Film Movement has acquired the U.S. rights to Maciek Hamela’s “In the Rearview,” following its Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival premieres. Film Movement has a theatrical release and awards campaign planned with the documentary’s producers and Polish Film Institute, which co-financed the film. “In the Rearview” won the Grand Jury Award at the Sheffield DocFest and will next play in DOC NYC as a Winner’s Circle selection as well as the International documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.
“We are proud to bring this intimate, yet powerful and devastating film to U.S. audiences, reminding us all of the human perspective of a war which continues to rage,” Film Movement president Michael Rosenberg said in a statement.
The award-winning documentary offers an intimate observation of the Russia-Ukraine war while it unfolds, following multiple generations of Ukrainian civilians forced to abandon their homes and rely on Hamela’s volunteer aid van to escape. Hamela travels through minefields and attempts to pass numerous military checkpoints in order to transport refugees to Poland. The documentary gives viewers a seat in Hamela’s van, which serves as a waiting room, hospital, shelter and place for confessions between those thrown together by chance.
“In the Rearview” has been acquired by Filmin in Spain and Portugla, VG in Norway, Fabula in Turkey and PCCW in Hong Kong. New Story also released the film in France on Nov. 8 and will have its Polish theatrical release on Nov. 24. It was also recently shortlisted by the International documentary Association for Best Feature documentary.
Cinephile is representing the worldwide rights for the film and negotiated the deal for the filmmakers with Rosenberg at Film Movement. Piotr Grawender of Affinity Cine, Maciek Hamela of Pemplum, Jean-Marie Gigon of SaNoSi Productions and Anna Palenchuk of 435 FILMS produced the film.
