Christian Petzold Drama and Romance ‘Undine’ Sells to IFC Films

Film that played at Berlinale will open in the U.S. in fall 2020

Undine Christian Petzold
IFC Films

IFC Films has acquired the U.S. rights to “Undine,” the latest film from director Christian Petzold, the filmmaker behind critical darlings “Phoenix,” “Barbara” and “Transit,” the distributor announced Tuesday.

The film starring Paula Beer and Franz Rogowski is a modernized re-telling of an ancient myth about a mysterious water spirit that’s now set in the modern world. The film premiered at the Berlinale in competition, where Petzold previously won the Silver Beaar in 2012 for “Barbara.”

IFC Films will release “Undine” in the fall of 2020.

Set in Berlin, Undine works as a historian lecturing on Berlin’s urban development. She knows all about the Humboldt Forum, and has a knack for dressing. She is nonchalantly beautiful, and the way she imparts her knowledge about the city that was built on a swamp is as professional as it is graceful. But Undine’s world collapses when the man she loves leaves her. Soon the ancient myth catches up with her and Undine has to kill the man who betrays her and return to the water.

“We are so excited to be back in business with Christian again after the successful release of ‘Phoenix.’ He is one of the most exciting filmmakers working in film today and we are delighted to bring ‘Undine’ to cinemas nationwide,” Arianna Bocco, EVP of acquisitions and productions of IFC Films, said in a statement.

“I am thrilled that IFC Films has picked up ‘Undine’ for U.S. Distribution. I am looking forward to showing the film in the theaters around the country and am excited to see how it will be received by the American audiences,” Petzold said in a statement.

The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films with The Match Factory on behalf of the filmmaker.

On Monday IFC nabbed “Made in Italy” out of Berlin, a comedy that’s the debut film from director James D’Arcy and stars Liam Neeson. Earlier Tuesday, Neon made the first deal of the films in competition by acquiring the documentary “Gunda.”

Variety first reported the news of the sale.

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