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Distributor Monterey Media has acquired all U.S. domestic rights to Australian World War II thriller, Canopy, following its world premiere in official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Monterey plans a late spring or early summer theatrical release of the film, which is the debut feature of writer-director Aaron Wilson.
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Canopy is a suspense drama set during the fall of Singapore in 1942. After being shot down in combat, an Australian fighter pilot navigates his way through enemy territory in search of sanctuary. In the depths of the jungle he meets a Chinese/Singaporean resistance fighter. Despite their lack of a common language, the men build a special bond in their quest for survival.
The Australia–Singapore collaboration is produced by Katrina Fleming and stars Khan Chittenden and Mo Tzu-Yi.
“The film is remarkably visual,” The Hollywood Reporter critic Megan Lehmann wrote in Toronto, adding, “Wilson elicits genuine, subdued emotion from both actors in what is essentially a two-hander.”
The deal was put together by Odin’s Eye Entertainment’s Michael Favelle and Monterey’s Scott Mansfield.
“In this time of turmoil in the world it is imperative that people can glimpse the compassionate side of human nature and dignity, especially in a beautifully cinematic film such as this. MMI is proud to be the resource to bring this story to the U.S. audiences,” Mansfield said of the acquisition.
Canopy had its European premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival in January, and received a special jury mention at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
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