11/02/2011

BETA CINEMA takes on world sales for “SÜSKIND”

Munich-based sales company BETA CINEMA has taken on international sales rights to the compelling war drama Süskind, directed by veteran director Rudolf van den Berg.  SÜSKIND tells the true story of Jewish resistance hero Walter Süskind (Jeroen Spitzenberger) who worked for the Jewish Council in Amsterdam during the Second World War. By playing a cat-and-mouse game with SS Hauptsturmführer Aus der Fünten – played by Karl Markovics (THE COUNTERFEITERS) – he managed to save almost a thousand Jewish children from deportation. SÜSKIND is a production of Fu Works (WINTER IN WARTIME; BLACKBOOK) and Cadenza Films (TIRZA; SNAPSHOTS).

1942. In an attempt to save a group of Jewish children from deportation, Walter Süskind befriends the SS officer Ferdinand Aus der Fünten. When the latter discovers that Süskind has been using him and  their friendship is nothing but a lie, the Nazi ruthlessly takes his revenge on the Jew.

Producers San Fu Maltha (Fu Works), Jeroen Koolbergen (Cadenza Films) and Reinier Selen are very happy with the cooperation with Beta Cinema: “Beta Cinema is the most suitable sales agent for SÜSKIND, given their global network, their wide experience with European productions and their affinity with war films. They have sold productions like DOWNFALL or THE COUNTERFEITERS worldwide succesfully,” said San Fu Maltha.

Last year, director Rudolf van den Berg’s film TIRZA – based on the best-selling novel by Arnon Grunberg – was the Dutch entry for the Academy Awards. Previously Van den Berg directed such critically acclaimed  films as LOOKING FOR EILEEN, BASTILLE, EVENINGS and FOR MY BABY.

Besides Jeroen Spitzenberger (LOVE IS ALL) and Karl Markovics (THE COUNTERFEITERS), other major roles are played by Nyncke Beekhuyzen (LOTTE), Tygo Gernandt (WINTER IN WARTIME; GODFORSAKEN), Nasrdin Dchar (TIRZA), Katja Herbers (SONNY BOY), Chava Voor in 't Holt (THE HELL OF ’63) and Olga Zuiderhoek (ABEL).

Fu Works and Cadenza Films produce the film in co-production with Dutch broadcaster VARA. Executive producer is Pierre Spengler. The film is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Dutch Film Fund and CoBO. In addition, the film is financed by MyM (Make Your Movie) and U-Media. Süskind will be release at Januari 19th in The Netherlands by Independent Films.