BERLIN, GERMANY (February 12, 2015) – Sundance Selects announced today from the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival that the company is acquiring North American rights to Andrew Haigh’s 45 YEARS. Based on the short story by David Constantine and adapted by Haigh, the film stars Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. The film was produced by Tristan Goligher at London-based The Bureau. The film’s executive producers are Christopher Collins, Lizzie Francke, Sam Lavender, Tessa Ross, Richard Holmes and Vincent Gadelle. 45 YEARS had its world premiere this week in competition at the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival.
45 YEARS follows Kate (Rampling), who is in the middle of preparations for her 45th wedding anniversary when her husband Geoff (Courtenay) receives the news that the body of his old girlfriend, who died fifty years earlier in a fatal accident in the Swiss Alps, has finally been found, frozen in ice and time. Geoff retreats into a distant world of memories while Kate endeavors to suppress her burgeoning jealousy and anxiety with pragmatism.
“45 YEARS is a poignant exploration of love, life, and commitment,” says Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films. “We loved collaborating with Andrew on WEEKEND, and are thrilled to be working with him and Tristan once again.”
“Working with Sundance Selects on WEEKEND was an incredible experience and they did a wonderful job with that film. They are true lovers of cinema and I am incredibly excited to be back with them,” says Haigh.
“The breakout success of WEEKEND owed so much to the passion and belief of Sundance Selects. We’re delighted to be partnering with them again on 45 YEARS,” says Goligher.
The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, SVP of Acquisitions from Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Match Factory on behalf of the filmmakers.
Sundance Selects is a sister label to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
45 YEARS was financed by the BFI, Film4 and Creative England and co-developed by Film4 and the BFI.
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About SUNDANCE SELECTS
Established in 2009 and based in New York City, Sundance Selects is a leading U.S. distributor of prestige films focusing on American independents, documentaries and world cinema. Previous releases include the Academy Award nominated Dardenne Brothers’ TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT starring Best Actress nominee Marion Cotillard; David France’s Academy Award nominated documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE; Wim Wenders’ Academy Award nominated documentary PINA; Werner Herzog’s critically acclaimed documentary CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS; Abdellatif Kechiche’s award-winning BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR, starring Adèle Exarchopoulos; Richard Rowley’s Academy Award nominated DIRTY WARS; and John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s Academy Award nominated documentary FINDING VIVIAN MAIER. Sundance Selects is a sister label to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About THE BUREAU
The Bureau is an established, BAFTA winning company well known for launching distinctive film makers such Asif Kapadia (The Warrior), Alexis Dos Santos (Unmade beds) and Andrew Haigh (Weekend). The company recently co-produced Roger Michel’s Le Weekend with Free Range Films, starring Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan, and produced, in tandem with Potboiler Productions, Alan Rickman’s A Little Chaos, starring Kate Winslet and Matthias Schoenaerts. The Bureau’s most recent production is Andrew Haigh’s Berlinale Competition entry 45 Years, starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay.
About BFI
45 Years was developed and produced with the support of the BFI.
With over £26m to invest a year, the BFI is the UK’s largest public investor in film – supporting first-class film-making through development and production, to distribution and international sales.
Recent releases backed by the BFI Film Fund include Mike Leigh’s critical and box office hit, Mr. Turner; Matthew Warchus’s Pride; Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin; Yann Demange’s ’71; Randall Wright’s Hockney; Lone Scherfig’s The Riot Club; Amma Asante’s Belle; Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall; Joanna Hogg’s Exhibition; John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary; Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s 20,000 Days on Earth; and André Singer’s Night Will Fall.
New films that the BFI Film Fund has backed include John Crowley’s Brooklyn; John Maclean’s Slow West, Louise Osmond’s Dark Horse and Jerry Rothwell’s How to Change the World which all premiered at Sundance in January; Rufus Norris’ London Road; Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette; Peter Strickland’s The Duke Of Burgundy; Carol Morley’s The Falling; Guy Myhill’s The Goob; Duane Hopkins’ Bypass; Daniel Wolfe’s Catch Me Daddy; Debbie Tucker-Green’s Second Coming; Gerard Johnson’s Hyena; Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster; Terence Davies’ Sunset Song; Richard Bracewell’s Bill; Brian Hill’s Thomas Quick; Jon Wright’s Robot Overlords; Morgan Matthews’ X+Y; Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise; Omer Fast’s Remainder; Esther May Campbell’s Light Years; and David Farr’s The Ones Below.
The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:
• Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
• Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for
• today and future generations
• Investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work
• Promoting British film and talent to the world
• Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences
About FILM4
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established.
Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award-winners such as Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s Another Year, Chris Morris’ Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers, Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin and David Mackenzie’s Starred Up,
Film4’s recently released slate includes Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank, Anton Corbijn’s A Most Wanted Man, Lone Sherfig’s The Riot Club, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s 20,000 Days on Earth, Yann Demange’s ’71 and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina. Forthcoming releases include Peter Strickland’s The Duke of Burgundy, Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette, Todd Haynes’ Carol, Daniel Wolfe’s Catch Me Daddy, Gerard Johnson’s Hyena, Louise Osmond’s Dark Horse, Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth, Debbie Tucker Green’s Second Coming and Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise.
For further information visit www.film4.com/productions
About CREATIVE ENGLAND
Creative England invests in and supports creative ideas, talent and businesses in film, TV, games and digital media. We aim to grow the brightest, the best, and those with the most promise so that individuals and businesses can achieve their full creative and commercial potential. We help identify future opportunities to grow the economy and generate jobs. www.creativeengland.co.uk
With a development slate of over 50 production investment projects, feature films and shorts, Creative England is committed to growing excellence and talent across the industry, ensuring that the most dynamic voices and creative ideas reach their fullest potential. From the flagship micro budget iFeatures programme and entry level short film initiative iShorts, to production funding and film business support, Creative England offers a varied programme of investment and development for new and emerging talent at any stage of their career.
’45 Years’ is the first completed project to be supported through Creative England’s Production Funding, an incentive designed to help non-London based filmmakers tell stories set in or around the English regions.