SINGAPORE (Sept 5, 2016) – New independent film distributor Anticipate Pictures announced today the acquisition of their first two titles Toni Erdmann and Two Lovers and A Bear.
Winner of the International Film Critics “FIPRESCI” Prize for the Best Film in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2016 - Toni Erdmann is the story of a serious career woman named Ines who is forced to contend with her practical joker of a father Winfried when he pays her a surprise visit at her workplace. The film is written and directed by Maren Ade, and stars Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek. The German-Austrian film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, where it quickly established itself as the highest-rated film in the history of the Screen Jury Grid, and is currently the #1 reviewed film of 2016 on Metacritic. It is Germany’s entry to the Oscars this year.
In Two Lovers and a Bear, Dane Dehaan and Tatiana Maslany (of Orphan Black fame) star in a magical-realist romantic drama set in a small town near the North Pole. Amidst the sweeping expanse of this remote icy wilderness, the star-crossed lovers must find strength in each other and in their relationship in order to overcome their inner demons which brought them there in the first place. The Canadian film is written and directed by Academy Award nominated director Kim Nguyen. It received its world premiere at the Director’s Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival 2016, where it was met with warm applause and positive reviews.
Vincent Quek, founder of Anticipate Pictures, notes: “When we saw Toni Erdmann and Two Lovers and A Bear, we were transported to lands and cultures so distant from us. Yet their stories, so personal and intimate in scope, moved us immeasurably. We laughed, cried and laughed many times. As our company was built on the belief that Singapore audiences deserve thought-provoking and award-winning films of the highest caliber, Anticipate Pictures is proud to have these two wonderful cinematic visions represent the first films from our canon.”
Toni Erdmann and Two Lovers and A Bear will be released theatrically in the first quarter of 2017.
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[ABOUT ANTICIPATE PICTURES] Anticipate Pictures is an independent film distribution company based in Singapore with a focus on arthouse, indie and documentary feature films.
Established in March 2016, Anticipate Pictures (AP) seeks to be Singapore’s go-to brand for quality film entertainment for the discerning audience. By focusing on the strength of our films married with alternative distribution channels, every Anticipate Picture represents not just another choice in film entertainment, but something film lovers can look forward to discovering time and time again.