Memento International has acquired international sales rights to Nora El Hourchs debut feature Sisterhood (HLM Pussy) ahead of its world premiere at Toronto. The timely film will play in the competitive Platform section.
Sisterhood follows three inseparable teenagers who face a public outcry after posting a video that exposes someone who attacked them. Faced with threats, they must choose between deleting the video or continuing to fight.
Sisterhood boasts a cast of newcomers, including Lah Aubert, Mdina Diarra and Salma Takaline, as well as Brnice Bejo, the Cannes and Cesar award-winning of The Past and The Artist. Philippe Gompel is producing for Manny Films and La Prod in Morocco is co-producing. Paname Distribution will be handling French distribution.
Nora El Hourchs energetic debut feature boldly puts the spotlight on the way sexual harassment is dealt with in the French projects, said Memento Intl. The company said Sisterhood deftly addresses social discrepancies.
El Hourch said premiering Sisterhood in Toronto is a dream turned into reality, the result of a decade-long, tireless effort.
The filmmaker added that Sisterhood was deeply personal to her. I drew from my own experience with sexual harassment to tell the story of a group of girls, who despite their differences can get along and grow stronger together, she continued.
El Hourch said she wanted to explore the complexities around the notion of consent within the #MeToo movement.
The helmer previously directed the short film A Few Seconds, which played at Cannes Directors Fortnight in 2015 and portrays five girls struggling to overcome their past trauma at a Paris womens shelter. The film was showcased at over 30 prestigious festivals worldwide, including Toronto and SXSW.
Sisterhood joins Memento Internationals 2023 lineup, which also features Sarajevo Competition title Europa by Sudabeh Mortezai, Cannes winners Omen by Baloji and Lost Country by Vladimir Perisic, as well as Cannes crowdpleaser Bonnard, Pierre Marthe. Memento International also boasts Liu Jians Berlinale and Annecy competition animated title Art College 1994, Anthony Chens Sundance title Drift starring Cynthia Erivo and Alia Shawkat, and Fremont by Babak Jalali.