News

Images of the North Atlantic—sunbathed, moonlit, digitally rendered in some shots but no less striking—punctuate Mati Diop’s hypnotic debut feature Atlantics (Atlantique). The waves surging the shores of Dakar, Senegal poetically encapsulate the duality that animates her soulful fable, where the ocean emerges as a central character, seductive and foreboding, a specter of past and contemporary traumas, buried and bound to resurface with the tide. Ten years ago, Diop’s original short of the same name referenced the infamous journey of the Méduse, the 19th century French naval frigate that departed from Rochefort and ran aground off the West African coast. Close to mind are kin events, the refugee crisis and—more so here than in its progenitor—memory of the Middle Passage: the voyage of no return, the moment of rupture that beget generations of two-spirited children. Perhaps no figure is more suited to convey this two-ness,...

Exclusive: The 26th annual Austin Film Festival (Aff) has set The Obituary of Tunde Johnson as their opening night film. The fest takes place on October 24-31.

The film, written by up-and-comer Stanely Kalu and directed by Ali LeRoi, will make its U.S. premiere after debuting to critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival. The story follows the titular character (played by 13 Reasons Why actor Steven Silver), a gay, black teenager trapped in a time loop that forces him to relive his own brutal murder at the hands of a police officer on duty. The Obituary of Tunde Johnson marks LeRoi’s feature directorial debut and Kalu’s first produced feature screenplay.

In addition, Mati Diop’s directorial debut Atlantics will make its U.S. premiere at the fest. The romance set in Senegal was awarded the Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival as well as...

"Something took hold of me last night." Netflix has finally unveiled the official Us trailer for Atlantics, the award-winning film from up-and-coming French filmmaker Mati Diop that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival playing in-competition earlier this summer. The film also goes under the title Atlantique, which is just the French version of Atlantics - a direct reference to "people of the Atlantic". The film is set in Dakar, Senegal, which sits on the western coast of Africa in the middle of the Atlantic. Workers at the construction site of a futuristic tower, without pay for months, decide to leave the country on a boat across the ocean in hope of a better future. Among them is Souleiman, lover of Ada, promised to another. Atlantics stars Mama Sane, Amadou Mbow, Ibrahima Traore, Nicole Sougou, Aminata Kane, and Diankou Sembene. This won the Grand Prix award in Cannes and has been...

The Toronto International Film Festival has picked one final star to honor at its newly revamped Tiff Tribute Gala, slated for September 9, in the thick of the annual fall festival. Joana Vicente and Cameron Bailey, Co-Heads of Tiff, have announced “Atlantics” director M​ati Diop​ as the inaugural recipient of the ​recently announced Mary Pickford Award​.

The award, named in honour of Toronto native Mary Pickford, recognizes “an emerging female talent who is making groundbreaking strides in the industry.” Pickford was the pioneering actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, and the award is being launched in conjunction with United Artists’ centennial this year.

“We’re thrilled to honour the incredible Mati Diop as our inaugural Mary Pickford Award recipient, as United Artists marks its centennial year,” said Vicente, Executive Director and Co-Head of Tiff in an official statement. “She is a vibrant and important new voice within the industry and one to watch closely.

Mati Diop’s feature directorial debut “Atlantics” and Jérémy Clapin’s animated favorite “I Lost My Body” have both been acquired by Netflix following wins at Cannes Film Festival.

“Atlantics” was awarded the grand prix while “I Lost My Body” was voted the best film at the independent International Critics Week.

The deals are for worldwide rights with the exception of China, Benelux, Switzerland, Russia, and France for “Atlantics” and China, Benelux, Turkey, and France for “I Lost My Body.” Netflix has Svod rights 36-months following theatrical release for France, Benelux, and Switzerland for “Atlantics” and in France for “I Lost My Body.”

“Atlantics” tells the story of 17-year-old Ada, who is in love with Souleiman, but has been promised to another man. One night, Souleiman and his co-workers leave Dakar by sea, in hopes of a better future. Several days later, a fire ruins Ada’s wedding and a mysterious fever starts to spread.

Netflix acquired the worldwide rights to two films that played at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Mati Diop’s “Atlantics,” which played in competition, and Jérémy Clapin’s animated film “I Lost My Body,” which won the top prize from the Cannes Critics’ Week sidebar of the festival, the streamer announced Saturday.

For “Atlantics,” Netflix acquired worldwide rights excluding China, Benelux, Switzerland, Russia and France, but it has subscription video on demand (SVoD) rights for 36 months following its theatrical release in France, Benelux and Switzerland. For “I Lost My Body, Netflix acquired worldwide excluding China, Benelux, Turkey and France, but also has SVoD rights for 36 months following its theatrical in France, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.

Diop’s “Atlantics” played in competition and, on Saturday, was awarded the Grand Prix prize from the jury led by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Diop made her feature directorial debut on the film...

Netflix has scooped up the global rights to Cannes Grand Prix Winner Atlantics from female director Mati Diop and the Cannes Critics’ Week Award Winner I Lost My Body from Xilam Animation. That pic reps director Jérémy Clapin’s Animated Feature Debut.

For Atlantics, the deal doesn’t include China, Benelux, Switzerland, Russia, France, while I Lost My Body excludes China, Benelux, Turkey, France. Atlantics was sold by Fionnuala Jamison at mk2 films. I Lost My Body was sold by Carole Baraton at Charades

Atlantics reps Diop’s feature directorial debut and takes place in Dakar along the Atlantic Coast. Seventeen-year-old Ada is in love with Souleiman, a young construction worker. But she has been promised to another man. One night, Souleiman and his co-workers leave the country by sea, in hopes of a better future. Several days later, a fire ruins Ada’s wedding and a mysterious fever starts to spread.

Both deals cover the world excluding France and several other territories.

Netflix made its presence felt on closing night in Cannes, swooping on most of the world on both Mati Diop’s Cannes Grand Prix winner Atlantics and Jérémy Clapin’s Critics’ Week winner I Lost My Body.

The streaming titan made a noise with the late pick-ups, despite its deliberate absence from Competition with its original films due to the strictures of French media chronology laws.

Both deals were for the world excluding France, unsurprisingly, as well as China and Benelux. The Atlantics deal also excluded Switzerland and Russia.