Press release: MARKING KAFKA’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY, GEORG MAAS’ AND JUDITH KAUFMANN’S ’THE GLORY OF LIFE’ SECURES MAJOR DISTRIBUTION DEALS, INCL. NORTH AMERICA AND FRANCE

By TrustNordisk

03-06-2024

 

Georg Maas and Judith Kaufmann’s heartfelt biopic THE GLORY OF LIFE about the legendary author Franz Kafka’s last love affair has captured global audiences and secured major distribution deals across the globe.
In time for Kafka's 100th anniversary, the film has been acquired for distribution in North America, France, Benelux, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Former Yugoslavia, Taiwan, and Australia.

 

3 June, Copenhagen – Following a successful showcase at Marche du Film in Cannes and in celebration of Franz Kafka’s 100th anniversary, we are delighted to announce that we have closed a range of major territories worldwide of Georg Maas and Judith Kaufmann’s drama THE GLORY OF LIFE. Centered around the world-renowned author Franz Kafka and his great love Dora Diamant, the film has garnered great interest across key territories world-wide. The film had a closed market screening in Cannes and has now been sold to North America (Menemsha Films), France (Condor), Benelux (September Film), Spain (Divisa Red), Italy (Wanted Cinema), Turkey (Ozen Film), Former Yugoslavia (Cinemania Group), Taiwan (Swallow Wings) and Australia (Moving Story).
 

Susan Wendt, Managing Director of TrustNordisk, comments on the recent sales activities:
We are all very thrilled about the global response to THE GLORY OF LIFE. This widespread interest is a testament to the enduring fascination with Kafka’s extraordinary life and love story, and we find our selected distributors to be the ideal partners for the film’s international release.’

 

Neil Friedman, Founder and President of Menemsha Films, the distributor for North America, adds:

Menemsha is always delighted to do business together with TrustNordisk and particularly now with "The Glory of Life", commemorating the 100th anniversary of Kafka's passing.

 

The gripping drama delves into the life of Franz Kafka, the celebrated author of “Metamorphosis”, and his meeting with Dora Diamant, his final great love. Starring the lead are Henriette Confurius, best known for her performance in TRANSATLANTIC (2023), and Sabin Tambrea for his role in LUDWIG II (2012).
The film is directed by established Georg Maas and the multi-award-winning cinematographer Judith Kaufmann, who also worked together on the feature TWO LIVES (2012).

 

Synopsis:
Because of the power of love, the last year of Franz Kafka's life becomes his happiest. He has never before been able to allow himself to experience intimacy, he suffers from tuberculosis and is dependent on his overbearing family. But the worldly wise Dora Diamant accepts him as he is. And he accepts her.
The two meet in 1923 on the Baltic Sea coast, where he is convalescing and she is working in a Jewish Volksheim. Together they go to Berlin and, when Franz's health deteriorates rapidly, to a sanatorium in Austria. Barely a year after they meet, he dies. The memory of their time together will shape Dora for the rest of her life.

 

THE GLORY OF LIFE, based on the bestselling novel by Michael Kumpfmüller, is directed by Georg Maas and Judith Kaufmann, written by Georg Maas and Michael Gutmann, produced by Helge Sasse and Solveig Fina for Tempest Film and Tommy Pridnig for Lotus Film with support from the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MV Filmförderung, Filmstiftung NRW, FFA Filmförderungsanstalt, Deutscher Filmförderfonds, Österreichisches Filminstitut, ÖFI+, ORF Film/Fernseh-Abkommen, Filmfonds Wien. Local distribution by Majestic Film. International sales handled by TrustNordisk.

The film was released locally on 14 March 2024.

Learn more about the film.