Polish LGBT distributor Tongariro Releasing has secured all-rights deals for North America, the UK, France and German-speaking Europe for Kamil Krawczycki’s Elephant.
Elephant world premiered as a special screening at New Horizons International Film Festival in Wroclaw on Wednesday (July 27).
The film has sold to TLA Releasing for the USA, Canada and the UK, Optimale for France, and to Berlin-based Salzgeber Medien for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Elephant was inspired by Krawczycki’s own experiences growing up in his home town in the mountains of Southern Poland.
It’s the story of a young man who runs a small horse farm, and looks after his possessive mother. Their relation is not easy but it becomes even more difficult when he falls in love with an older musician Dawid, and begins to dream of leaving home.
The film was shot on location last autumn at a farm near Warsaw and in the Podhale region, sometimes referred to as the “Polish Highlands”.
“This is a story of a young guy whose family obligations affect his freedom, but he manages to hide his desires,” Krawczycki said. “I wanted to portray a character who is vulnerable and strong at the same time. I know that many queer people in Poland can relate to that. By telling this story, I wanted to pay tribute to them and give them a bit of hope which is needed in Poland right now.”
Speaking to Screen at New Horizons, Tongariro’s co-founder Jakub Mróz said he is now deciding on the…
