The Orchard has acquired all North American rights to director Udi Aloni’s Junction 48, a drama inspired by the life of Palestinian rapper Tamer Nafar. The film won the Panorama Audience Award at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival and was named Best International Narrative Feature at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival. The distributor is planning a theatrical release in early 2017.
Co-written by Nafar and Oren Moverman, the film follows a Palestinian rapper, played by Nafar, living in the Arab ghetto of the mixed city of Lyd. Motivated by a family tragedy, he gets a chance to perform in a Tel Aviv hip-hop club, where his star potential is discovered. Junction 48’s score was written by Nafar, and a soundtrack will be released in tandem with the pic’s release.
Junction 48 was produced by David Silber, Stefan Arendt, Blackbird’s Lawrence Inglee and Udi Aloni and executive produced by Moverman and James Schamus. It was co-produced by Hyperion’s Michael Mailis and Susan Wrubel, along with Tadmor’s Gideon Tadmor and Eyal Rimmon.
“This is a kinetic, vibrant and socially relevant film that impacts and unites the audiences that see it, as indicated by the numerous awards it has won around the world,” The Orchard’s vp acquisitions Danielle DiGiacomo said Thursday in a statement.
The deal was negotiated by Inglee and Moverman on behalf of the filmmakers.
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