Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Senegal’s Oscar Submission ‘Banel & Adama’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Kino Lorber has acquired from Best Friend Forever all North American distribution rights to Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s directorial debut “Banel & Adama,” a beautifully haunting story of young love and Senegal’s official entry for the 96th Academy Awards. Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release in 2024, followed by a home video, educational and digital release on all major platforms.
“Banel & Adama” made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was the only first feature to premiere in Competition, and went on to play at the Toronto and London film festivals. It screens this week in competition at Marrakech Film Festival.
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The film centers on young married couple Banel and Adama, who are fiercely in love. They live in a remote village in northern Senegal. For them, nothing else exists. Yet their perfect everlasting love is on a collision course with their community’s customs. Because in this world, there is no room for passion, let alone chaos.
“One of the most memorable films at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, ‘Banel & Adama’ is a dreamlike, lyrical story of doomed young love, anchored by Khady Mane as the fierce and captivating Banel,” said Wendy Lidell, senior VP of theatrical distribution and acquisitions for Kino Lorber. “It’s an impressively confident debut feature from writer/director Ramata-Toulaye Sy, whose meticulously composed shots and vibrant colors capture both the beauty of Senegal and the young lovers at the center of her story.”
Sy previously directed the short film “Astel,” which was a prizewinner at the 2021 Toronto Film Festival, and an official selection of Edinburgh Film Festival, and New Directors/New Films 2022.
Sy said: “Being Senegal’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature is such an honor for me and my entire team, but it’s above all a chance for the African continent and African film industry, led by a new generation of young directors, to be represented at the most prestigious awards in the industry. I’m looking forward to sharing this African love story with audiences.”
“Banel & Adama” is a A La Chauve Souris and Take Shelter production in co-production with Astou Films, Astou Production, DS Productions, Canal+ International and Arte France Cinema. The film is produced by Eric Névé, Margaux Juvénal and Maud Leclair Névé, and co-produced by Souleymane Kébé, Oumar Gabar Sy, and Andrey Samouté Diarra.
The deal was brokered by Lidell and Martin Gondre of Best Friend Forever, which has already sold the film to multiple distributors, as reported in Variety exclusively here.
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