Berlinale Title ‘Who By Fire’ Lands U.S. Rights Deal Ahead Of New York Film Festival Bow

EXCLUSIVE: Brooklyn-based distributor KimStim has picked up all U.S. rights to Quebecois filmmaker Philippe Lesage’s feature Who by Fire.

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The film debuted at the Berlin Film Festival where it won Best Film in the Generation 17 competition. The film will have its U.S. premiere at the upcoming New York Film Festival.

KimStim’s co-president Ian Stimler negotiated the deal with Pamela Leu, Head of Sales at the Belgian-based Be For Films.

The film follows Jeff, a 17-year-old aspiring filmmaker who joins his friend Max’s family at a retreat hosted by former filmmaker Blake Cadieux. The synopsis reads: Tensions escalate as old conflicts between Blake and Max’s father, Albert, resurface while Jeff navigates his feelings for Max’s sister, Aliocha, amidst the unfolding drama.

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The film was produced by Unité Centrale and Shellac Sud. Balthazar Lab shot the film and Mathieu Bouchard-Malo was the editor.

Lesage is best known for his documentary work like The Heart That Beats (2010), which won the award Jutra for Best Documentary Film at the 14th Jutra Awards in 2012. He transitioned to fiction with Les démons (The Demons, 2015), which earned strong reviews and numerous prizes at festivals after premiering in competition at the San Sebastian Film Festival. His next film Genèse (2018) debuted at the Locarno Festival and went on to play Rotterdam IFF, AFI Fest, and New Directors/New Films (Moma/Lincoln Center).

The New York Film Festival runs from September 27 to October 14.

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