It has been announced that Fortissimo Films has bought the international rights to Nanking, Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman's documentary about the Japanese invasion of the Chinese capitol of Nanking at the start of WWII, which was in the documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival.
(Full press release at the link.)
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2007
FORTISSIMO FILMS ACQUIRES INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS TO NANKING
FOLLOWING FILM'S WORLD PREMIERE AT SUNDANCE IN THE DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Film marks the Feature Film Producing Debut of AOL Vice Chairman Ted Leonsis
Michael Werner and Wouter Barendrecht of Fortissimo Films announced today that Fortissimo has acquired all international rights (excluding China) to the film which is having its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the Documentary Competition.
Directed by the Academy-Award-winning team of Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman (TWIN TOWERS), the film is a powerful reminder of the heartbreaking toll war takes on the innocent and a testament to the courage and conviction of a few individuals determined to act in the face of evil. NANKING tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China in the early days of World War II and focuses on the efforts of a small group of unarmed Westerners who established a Safety Zone where over 200,000 Chinese found refuge. The events of the film are told through deeply moving interviews with Chinese survivors, archival footage, and chilling testimonies of Japanese soldiers, interwoven with a filmed stage reading of the Westerners' letters and diaries featuring Jurgen Prochnow, Woody Harrelson, and Mariel Hemingway.
Ted Leonsis, producer of NANKING and Vice Chairman of AOL, notes of the sale: "It was deeply gratifying when my first producing effort was accepted into the Sundance Film Festival. Even more gratifying however, is knowing that the film will be shown around the world. I am thrilled that Fortissimo has come on board. I have been very impressed with how well Wouter and Michael have presented several great documentaries which they acquired at Sundance: SUPER SIZE ME, CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS, and MAD HOT BALLROOM. They care deeply about quality documentaries and are very personally committed to helping us get broad worldwide distribution."
Comments Wouter Barendrecht: "NANKING is an incredibly powerful film told in a creative and compelling way. It is impossible not to be deeply moved by the material. We look forward to sharing this film with international audiences."
The deal was negotiated by CAA on behalf of Leonsis and by Wouter Barendrecht and Winnie Lau on behalf of Fortissimo.
Nanking is a Ted Leonsis Production directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman. Story by Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman, screenplay by Elisabeth Bentley & Bill Guttentag & Dan Sturman. Producers are Ted Leonsis, Bill Guttentag and Michael Jacobs.
