“Sense of an Ending” Jim Broadbent drama sells internationally

PanARMENIAN.Net - Glen Basner’s FilmNation Entertainment has sold out the world on Ritesh Batra’s “The Sense of an Ending”, one of a burgeoning slate of titles that FilmNation has either produced, financed or co-financed as it now builds rapidly as not only a sales but production-financing company, Variety reports.

“Sense” stars Jim Broadbent, “Downton Abbey’s” Michelle Dockery and Charlotte Rampling, and is co-financed by BBC Films and produced by Origin Pictures.

International sales were completed at Berlin’s European Film Market after a special screening of footage from FilmNation’s current production slate.

In major deals, Sony has acquired Latin America and Eastern Europe; Wild Bunch has closed France, Germany, Italy and Spain; Studiocanal took the U.K.; and Fox International Channels has acquired Pan-Asian pay TV rights.

Longride (Japan), Roadshow (Australia), Svensk (Scandinavia), Mediasoft (South Korea), and Lumiere (Benelux) have picked up the drama that also stars Harriet Walter and Emily Mortimer.

Among other territories closed are Greece (Spentzos), Israel (Lev), the Middle East (Italia), Portugal (Lusomundo), Switzerland (Frenetic), Turkey (Aqua), Hong Kong (Edko), India (PVR), Indonesia (Prima Cinema), Singapore (Shaw Renters) and South Africa (Ster Kinekor).

Origin’s David Thompson and Ed Rubin are producing “Sense,” which is now in post-production. Batra’s previous film, the critically acclaimed hit “The Lunchbox,” was BAFTA nominated and won the Viewers’ Choice Award at the 2014 Cannes Festival.

“After the wonder that was ‘The Lunchbox,’ Ritesh has made an exceptional film that is truly touching. We couldn’t be more proud to have worked so closely with him and Origin Pictures on it and look forward to seeing it in release around the world,” stated Tara Erer, FilmNation’s vice president, international sales.

Adapted by award-winning playwright Nick Payne (“Constellations”) from Julian Barnes’ bestseller, “The Sense of an Ending” stars Broadbent as a recluse who is forced to face the devastating legacy of his first love and revise his understanding of his own nature.

Origin’s David Thompson and Ed Rubin are producing “Sense,” which is now in post-production. Batra’s previous film, the critically acclaimed hit “The Lunchbox,” was BAFTA nominated and won the Viewers’ Choice Award at the 2014 Cannes Festival.

FilmNation productions slated for a 2016 release include Denis Villeneuve’s “Story of Your Life,” starring Amy Adams, and John Lee Hancock’s “The Founder,” with Michael Keaton. Projects FilmNation has financed include “HHhH,” “The Sense of an Ending” and “The Big Sick.”

FilmNation is in development on Paul Greengrass’s Berlin Wall drama “The Tunnels,” “The Good House,” to star Robert De Niro, and more than a dozen other titles.