Political Thriller ‘Words Of War’ About Anna Politkovskaya Lands International Deals — TIFF

By Zac Ntim

Political drama-thriller Words Of War, about the life and murder of Russian-American investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, has sold to further international territories out of TIFF. 

The film has been sold to A2 Filmes (Latin America), Rialto Distribution (Australia/New Zealand), and Siyahbeyaz Movies (Turkey). They join the previously announced Signature Entertainment (UK/Ireland), Eagle Pictures (Italy), Front Row Filmed Entertainment (Middle East), Dimeo Films (Poland), Divisa Films (Spain), Trade Media (France), Vertical Entertainment (Eastern Europe), Mis Label APS (Scandinavia), and Noori Pictures (South Korea). Neon and Bleecker Street’s joint venture DECAL has U.S. rights.

BAFTA-nominee Maxine Peake, Oscar-nominee Ciarán Hinds, and BAFTA-nominee Jason Isaacs star in the film, which is executive-produced by Sean Penn and U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-14).

Pic is based on the real-life story of Politkovskaya’s pioneering crusade for an independent voice in Russia in the late 1990s and early 2000s. For years, she exposed the atrocities of the Second Chechen War despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence. She gained widespread international renown for her criticisms of Russian leaders and stands as a pillar of press freedom. In 2006, on Vladimir Putin’s birthday, Politkovskaya was assassinated in her apartment elevator, an act that attracted widespread international attention and outrage.

Sean Penn was at a National Press Club screening of the movie in Washington, D.C. last year. Also in the room were famed journalist Bob Woodward, U.S. Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and former CIA director John Brennan. The film was written by Eric Poppen and is directed by James Strong (Broadchurch). Concourse Media reps international sales. Producers are Mark Maxey for Rolling Pictures and Miriam Segal for Good Films Collective.

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