26/07/2023 - The French international sales agent is wagering on Sofia Exarchou’s second feature film, selected in competition in Locarno, and Cristi Puiu’s MMXX, which is competing in San Sebastián

Animal by Sofia Exarchou

Whilst pressing on with sales of Music [+see also:
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film profile], Sofia Exarchou’s second feature film, which will world premiere in competition. Revealed by way of Park [+see also:
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film profile] (unveiled in Toronto Discovery and the winner of the New Directors competition in San Sebastian 2016), the Greek filmmaker is confirming, according to Shellac, "her full talent with this captivating film about the underside of the tourism and entertainment industry, led by Dimitra Vlagopoulou (who also starred in Park), who is imposing herself as an excellent actress and one to watch."

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Written by the director, the story of Animal - which also stars Flomaria Papadaki, Ahilleas Hariskos and Voodoo Jürgens - unfolds under the hot, Greek sun where the entertainment staff at an all-inclusive island resort are gearing up for the busy, tourist season. Kalia is the leader of the pack, and paper decor, glossy costumes and dance shows fill the stage. As summer intensifies and the pressure of work builds up, their nights become violent and Kalia’s struggle is revealed in the darkness. But when the lights come back on, the show too must go on. Animal is produced by Greece’s Homemade Films in co-production with Austria’s Nabis Filmgroup, Romania’s Digital Cube, Cypriot firm Felony Film Productions and Bulgaria’s ARS Digital Studio.

Shellac’s line-up includes another first-class asset in the form of MMXX [+see also:
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film profile] by Cristi Puiu, whose first four feature films were presented in Cannes before Malmkrog [+see also:
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film profile] walked away with the Best Director trophy in the 2020 Berlinale’s Encounters showcase. The Romanian filmmaker’s latest opus - a black, human comedy set in a crisis-torn Europe and produced by his own company Mandragora together with Moldova’s YOUBESC Film and Shellac - is set to be unveiled in competition at the 71st San Sebastian Film Festival (running 22 – 30 September) and looks set to result in impressive sales for Shellac.

(Translated from French)