Italian art house distributor Academy Two has snapped up Italian rights to Iranian director Mani Haqiqi’s ‘A Dragon Arrives!’ from German sales company The Match Factory ahead of the quirky black comedy’s screening at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).
The movie deal for Italy marks its first international sale before its international premiere at the Berlinale, Variety reported.
Iran’s only participant at the competition section, Haqiqi’s 6th feature film as a director is vying for Golden and Silver Bear awards besides 17 other movies from across the world.
The movie follows three adventurous young men who run into danger due to their non authorized investigation into the legend of a seismological phenomenon in an ancient graveyard on a mysterious island.
The storyline comprises multiple narrators, flashbacks, and flight-of-fancy dramatizations of past events, all of which contribute to drive the narrative.
Amir Jadidi, Homayoun Ghanizadeh, Ehsan Goudarzi and Kiana Tajammol are in the cast.
Iranian films historically do well in Berlin. Last year Jafar Panahi’s ‘Taxi’ won the Golden Bear. Asghar Farhadi also claimed the prize for ‘A Separation’ in 2011.
Awarding the winners, the festival will conclude on February 21.
