Edge scores trio of prize winners

This year’s edition of European Film Market Online has come to an end and Edge Entertainment proudly presents the acquisition of three acclaimed multi-awarded films from Berlin and Sundance; Maria Schrader’s futuristic love story I’m Your Man starring Maren Eggert and Dan Stevens, the multiple-award winning Kosovo drama Hive that became this year’s Sundance-sensation as well as the renowned Maltese feature Luzzu.

I'm Your Man by Maria Schrader

I’m Your Man (2021, Germany) centers on Alma, a scientist at the famous Pergamon Museum in Berlin. In order to obtain research funds for her work, she is persuaded to participate in an extraordinary study. For three weeks, she has to live with a humanoid robot tailored to her character and needs, whose artificial intelligence is designed to be the perfect life partner for her. Alma meets Tom, a machine in human form in a class of its own, created solely to make her happy.

This futuristic love story is a comic-tragic tale about the questions of love, longing and what makes a human being human. Directed by Emmy Award winner Maria Schrader (who directed the popular Netflix series Unorthodox and acclaimed Farewell to Europe) the film includes top-notch performances by Dan Steven (Downton Abbey) Maren Eggert (I Was at Home, But…) and Sandra Hüller (Toni Erdman). The film world premiered in the Berlinale Competition where Eggert recieved the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance. Edge Entertainment has acquired the rights for the Nordic countries from Beta Cinema.

Hive by Blerta Basholli

Hive (2021, Kosovo) is director and writer Blerta Basholli’s first feature film. Set in Kosovo, the film tells the true story of Fahrije, a young woman who is struggling to make ends meet ever since her husband went missing in the war. In order to provide for her family she embarks on a business venture selling homemade ajvar, but in the traditional patriarchal village where she lives, her ambition and efforts to empower herself and other women are not seen as positive things.

Based on a real story, Hive is an uplifting gem about ingenuity and ambition challenging age-old belief systems and which proves nothing can stop women on a mission. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews where it won three awards including Grand Jury Prize, Best Director and the Audience Award. Edge Entertainment has acquired the rights for the Nordic countries from LevelK.

Luzzu by Alex Camilleri

Luzzu (2021, Malta) is the first Maltese feature ever to compete at a major international festival, and a glimpse into the beauty of an island rarely portrayed in cinema. The film follows Jesmark, a struggling fisherman of the island of Malta, who is forced to turn his back on generations of tradition and risk everything by entering the world of blackmarket fishing to provide for his wife and newborn baby.

The film directed by debut director Alex Camilleri world premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2021 to rave reviews where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Acting for the stunning performance by Jesmark Scicluna. It’s produced by Rebecca Anastasi and Ramin Bahrain (The White Tiger, 99 Homes) and was bought by Kino Lorber for distribution in the US and Canada. Edge Entertainment has acquired the rights for the Nordic and Baltics countries from Memento Films.