Nadav Lapid’s thriller “Policeman,” which ranked high on Indiewire’s Best Undistributed Film Poll last year, has been acquired for U.S. release by Corinth Films.
It played at the Locarno, New York and San Francisco Film Festivals.
Check out our review from its Locarno premiere.
Full press release reprinted below:
Corinth Films Acquires North American Rights for Nadav Lapid’s
Policeman
Written and Directed by Nadav Lapid; Camera – Shari Goldman; Editor – Era Lapid
Starring Yiftach Klein, Yaara Pelzig, Michael Mushonov, Menashe Noi, Michael Aloni, Gal Hoyberger, Meital Berdah, Shaul Mizrahi, Rona-Lee Shimon, Ben Adam
Israel; 2011; Runtime – 107 Mins; In Hebrew with English Subtitles
Variety: “…reps a strong debut from tyro helmer-writer Nadav Lapid, and will leave audiences debating the current social and philosophical issues it reflects..”– Alissa Simon
The Hollywood Reporter.: “A boldly conceived and bracingly told political drama,Policeman (Hashoter) possesses a special contemporary pertinence.“ – Todd McCarthy
The Playlist: “Avoiding easy answers and engaging on various levels, “Policeman” is exactly the kind of film that makes one excited about the art again.” – Christopher Bell
Awards:
Locarno International Film Festival – Jury Prize Award for Best Feature Film
Nantes International Film Festival – Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film
Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival – Best Film & Best Director
Jerusalem International Film Festival – Best Screenplay & Best Cinematography
Philadelphia Film Festival– Best Film Award
Courmeyeur Film Festival– Jury Prize
Policemanwas also selected as one of the top 5Best Undistributed Films in the 2011 Indiewire Critics Survey, and is among Film Comment’s Top 10 Best Unreleased Films of 2011. The film is also ranked #2 in the Village Voice’s Best Undistributed Film list for 2011.
SYNOPSIS
Yaron, an elite special operations agent, is the spiritual leader and alpha male among his peers, a small, highly trained team that is part of the Israeli Defense ministry’s Anti Terrorism unit. Like a band of brothers, these men work, play, laugh, and cry together. They are true patriots; they love their country, their families, and each other.
Yaron is excited, but a cyclone of emotions consumes him. His wife is expecting their first child, and the failing health of a team member weighs on his soul as the men contend with an unforgiveable accident resulting from a miscalculation during a recent rescue mission. As the story shifts, the antagonists are introduced: young, passionate, idealist, and politically extreme.
As circumstances swell, Yaron faces something he never imagined; the prospect of the very sort of evil he works to eliminate taking on the form of his beloved countrymen. For the sake of his team, his expectant wife, and himself, he must hold himself together and perform his duties.
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Nadav Lapid directed during his studies in the “Sam Spiegel Film School” several short films, which were screened in “Cannes”, “Berlin” and “Locarno”. His graduate film “Emile’s Girlfriend” (50 min) was distributed in France.
He participated in the Festival de Cannes Residence, where he wrote the script for “Policeman”. The project won the pitching price of the Jerusalem Film Festivaland of the Thessaloniki film festivalin 2008.
“Keep on dancing”, a collection of novels he wrote, was published in Israel and France.
Nadav Lapid studied philosophy and history and worked as a sports and culture journalist, a television critic and documentary cinematographer.
Upcoming Film Festival Dates
Boston Focus Arts Festival – June 2-3rd
Past Film Festival Dates
New York Film Festival – September 30th-October 16th, 2011
Philadelphia Film Festival – October 20th-November 3rd 2011
National Center for Jewish Film Festival – April 18-25th
Washington DC International Film Festival – April 12-22nd
San Francisco International Film Festival – April 19th-May 3rd
