WestEnd Films has scored multiple sales, including to North America, on British director Patrick Dickinsons drama Cottontail, which stars Japans Lily Franky (Shoplifters) and Ciaran Hinds.
The film, first announced at the AFM in 2019, won the prize for best first feature last week at the Rome Film Festival, where it had its world premiere. Set in Japan and the U.K., Cottontail is shepherded by Oscar-nominated Philomena producer Gabrielle Tana. Its based on Dickinsons short film Usagi-San, which won the BAFTA U.S. Student Film Award.
Los Angeles-based distributor Level 33 has taken North American rights on Cottontail. Other acquisition deals include Longride for Japan, Nos (Portugal), Front Row (Middle East), PVR (India), United King (Israel), MCF (Former Yougoslavia), Beijing Huanxi (China) and Bofrato (Airlines), the company said in a statement.
Cottontail is the heart-breaking journey of a widower named Kenzaburo, played by Franky, who, after his wife Akiko passes away in Japan, embarks with his estranged sonToshito the Lake District in England. Its the land of Beatrix Potter, whose tales of Peter Rabbit captivated Akiko as a child. Akiko had always hoped to travel there one day with Kenzaburo, and now he must fulfill her last wish and scatter her ashes amongst the natural beauty of the lakes, reads the synopsis.
In addition to Cottontail, London-based WestEnds AFM lineup includes Freuds Last Session starring Anthony Hopkins and Matthew Goode, which just premiered at AFI Fest; Tatami by Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir; and Irenas Vow, starring Sophie Nelisse and Dougray Scott.