Intramovies Sells Venice Horizons Winner ‘Paradise Is Burning’ in Key Territories Ahead of Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)
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Rome-based Intramovies has clinched further key sales on the Swedish pic “Paradise is Burning” for which rising talent Mika Gustafson won best director and writer at the 2023 Venice Orizzonti.
The coming-of-age drama was sold to Conic in the U.K. and Ireland, HBO Max for Eastern Europe (TV and VOD rights), Leopardo Filmes in Portugal, Providence/Belas Artes Grupo Brazil, and Mongsang in South Korea.
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The story turns on young siblings Laura, Mira and Steffi, who live a totally free and wild life with no parental supervision. When social services intervene, the eldest sister, Laura (Bianca Delbravo-best actress for her role at Lisbon & Estoril Fest), tries to convince the recently befriended Hanna (Ida Engvoll of Netflix’s “Love & Anarchy”) to be the sisters’ stand-in mother.
“The very talented Swedish director Mika Gustafson has brilliantly captured a portrait of adolescence,” commented Mongsang’s CEO Jihyun Min. “Paradise Is Burning” is vibrant and visually stunning but simultaneously deep and fragile. We couldn’t imagine any other actress but Bianca Delbravo for Laura, who incredibly performs her struggles with the overwhelming reality of family and the ambivalent feelings for love. We are fascinated by this compelling work and thrilled to present it to Korea,” he added.
The fresh sales follow earlier deals clinched with Epicentre Films in France, Fandango Distribution in Italy, Stendahl Films in Spain, Angel Films in Denmark, and Cinemanse in Finland. Last fall, top Swedish arthouse specialist TriArt handled the domestic release to rave reviews.
The feature was produced by Hobab’s Nima Yousefi in Sweden, with co-producers Marco Valerio Fusco and Micaela Fusco of Italy’s Intramovies, Maria Stevnbak Westergren of Denmark’s ToolBox Film, Venla Hellstedt and Jenni Jauri of Finland’s Tuffi Films.
Alongside “Paradise is Burning,” the long-established Intramovies will be at the Cannes market with the highly-anticipated Italian drama “The Life Apart” by seasoned director Marco Tullio Giordana, Cannes Palme d’Or, runner-up last year with “Kidnapped.” The film headlining “The Best of Youth’s” Sonia Bergamasco, “Kidnapped’s” Paolo Pierobon and rising star Valentina Bellè is currently in post-production.
Completed titles include the award-winning Italian/Brazilian doc “The Outpost,” Israeli drama thriller “The Vanishing Soldier” and Italian/Swiss “Body Odyssey.”
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