Berlin: Harrison Ford’s ‘Official Secrets’ Sells Wide

One of the high-profile offerings at Berlin’s European Film Market has attracted a number of international buyers.

Political thriller Official Secrets, being directed by Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), has been snapped up by SND for France, Notorious Pictures for Italy, Corbi for Spain and Swen Group International for Latin America. Elsewhere, deals were signed with Times Media Films for South Africa, Cinemundo for Portugal, Eagle Films for the Middle East, Tanweer for Greece and India, Aqua/Pinema Group for Turkey, IPA for Taiwan, PT Prima Cinema for Indonesia, Shaw Organisation for Singapore and Entertainment in Motion for airlines.

The film, making its market bow in Berlin, is set to star Paul Bettany, Natalie Dormer, Martin Freeman, Anthony Hopkins and Harrison Ford. Tahar Rahim and Gillian Anderson also were recently added to the cast.

With a screenplay by Sara and Gregory Bernstein, Official Secrets is based on the book The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War: Katharine Gun and the Secret Plot to Sanction the Iraq Invasion. Set in 2003 in the months before the Iraq War, the plot sees a British intelligence officer leak information about an illegal spy operation against the UN Security Council to ensure passage of a resolution for war. When she is arrested, a reporter looks for evidence to free her.

The Solution Entertainment Group’s Lisa Wilson and Myles Nestel are executive producing and handling the financing and international sales at EFM. UTA Independent Film Group packaged the project and represents domestic rights.