LOS ANGELES, March 30, 2023 — RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, has acquired the U.S. rights to THE DIVE, co-written and directed by Max Erlenwein (Stereo), from augenschein Filmproduktion and Protagonist Pictures. Erlenwein co-wrote the screenplay with Joachim Hedén (Breaking Surface). The film stars Louisa Krause (Dark Waters, “Billions”) and Sophie Lowe (Medieval). RLJE Films will release the film on August 25, 2023 in Theaters and On Demand.
“THE DIVE is a suspenseful and thrilling descent into the great unknown that we cannot wait to share with audiences this summer,” says RLJE Films Chief Acquisitions Officer Mark Ward. “We’re excited to partner with Protagonist, augenschein and the outstanding film team on this deep-sea adventure turned living nightmare.”
In THE DIVE, a deep-sea diving trip at one of the world’s most remote spots becomes a fight for survival for sisters Drew and May when a catastrophic landslide sends rocks tumbling into the sea. After being struck by the rockfall, May now lies deep below the surface, trapped by debris and unable to move. With dangerously low levels of oxygen, it is up to Drew to fight for her sister’s life. She must put her own life in jeopardy and risk paying the ultimate sacrifice. With no help in sight, time is quickly running out.
“THE DIVE takes audiences on an immersive journey of survival where the human body and mind are pushed to the limit, filled with breathtaking action and from the perspective of two female leads with rich character arcs,” said Maximilian Leo at augenschein Filmproduktion.
“RLJE Films is the perfect home for the first film from our strategic partnership with our friends at Protagonist, which aims to launch original stories and voices into the global market,” Jonas Katzenstein at augenschein added.
THE DIVE was produced by Leo and Katzenstein (7500, Stowaway, Mother Mary) ; co-produced by Pierre Ellul and Anika Psaila Savona of Falkun Films; executive produced by Hedén, Julia Gebauer (Breaking Surface), Jonas Sörrensson (Breaking Surface), Philipp Stendebach (Stowaway), Jonathan Saubach (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World), Doris Schrenner (The Invisible Guardian), Dave Bishop (The Innocents), George Hamilton (Blind Ambition), Luane Gauer (The Accidental Getaway Driver), Janina Vilsmaier (Marlene), Céline Dornier (The Innocents) and Pascal Hostachy (Night of the Hunted).
Ward negotiated the deal with Hamilton at Protagonist Pictures on behalf of the filmmakers.
ABOUT RLJE FILMS
RLJE Films’ past films include the Nicolas Cage phenomenon MANDY, from writer/director Panos Cosmatos; writer/director Craig Zahler’s debut BONE TOMAHAWK, starring Kurt Russell, Richard Jenkins, Patrick Wilson and Matthew Fox; the action-packed THE TAX COLLECTOR from writer/director David Ayers; and CHRISTMAS WITH THE CAMPBELLS from producers Vince Vaughn and Peter Billingsley and starring Brittany Snow and Justin Long. Recent and upcoming films include writer/director Tim Sutton’s TAURUS, starring Colson Baker and Maddie Hassan and featuring music by Machine Gun Kelly; Mo McRae’s directorial debut A LOT OF NOTHING; and the upcoming THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER from writer/director Bomani J. Story following its World Premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival.
ABOUT AMC NETWORKS
AMC Networks is a global entertainment company known for its popular and critically-acclaimed content. Its portfolio of brands includes AMC, BBC AMERICA (operated through a joint venture with BBC Studios), IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, IFC Films, and a number of fast-growing streaming services, including the AMC+ premium streaming bundle, Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now and ALLBLK. AMC Studios, the Company’s in-house studio, production and distribution operation, is behind award-winning owned series and franchises, including The Walking Dead, the highest-rated series in cable history. The Company also operates AMC Networks International, its international programming business, and 25/7 Media, its production services business.
ABOUT AUGENSCHEIN FILMPRODUKTION
German based augenschein Filmproduktion was founded in 2008 by Jonas Katzenstein and Maximilian Leo and has since produced and financed more than 30 international films. The company has earned a solid reputation as go-to-producers by focusing on international English-language quality feature films including the recent Scott Free co-production Berlin Nobody, the elevated survival thriller Dive, the German-financed thriller 7500 and the sci-fi thriller Stowaway. augenschein has worked with acclaimed talents including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anna Kendrick, Toni Collette, Sadie Sink, Eric Bana, Sylvia Hoeks and Kathy Bates. They are currently in pre-production of David Lowery’ epic music drama Mother Mary starring Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel. With a demonstrated commitment to working with auteurs, they have championed an impressive list of talented directors who are celebrated and awarded for their unique voices and signature styles at festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Locarno, Venice or Sundance.
ABOUT PROTAGONIST PICTURES
Protagonist Pictures is a sales, finance, and production company with a proven track record in outstanding films and commercial successes. Based in the UK, the company handles films from around the world, always maintaining a strong focus on filmmakers with exceptional vision and storytelling skills.
Current sales titles include Bishal Dutta’s It Lives Inside, produced by QC Entertainment and Neon, Alice Englert’s Sundance debut Bad Behaviour, starring Jennifer Connelly and Ben Whishaw, Eli Craig’s highly anticipated horror adaptation Clown in a Cornfield, Rebecca Miller’s She Came to Me, starring Anne Hathaway, Peter Dinklage, Marisa Tomei and Joanna Kulig, which opened the 2023 Berlinale, Dario Russo’s darkly comedic folktale The Fox, starring Morfydd Clark and Jai Courtney, Raymond De Felitta’s Artist in Residence starring Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia and Josh Hutcherson, Peter Craig’s Wild Four O’Clocks starring Michelle Pfeiffer, the underwater thriller The Dive by Maximilian Erlenwein, BAFTA Award-winning writer-director Mark Jenkin’s psychological-horror Enys Men, which had its worldwide premiere in Directors’ Fortnight, and War Pony, the directorial debut from Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, that had its worldwide premiere in Un Certain Regard and won the Camera D’Or.
Other titles include Phyllis Nagy’s Call Jane, starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver, which premiered in Sundance and Berlin in 2022, Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas starrer Official Competition, by directing duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, which premiered in Venice in 2021, the 2021 Nordic supernatural thriller The Innocents which premiered in Cannes at Un Certain Regard, Censor, the opening night film of the Midnight section at Sundance 2021, directed by Prano Bailey-Bond and starring Niamh Algar – both Screen International 2018 Stars of Tomorrow alumni, Ben Wheatley’s In The Earth, starring Joel Fry, Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires, and Reece Shearsmith – also a Sundance 2021 title, Limbo, directed by Ben Sharrock and starring Amir El-Masry, Saint Maud, from Screen’s 2018 Stars of Tomorrow writer/director Rose Glass and starring Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle, Sound of Metal, directed by Darius Marder, starring Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke.