By MCN Editor editor@moviecitynews.com

K5 INTERNATIONAL’S AWARD-WINNING HERE SELLS TO STRAND FOR US

Posted Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 - Comments Off on K5 INTERNATIONAL’S AWARD-WINNING HERE SELLS TO STRAND FOR US
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Ben Foster starrer and winner of CICAE Award at Berlinale being sold by K5 International at Cannes Marché

CANNES.  HERE, the CICAE Award winner at this year’s Berlin Film Festival has sold to Strand Releasing for distribution in the US.

Co-written and directed by hotly tipped US filmmaker Braden King, produced by Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen and starring Ben Foster (The Mechanic, The Messenger) and Lubna Azabal (Incendies, I Am Slave), HERE is a beautifully realised road movie that chronicles a brief but intense romantic relationship between an American satellite-mapping engineer (Foster) and an expatriate Armenian photographer (Azabal), who impulsively decide to travel together into uncharted territory.

The first American film produced in the country of Armenia, HERE was a buzz title at Sundance before securing the CICAE Award at Berlin in February.

“It’s been gratifying to see HERE connect so strongly with international audiences on the festival circuit,” says co-writer/director King.  “The ways in which the film has resonated with disparate audiences transcends borders, culture and national identity.  The screenings have been an exciting real-world extension of the film’s story and themes.”

Van Hoy and Knudsen add – “We’re thrilled that HERE has found a home with Strand – one of the most fearless and uncompromising distributors in contemporary cinema.  We have the utmost respect for Marcus and Jon and look forward to collaborating with them on the film’s U.S. release.”

Kevin Iwashina and Christine D’Souza of Preferred Media, who are co-reps with K5 International on the film in North America, negotiated the deal.  Marcus Hu and Jon Gerrans negotiated for Strand Releasing.

“Strand is the perfect home for the film in the US,” says K5 International’s Carl Clifton.  “They are passionate and sophisticated distributors who have totally embraced the unique cinematic experience that HERE delivers. We’re confident that distributors in other territories will share Strand’s passion for it during Cannes when we screen the film.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with Braden and the team.  Jay and Lars have been longtime friends, so this should be an amazing experience,” says Strand Releasing’s Marcus Hu.

K5 has a number of hot new titles it is bringing to this year’s Cannes Marché including Paul Walker starrer Vehicle 19, Dean Zanuck titles Voice From the Stone and Liberty Lane, and SJ Clarkson‘s much-loved Toast starring Helena Bonham Carter.

HERE is screening in the market on Thursday, May 12th, 9.15 am – PALAIS J

For further information contact:

Links to HERE online:

http://www.herefilm.info

facebook.com/herefilm

About K5 International

K5 INTERNATIONAL handles worldwide sales of commercially-oriented, and primarily, English language feature films. K5 International is a partner to producers, providing extensive support for feature film projects at all stages of development, financing, production, distribution, marketing and sales.  The key executives have more than 50 years of combined experience in sales and marketing as well as in-depth knowledge in the fields of production, co-production and film financing. K5 International’s main office is located in Munich, with satellite offices in London and Los Angeles.

About Strand Releasing

Strand Releasing is based in Culver City and run by Co-Presidents Gerrans and Hu.  Strand currently has the Palme D’or winner, UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES in theatrical release.  Upcoming features from Strand include Catherine Breillat’s THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, Paddy Considine’s TYRANNOSAUR and Craig McCall’s CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF.

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