MK2 Films Boards ‘Peacock’ by Cannes Cinefondation Alumn Bernhard Wenger, Starring ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Star Albrecht Schuch (EXCLUSIVE)

Elsa Keslassy
·2 min read
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MK2 Films has boarded Bernhard Wenger’s feature debut, “Peacock,” a tragicomedy headlined by Albrecht Schuch, the German actor who starred in “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “System Crasher.”

An up-and-coming Austrian director, Wenger developed the script at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cinefondation residency and was part of Berlinale Talents in 2020. His shorts, including “Keeping Balance,” “Guy Proposes to His Girlfriend on a Mountain” and “Excuse Me, I’m Looking for the Ping-Pong Room and My Girlfriend,” have played at festivals in Chicago, Palm Springs and Nashville, among others.

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MK2 Films’ team, spearheaded by Fionnuala Jamison, is kicking off sales on “Peacock” at the American Film Market. The project is being pitched as a “corrosive comedy” capturing “the essence of human relationships.”

“Peacock” tells the story Matthias who works at a rent-a-friend agency and finds it increasingly difficult to open up again and be authentic in his private life. Wenger said he had the idea of making a film revolving around a rent-a-friend-agency after a trip to Japan where he came cross these types of venues. The character of Matthias is based on an agency employee whom he met in 2018 during research in Japan.

“The premise of the film is therefore not an abstruse dystopian construct, but rather an imminent reality I am worried about,” said Wenger, adding that he’s “influenced by Scandinavian Cinema and British black comedy.” He said the film boasts “very visual humour” and places characters into “weird situations we are all familiar with from everyday life.”

“By pushing his characters to the limit, Wenger has created an acerbic comedy that could make you question who you really are,” said Jamison, adding that MK2 Films was drawn to the director because of “his precise style and dark sense of humor.” The executive said the film “takes a satirical view of the (non-)values of our society.”

Now in post-production, the film is produced by NGF Geyrhalter Filmproduktion and Cala Filmproduktion. NGF’s recent credits include Clara Stern’s ”Breaking the Ice,” which played at Tribeca in 2022.

“Peacock” will be released in Germany and Austria by Wild Bunch Germany. MK2 Films is handling international sales of the film outside of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

MK2 Films’ acquisition of “Peacock” underscores the sales company’s drive to work with promising new filmmakers alongside veteran directors. The company’s slate includes “Reality,” Tina Satter’s film starring Sydney Sweeney, and Joachim Trier’s next film.

Another first look at “Peacock:”

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