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Building on bullish business between Berlin’s European Film Market and the eve of this week’s Málaga Festival Spanish Screenings, Madrid-based Latido Films has unveiled a slew of several dozen deals, led by sales in major European territories of Eva Libertad’s Berlin smash “Deaf” (“Sorda”) and a U.S. pick-up on Bartosz M. Kowalski’s horror film “Night Silence.”

“Deaf’s” release in France will be handled by Paris-based Condor Distribution. Piffl Medien bought the film’s rights for Germany & Austria, while Lucky Red inked Italian rights. The U.K. & Ireland rights were acquired by Curzon, and CineArt took Benelux.

Further “Deaf” buyers include Agora in Switzerland, Outsider in Portugal, Feelgood Entertainment in Greece, Lev Cinemas in Israel and the Association of Czech Film Clubs for Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The film has also been acquired in China by Wise Media, Australia (Madman), Japan (New Select) and Indonesia...

Polish filmmaker Bartosz M. Kowalski, known for his works ‘Hellhole’ and ‘Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight’, is gearing up to thrill audiences with his latest horror fantasy film, ‘Night Silence’.

The recently released teaser of the film takes viewers into the eerie confines of a nursing home where monsters begin to prowl, reminiscent of the haunting atmosphere in Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’.

The plot revolves around Lucjan, a retired actor portrayed by the late Maciej Damiecki. Lucjan finds himself temporarily placed in a countryside nursing home by his son while his house undergoes renovations.

Initially hesitant, Lucjan’s apprehensions are soon put to rest by the warm reception from the home’s staff and residents.

However, peace is short-lived as a series of murders and terrifying nightmares plunge the nursing home into chaos, forcing Lucjan to confront a grotesque threat.

The film not only promises to deliver...

Up next from Hellhole and Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight filmmaker Bartosz M. Kowalski is a new dark horror fantasy that sees a nursing home invaded by eerie monsters: Night Silence. The official Night Silence teaser gives glimpses of the creatures in a story and tone akin to Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth.

Kowalski co-wrote the screenplay with Pawel Maslona and Mirella Zaradkiewicz.

In Night Silence, “Lucjan, a retired actor, is placed in a nursing home in the middle of the countryside by his son. Nothing definitive, just for a few months while the house is being renovated. Reluctant at first, he is won over by the hospitality of the staff and residents. Soon, however, a wave of murders terrorizes the place. Tormented by terrifying nightmares, Lucjan must face a grotesque threat if he wants to get out of there alive.”

Maciej Damiecki, Zdzislaw Wardejn, and Wlodzimierz Press star.

Poland’s Warsaw Film Festival is celebrating its 40th edition, placing its bets on emerging, often debuting Polish filmmakers.

“This event often acts like a springboard,” says programming director Gustaw Kolanowski. But making a feature debut in Poland is still challenging.

“For me, this road wasn’t easy. It was difficult to meet a producer who would believe in a film that’s quiet and intimate, but also impactful,” says Monika Majorek, behind “Where Do We Begin,” where three siblings and their mother rebuild their lives after the death of their father.

“I’ve made certain career choices to be able to tell this story and waited a long time for this opportunity. I was advised to look for some loud, controversial subject, but this film comes out of real emotions. Maybe there’s a lack of quiet voices [in Polish cinema]? Those that listen instead of speaking?”

Dominika Montean-Pańków, director of “The Crossroads,...

In horror “Night Silence,” Polish director Bartosz M. Kowalski follows retired Lucjan (Maciej Damięcki), moved into a nursing home by his son. The residence is hiding a secret, but the film took on another “terrifying dimension” after they wrapped the shoot.

“Maciej played a dying actor and unfortunately, this story turned out to be true,” Kowalski tells Variety. Damięcki passed away last November, before the premiere. He was posthumously awarded for his performance at the Polish Film Festival.

“It was emotional for all of us,” admits the director.

“I quickly understood he had to play the main character. It was love at first sight. On set, I worried the subject we were tackling might be difficult for him and for most of our actors, who were over 80. But Maciej always joked a lot, sang and even danced between takes. He didn’t get to see it, which is very painful for me.