The upcoming drama FRANK & LOUIS (working title) by critically acclaimed director Petra Volpe (LATE SHIFT, 2025; THE DIVINE ORDER, 2017) has secured major distribution partners, with Constantin Film set to release the film in Germany and Austria, Filmcoopi in Switzerland, and September Film acquiring rights for the Benelux region. The film stars Kingsley Ben-Adir and Rob Morgan in the lead accompanied by René Pérez Joglar (Residente), Indira Varma and Rosalind Eleazar.
16 May, Copenhagen – Petra Volpe’s upcoming drama FRANK & LOUIS (working title) has secured key early sales as production gets underway. Constantin Film has picked up rights for Germany and Austria and Filmcoopi for Switzerland, while September Film will handle distribution in the Benelux region. Currently in production, the film is generating strong interest within the industry.
In FRANK & LOUIS, a man serving a life sentence takes an in-prison job caring for ageing and infirm prisoners suffering from memory loss diseases. What starts as a self-serving mission for parole turns into a deep emotional and transformative relationship with a fellow inmate, offering a glimmer of redemption in an otherwise unforgiving place.
A stellar team on and off screen
The film stars an internationally acclaimed cast with Kingsley Ben-Adir in the role of Frank (BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE, 2024; BARBIE, 2023; ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI, 2020) and Rob Morgan in the role of Louis (DON'T LOOK UP, 2021; BULL, 2019; MUDBOUND, 2017).
The cast also includes Indira Varma (GAME OF THRONES), Rosalind Eleazar (SLOW HORSES) and multiple Grammy-winning artist and actor René Pérez Joglar (IN THE SUMMERS, 2024), also known as Residente.
Besides a stellar cast on screen, the film brings together an exceptional creative team behind the scenes. The script is penned by the film’s director Petra Volpe, and Esther Bernstorff, and the production is led by Reto Schaerli and Lukas Hobi for Zodiac Pictures, Switzerland’s leading production company, together with Georgie Paget and Thembisa Cochrane for Caspian Films.
As both co-writer and director, Volpe brings significant experience and acclaim to the project. Volpe is a Swiss-Italian screenwriter and director. Her 2017 feature, THE DIVINE ORDER, was the Swiss entry at that year’s Academy Awards® and debuted and won three awards at the Tribeca Film Festival. Volpe’s debut film DREAMLAND (2013) was nominated for four Swiss Film Awards, and her screenplay, HEIDI (2015), went on to become Switzerland’s most internationally successful film of all time.
Her latest film LATE SHIFT, starring Leonie Benesch, celebrated its world premiere in the prestigious Special Gala section at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where the film received a standing ovation and great reviews from the international media. Since its local release on February 27 2025, the film has performed exceptionally well in cinemas across Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, surpassing expectations and achieving a box office gross of USD 7 million within the first eight weeks and currently more than 550,000 admissions in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Volpe is represented by Cora Olson of Range Media Partners in the US and Beate Wolgast of Die Agenten in Germany.
FRANK & LOUIS is directed by Petra Volpe and written by Petra Volpe and Esther Bernstorff. The film is produced by Reto Schaerli and Lukas Hobi from Zodiac Pictures, in co-production with Caspian Films, Swiss Radio and Television and SRG SSR. With support from Federal Office of Culture, Zürcher Filmstiftung, Suissimage, MEDIA Desk Suisse and the cantons of Aargau and Lucerne.
International sales are handled by TrustNordisk.
For more info about the film, please visit our website.
