EXCLUSIVE: The Munich International Film Festival has set an eclectic trio of world premieres for its upcoming 41st edition. Harley Chamandy’s Allen Sunshine, Jamie Kastner feature doc The Spoils and Davi Pretto’s Continente will each premiere, Deadline can reveal.
Allen Sunshine is the first feature from Harley Chamandy, the Lebanese-Greek-Egyptian helmer out of Montreal. The film follows a music mogul who retreats to a remote cabin to mourn his famous wife’s suicide. Amid the solitude of the Canadian wilderness he struggles with grief, until an unexpected encounter ends his isolation.
Continente is Brazilian writer-director Davi Pretto’s third feature. The Brazilian, French, and Argentinian co-production follows Amanda as she returns to her village in a remote corner of Brazil. Her father is dying, which unlocks a strange inheritance and mysteries in the village in Pretto’s Portuguese and French-language horror-drama.
The Spoils, from Canadian writer-director Jamie Kastner, centers on a controversial exhibition in honor of Jewish art dealer Max Stern. The exhibition at the Düsseldorf City Museum was supposed to open in 2018 but was delayed by three years amid discussions about the restitution of art looted by the Nazis. The documentary takes in themes of ownership, history, and morality.
“We envision the Munich International Film Festival as a place to discover international independent productions and as a catalyst and stepping-stone to their success,” said Christoph Gröner, Festival Director, and Julia Weigl, Artistic Co-Director. “We keep up with the films even after their world premiere in Munich and seek to build lasting relationships with talented filmmakers from around the world.”
Munich has already announced the European premiere of Kate Winslet movie Lee. Winslet will be in attendance and will be feted with the Festival’s CineMerit honor, alongside Jessica Lange, who also receives the accolade.
The Munich International Film Festival runs June 28 through July 7.
