Kino Lorber has acquired the rights to Agnieszka Holland’s critically acclaimed refugee drama, “Green Border”, for distribution in North America. The film tells the harrowing story of refugees stranded in the swampy forest land that makes up the Polish-Belarusian border. Mostly from North Africa and the Middle East, the refugees were promised easy passage into the European Union but found themselves stranded between two countries, unable to enter the EU and unable to return to Belarus.
“Green Border” premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the jury prize. Despite official condemnation from Poland’s far-right, the film has been a commercial success in the country. However, it was not selected to represent Poland in the Oscar race, with that honor going instead to “The Peasants”. Nevertheless, “Green Border” has been nominated for three European Film Awards, including best film and best director.
Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release for the film in 2024, followed by a home video, educational, and digital rollout on all major platforms. Modern Films has also acquired the rights for distribution in the U.K. The film has received widespread critical acclaim, winning several prizes at Venice and playing at key North American festivals such as Toronto, New York Film Festival, and AFI Fest.
The film explores the injustice and terror perpetuated at the Polish-Belarusian border from the perspective of refugees, Polish activists, and border guards. It has been described as immersive filmmaking at its most impactful, bringing to light the tragic plight of refugees trying to enter Europe.
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Agnieszka Holland, who earned an Oscar nomination for “Europa Europa” 30 years ago, directed the movie in collaboration with Kamila Tarabura and Katarzyna Warzecha, and co-wrote it with Maciej Pisuk and Gabriela Łazarkiewicz-Sieczko.
The film was produced by Metro Films in association with Astute Films and in co-production with Blick Prod., Marlene Film Prod., Beluga Tree, Canal+ Poland, dFlights, Czech Television, and the Mazovia Warsaw Film Fund. Holland produced it together with Marcin Wierzchosłąwski and Fred Bernstein. Mike Downey, Jeff Field, Emir Külal Haznevi, and Daniel Bergman served as executive producers.
Kino Lorber’s acquisition of “Green Border” is the latest in a series of high-profile international acquisitions, following the Cannes-winning documentary “Four Daughters”. The film has found perfect partners in Kino Lorber and Modern Films, both of whom champion diverse, distinctive, and impactful stories for audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
Despite facing criticism from far-right figures in Poland, Agnieszka Holland and the production team have continued to speak out against the hate messages and advocate for the ongoing refugee crisis. The film is a timely and important piece that sheds light on the refugee experience and the moral choices that ordinary people must make every day.
All in all, “Green Border” is a powerful and impactful film that seeks to humanize the plight of refugees and bring attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the Polish-Belarusian border. With its acquisition by Kino Lorber and Modern Films, it is set to reach a wider audience and continue to shed light on the issues it addresses.
