As the Cannes deals continue to heat up, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has made a multiterritory deal for Belle and A United Kingdom director Amma Asante’s next film, WWII drama Where Hands Touch.
The pic, set in Germany in 1944, stars Amandla Stenberg (Everything, Everything), George Mackay and Abbie Cornish. The coming-of-age story follows 15-year old Leyna (Stenberg), daughter of a white German mother and a black father, who lives in fear due to the color of her skin. When she meets Lutz (MacKay), the son of a prominent SS officer, the two fall in love, putting both their lives at risk.
SPWA has picked up most international rights, excluding select European territories and Australia, from sales banner Protagonist Pictures.The deal was negotiated by Protagonist CEO Mike Goodridge and head of worldwide sales Vanessa Saal with Joe Matukewicz, executive vp acquisitions, SPWA, and Michael Helfand, executive vp business and strategic operations, SPWA.
Charlie Hanson (David Brent: A Life on the Road, Extras) produced the feature, which is in postproduction, along with Tantrum Films, Pinewood Pictures, UMedia, the BFI, Isle of Man Film, British Film Company, Head Gear Films and Metrol Technology.
“Amma Asante is a skillful storyteller whose films reach a wide audience,” said Goodridge. “We couldn’t be happier that our friends at SPWA have embraced her bold vision of a young biracial girl struggling to survive in Nazi Germany.”
