The film world premiered at Tribeca, where it opened the Spotlight section, and will play next in competition at Beijing.<\/b>
\nItalian powerhouse Medusa has acquired Pan Nalin\u2019s \u201cLast Film Show,\u201d which is being sold worldwide by Orange Studio. Medusa will distribute in Italy. Orange Studio and Medusa revealed the deal on the sidelines of the ongoing Venice Film Festival. Nalin is known for his eclectic, and visually striking, body of work including \u201cSamsara,\u201d \u201cValley of Flowers\u201d and \u201cAngry Indian Goddesses.\u201d The partly autobiographical drama \u201cLast Film Show\u201d takes Nalin back to his roots in Saurashtra, Gujarat, western India, where it was filmed. The story is set against the backdrop of Indian cinemas witnessing a massive transition from celluloid to digital where hundreds of single-screen cinemas are either in ruins or have disappeared altogether. The film follows 9-year-old boy Samay, whose life turns upside down after watching his first movie at the Galaxy Cinema. He passionately falls in love with films against his father\u2019s wish. Samay strikes a deal with Fazal, the projectionist, who will let him watch movies for free in exchange for eating the contents of his lunchbox. Their food-for-films deal turns into an endearing friendship, but heartbreaking choices lie ahead. The film world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it opened the Spotlight section, and went on to be the runner-up at the audience awards. It will have its China premiere at the Beijing International Film Festival later this month, where it is competing for the Tiantan Award with a jury led by Gong Li. It will also play at several festivals in the fall. \u201cWe are very happy to distribute the film \u2018Last Film Show\u2019 in Italy,\u201d said Giampaolo Letta, CEO of Medusa Film. \u201cWe strongly believe in this magic movie which represents for us the great power of cinema and its renaissance after this extremely difficult period, with the moving story of a child who falls in love with the cinematic image. We think that Nalin\u2019s film will be one of the most important movies for the next year.\u201d Orange Studio has already sold the picture to the U.S. (Samuel Goldwyn Films), Japan (Shochiku), Germany and Austria (Neue Visionen), Spain (Karma Films), Portugal (Nos Lusomundo), Russia\/CIS (Capella), Czech Republic\/Slovakia (Bohemia Motion Picture), Israel (Red Cape\/Nachson), Turkey (Filmarti), Scandinavia (Studio Show Entertainment) and U.K. (Hyphen Films). Orange Studio will handle the release in France. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to add Italy to the list of territories where moviegoers will have the opportunity to experience the love letter to the magic of cinema \u2018Last Film Show\u2019 embodies, especially with a release operated by the fantastic team of Medusa,\u201d said Kristina Zimmermann, CEO of Orange Studio. The film is produced by Dheer Momaya for Jugaad Motion Picture, Nalin for Monsoon Films and Marc Duale for Stranger88 in co-production with Virginie Lacombe of Virginie Films and Eric Dupont of Incognito Films. \u201cMedusa coming on board to distribute \u2018Last Film Show\u2019 is the greatest honor for an Indian film,\u201d said Nalin. \u201cSince my debut feature \u2018Samsara,\u2019 Italian audiences have always embraced my movies with great passion. So in this magical land of cinema, it is so exciting to have a great partner like Medusa, and I am certain that \u2018Last Film Show\u2019 will entertain and inspire Italian people in many ways and make them fall in love with movies all over again.\u201d Both Orange Studio and Samuel Goldwyn Films believe that the film is a serious contender for India at the Oscars\u2019 international feature category and will be backing the film\u2019s team in the campaign. The outfits previously teamed for \u201cAnother Round,\u201d \u201cThe Father\u201d and \u201cThe Artist,\u201d all of which went on to Oscar glory.<\/p>\n