TrustNordisk is proud to announce that US distributor Music Box Films has acquired the North American distribution rights for Petra Volpe’s LATE SHIFT. Earlier today the selection committee appointed by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture (FOC) also selected LATE SHIFT as Switzerland’s official entry for the International Feature Film category for the upcoming Academy Awards®.
“We are thrilled to bring Late Shift to North American audiences. No one needs to bone up on the intricacies of the Swiss health care system before seeing Late Shift because Petra's movie is universal, a grounded thriller that's readily relatable to anyone who spends their working day on their feet. Leonie's outstanding central performance is a feat of stamina that drives home the dignity and strength of nurses everywhere. The Swiss Oscar committee has chosen wisely", states Brian Andreotti, Head of Acquisitions at Music Box Films.
“We are excited that Late Shift has been selected as the Swiss entry for the upcoming Academy Awards®. Late Shift offers a deeply human, relatable and engaging story. We believe that we together with Music Box Films as our US partner, can make it really far and we are happy to continue our strong relationship and cooperation with Music Box Films on this truly timely and unique film, says Susan Wendt, Managing Director at TrustNordisk.
Since its world premiere at Berlin International Film Festival in February, the gripping drama from director and screenwriter Petra Volpe has proven to be a commercial box office success and highly popular with audiences. After its domestic release on February 27th it held the number one spot at the Swiss box office for four consecutive weeks and in Germany, Austria and Switzerland it has so far reached more than 650.000 admissions in the cinemas. TrustNordisk has currently sold the film to more than 50 countries in the world.
LATE SHIFT delves into timely healthcare challenges, delivering a humanistic narrative that highlights the significance of compassionate care. The film is directed by Petra Volpe, known for her Tribeca Audience Award-winning feature THE DIVINE ORDER (2017), which sold to major territories world-wide and was selected as Switzerland’s official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film-category in 2018. LATE SHIFT stars Leonie Benesch, the EFP 2023 Shooting Star winner, recognized for her roles in the Academy Award®-nominated drama THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE (2023) and SEPTEMBER 5 (2024).
Synopsis:
FLORIA, a dedicated nurse, navigates the relentless pace on a surgical ward with unwavering dedication, infusing humanity and warmth into her patient care even though the shift is understaffed. As the day intensifies, LATE SHIFT transforms into a gripping race against time, culminating in a riveting climax.
LATE SHIFT is directed and written by Petra Volpe. The film is produced by Reto Schaerli and Lukas Hobi from Zodiac Pictures, in co-production with MMC Zodiac, Swiss Radio and Television and SRG SSR. With support from Federal Office of Culture, Zurcher Filmstiftung, German Federal Film Board, Suissimage and the cantons of Aargau and Lucerne. International sales are handled by TrustNordisk.
Music Box Films is the prestigious North American distributor of acclaimed international, independent, and documentary feature films. Recent releases include Cannes Directors’ Fortnight baseball comedy Eephus by Carson Lund; Ghost Trail, Jonathan Millet’s tense and haunting revenge thriller that premiered at Cannes Film Festival; and Sarah Friedland’s coming-of-old-age New York Times Critic’s Pick, Familiar Touch, starring Kathleen Chalfant. Upcoming releases include the new French comedy from master filmmaker Olivier Assayas, Suspended Time, and Charlie McDowell’s The Summer Book, starring Glenn Close. Music Box Films is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation, which also owns and operates the Music Box Theatre, Chicago’s premier venue for independent and foreign films. For more information, visit www.musicboxfilms.com.
TrustNordisk came to be in 2008, when film and production companies, Zentropa (est. 1991), and Nordisk Film (est. 1908), merged their sales arms Trust Film Sales and Nordisk Film International Sales. Based in Denmark, TrustNordisk is one of the leading sales agents in Europe with decades of experience and a diverse catalogue including works from influential Scandinavian and European auteurs and film makers. For more information, visit www.trustnordisk.com