Participant and Magnolia Acquire Romanian Government

Participant and Magnolia Pictures have acquired the North American rights to “Collective,” a documentary from director Alexander Nanau (“Toto and His Sisters”) that traces a thread of corruption to the best ranges of the Romanian authorities within the wake of a devastating nightclub hearth, the businesses introduced Thursday.

“Collective” made its world premiere on the Venice International Film Festival after which performed TIFF. Magnolia and Participant are eyeing a spring 2020 theatrical launch for the documentary.

In 2015, a fireplace on the Bucharest membership Colectiv left 27 useless and 180 injured. Soon, extra burn victims started dying in hospitals from wounds that weren’t life-threatening. Then, a health care provider blew the whistle to a group of investigative journalists and one revelation results in one other because the journalists begin to uncover an enormous well being care fraud. When a brand new well being minister is appointed, he provides unprecedented entry to his efforts to reform the corrupt system but additionally to the obstacles he faces.

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Following journalists, whistle-blowers, burn victims, and authorities officers, “Collective” is described as an uncompromising have a look at the impression of investigative journalism at its greatest.

“‘Collective’ is an amazing achievement in investigative filmmaking,” Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles mentioned in a press release. “Alexander Nanau takes us down a wild rabbit hole filled with improbable heroes and institutional villains that should serve as a dire warning to everyone who believes in a civilized society.”

“We are incredibly proud of a legacy of films about investigative journalists who expose corruption and injustice — from ‘Spotlight’ and ‘The Post’ to ‘Citizenfour’ and ‘Page One: Inside the New York Times,’” Diane Weyermann, Participant chief content material officer, mentioned in a press release. “And we are thrilled to be working with our friends at Magnolia on Alexander Nanau’s absolutely extraordinary ‘Collective.’”

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“With Magnolia and Participant, I am confident that ‘Collective’ will find a wide audience in North America,” Nanau mentioned in a press release. “I believe in the power of cinema, and hope to contribute with ‘Collective’ to a better understanding of the forces that shape our lives in today’s crumbling democracies. I feel honoured to go on this journey with the best in the field.”

Directed and filmed by Alexander Nanau, ‘Collective’ is produced by Nanau and Bianca Oana. The movie is an Alexander Nanau Production, Samsa Film Luxembourg, HBO Europe manufacturing, supported by Romanian Film Centre, Film Fund Luxembourg and Sundance Documentary Fund, with the participation of Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera, YES Docu. Hanka Kastelicova produced for HBO Europe and Bernard Michaux produced  for Samsa Film Luxembourg. Executive producers are Antony Root and Philippa Kowarsky.

Participant and Magnolia most lately collaborated on the Oscar nominee for Best Documentary, “RBG.” Magnolia will launch Participant’s “Slay the Dragon” in 2020.

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia EVP Dori Begley and Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden with Cinetic Media and Cinephil on behalf of the filmmakers, in addition to Danice Woodley, SVP of Business and Legal Affairs of Participant.