Introduction to Vue Lumière’s Latest Acquisitions
Vue Lumière has exceeded its sales expectations in Great Britain with the acquisitions of Nadia Herbst’s Brides and Ido Fluk’s Cologne 75. The distributor is set to release Brides in September and Cologne 75 later in the autumn, with Bankside Films handling international sales for both titles.
About the Films
Brides is the debut feature of 2023 Screen Star of Tomorrow Nadia Fall, and it premiered in the dramatic competition of the World Cinema. Written by Suhayla El-Bushra, Brides is produced by Nicky Bentham for British Neon Films and Marica Stocchi for Italy’s Rosamont. The film follows two teenage girls who run away on a perilous trip to Syria, escaping their troubled lives in a British coastal city. Ebada Hassan and Safiyya Ingar lead the lineup.
Production and Support
The film was developed with the BFI and supported by the BFI and Film Cymru Wales. Other supporters include the Welsh government’s Creative Wales, Great Point Media, the Italian cultural minority co-production fund, Friuli Venezia Giulia Audiovisual Regional Fund, and Rai Cinema.
Cologne 75
Vue Lumière also acquired the Berlinale 2025 Special Gala Cologne 75, a historical drama about a concert by jazz musician Keith Jarrett that almost didn’t happen, and then changed the course of jazz history. Sol Bondy and Fred Burle from Germany’s Two Films produced the film, which stars Mala Emde alongside John Magaro, Michael Chernus, and Ulrich Tukur.
Production and Funding
Cologne 75 is co-produced by Extreme Emotions, Lemming Film Belgium, and Alamode Filmproduktion. The film is backed by the Film and Media Foundation NRW, Eurimages, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFF Bayern, DFFF, Polish Film Institute, Lodz Film Fund, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, and Screen Flanders. Executive producers include Mizzel Media and Gretchenfilm.
Director’s Statement
"We’re thrilled to acquire these two films, which both draw on real events and feature incredible, inspiring writing," said Vue Lumière Director of Distribution Eve Gabereau. "Each film has a unique directorial vision and tells its story in a way that will stay with audiences."
Producer’s Statement
"The sales landscape is constantly evolving, and this feels like a very exciting development," said Bondy and Burle in a statement about working with Vue Lumière. "Vue knows its audience, and it’s a pleasure to know that their new sales arm will bring our film to so many screens in the UK and Ireland."
Vue Lumière’s Slate
The titles join a Vue Lumière slate that includes Dylan Southern’s The Thing with Feathers. With these new acquisitions, Vue Lumière is set to make a significant impact on the film distribution landscape in Great Britain and Ireland.
