‘Islands,’ Jan-Ole Gerster’s thriller that first bowed within the Berlinale earlier this yr to important acclaim, has secured key distribution offers for Protagonist Pictures and augenschein Sales.
The movie — Sam Riley (“Control,” “Firebrand”), Stacy Martin (“The Brutalist,” “Nymphomaniac”) and Jack Farthing (“The Riot Club,” “Spencer”) — had already offered to Greenwich Entertainment for the U.S., as Variety announced earlier this month.
Additional offers now embody BFI Distribution, which took rights for U.Ok. and Ireland, Jour2Fête for France, Cherry Pickers for Benelux, Spentzos Film for Greece and Cyprus, Pris Audiovisuais for Portugal, Investacommerce AG for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia, Transilvania Film for Romania, Acme Film for the Baltics, Arthouse Traffic for Ukraine, Front Row Filmed Entertainment for MENA. Penny Black picked up airline rights.
“Islands” is Gerster’s English-language debut, working from a screenplay he co-wrote with Blaz Kutin and Lawrie Doran. The movie was developed and produced by Maximilian Leo and Jonas Katzenstein for augenschein Filmproduktion. It is co-produced by Leonine Studios and Schiwago Film. Leonine can even distribute the movie in Germany in May 2025.
“Jan-Ole has created an incredibly tense and taut thriller that our international partners agree will captivate audiences worldwide,” stated Protagonist Pictures’ performing senior vice chairman of gross sales, Sarah Lebutsch. “The quality of this group of top tier distributors is a testament to the global appeal of the film, and the undeniable talent in front of and behind the camera.”
Shot on location within the Canary Islands, the movie follows Tom, (Riley) a tennis coach at an opulent island lodge, filling the time between classes and one-night stands. The arrival of a mysterious household pulls Tom out of his regular routing as he strikes up a relationship with Anne (Martin), her husband Dave (Farthing) and their son Anton (Dylan Torrell). Tom is unable to shake the sensation that he has met Anne earlier than, and the strain grows between them till one evening Dave goes lacking and the police suspect Tom and Anne.
“Islands” acquired 4 nominations on the prestigious Lola Awards — the German equal of the Oscars — together with Best Picture, Best Leading Actor, Best Original Music and Best Sound. In his Berlinale evaluate Variety’s Peter Debruge described it as “mesmerizing” and highlighted Martin and Riley’s lead performances.
