a passion for storytelling which challenges the status quo.
Bankside Films prides itself on working with unique and distinctive cinematic voices capable of delivering exciting new stories for worldwide audiences. Emerging filmmakers are intrinsic to the company’s ethos and we continue to champion them whilst remaining a key partner for more established directors and producers.
Past successes include BELLE by Amma Asante, sold globally to Searchlight Pictures, CARGO by Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling, sold globally to Netflix, Sundance title THE HOLE IN THE GROUND by first time director Lee Cronin, which was acquired by A24 in the US, ORDINARY LOVE by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D’Sa, sold internationally to Focus Features and domestically to Bleecker Street, IN FABRIC by Peter Strickland, sold domestically to A24, ETERNAL BEAUTY written and directed by Craig Roberts and starring Sally Hawkins and WOLF written and directed by Nathalie Biancheri and starring George MacKay and Lily Rose Depp which sold to Focus Features globally.
Recent festival successes include Terence Davies’ BENEDICTION and Kate Dolan’s YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER which both premiered at the Toronto Film Festival 2021. Jim Archer’s BRIAN AND CHARLES and Goran Stolevksi’s YOU WON’T BE ALONE both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year, and both sold internationally to Focus. Peter Strickland’s FLUX GOURMET was also in official selection at the Berlin Film Festival this year. Forthcoming festival premieres include Juan Diego Botto’s ON THE FRINGE starring Penelope Cruz which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Andrew Legge’s LOLA which premieres at the Locarno Film Festival and then goes on to a competition slot at the Edinburgh Film Festival, and Mary Harron’s much anticipated DALÍLAND which will be the closing night film at the Toronto Film Festival.
In the documentary space, the company is drawn to broad appeal, human stories which can perform in the traditional theatrical space as well as on worldwide streaming services. Our approach to selling documentaries mirror that of fictional features and our relationships with buyers of documentary films are second to none.
ABOUT FFILM CYMRU WALES
Ffilm Cymru Wales is the development agency for Welsh film, dedicated to advancing and sustaining a strong film industry for Wales. This is achieved by providing funding and training to emerging and established Welsh filmmakers, offering exciting cinematic experiences to audiences across Wales, engaging people of all ages and abilities in creative learning, and developing new skills and career paths for people through a range of training programmes.
Recent credits include Dream Horse, Censor, Eternal Beauty, The Feast / Gwledd, I Am Not a Witch and The Almond and the Seahorse. Forthcoming productions include Chuck Chuck Baby and animated feature Kensuke’s Kingdom.
For more information, please see www.ffilmcymruwales.com