Germany (Koch Media), Benelux (Wild Bunch) and Estonia (Estin Film) have acquired the rights to the fast-paced Icelandic thriller BLACK´S GAME, which has been shown at the European Film Market (EFM), Berlin International Film Festival.
Koch Media´s Head of Acquisitions and Sales Silke Wilfinger: “We are glad that we could acquire BLACK´S GAME which is a very strong crime movie in the tradition of Nicolas Winding Refn's work.”
On board already are UK (Entertainment One) and Swiss distributor Frenetic Films.
Resembling the PUSHER-trilogy (1996-2005) BLACK'S GAME has Nicolas Winding Refn (DRIVE, 2011), Chris Briggs (HOSTEL, 2005-2011), Andri Sveinsson and Heidar Gudjonsson as executive producers. Thor S. Sigurjonsson, Skuli Fr. Malmquist (ZikZak Filmworks) and Arnar Knutsson (Filmus) are producers and feature film debutant Óscar Thór Axelsson is directing.
BLACK´S GAME screened in Berlin´s EFM straight after participating in Rotterdam International Film Festiva´s Tiger Award Competition, where it became the highest audience-rated Tiger Award-nominee, making 4.4 out of 5.
“BLACK´S GAME never gives the vibe that it is a debut. It looks confidently made, juggles a large cast and a wide selection of locations is marvelously edited and as a result it moves like a snake on speed.” Twitch Film
“The film was adapted by the director from the novel BLACK CURSE by Stefán Máni and is, according to its opening credits “based on some shit that actually happened”. Certainly, the realistic tone represents one of the film´s major plusses. Even with the almost obligatory-feeling nods to directors Tarantino, Guy Ritchie and many (mainly American) drug-running tales, the story remains grounded in a recognizable Icelandic reality that adds to its believability and sets it somewhat apart from its brethren.” Cineurope