IFC Films has acquired the U.S. rights to “Viceroy’s House,” a film about India’s transition to independence in 1947 directed by “Bend it Like Beckham’s” Gurinder Chadha. The movie is set for an early September release.
“Viceroy’s House” stars Hugh Bonneville as British Lord Mountbatten and Gillian Anderson as his wife, Edwina, who were sent to New Delhi to oversee India’s move from British rule to independence. The film also features Manish Dayal, Michael Gambon, Huma Qureshi, Simon Callow and Om Puri.
Chadha wrote the script along with Paul Mayeda Berges and Moria Buffini. The film was produced by Chadha, Berges and Deepak Nayak, and its executive producers are Cameron McCracken, Shibasish Sarkar, Christine Langan, Natascha Wharton and and Tim O’Shea.
“‘Viceroy’s House’ is a completely different perspective on the end of the British Empire in India,” Chadha said in a statement. “I am thrilled to finally be able to tell this personal story of my grandparents at a turbulent time in history. IFC Films is the perfect company to release the film in the States because they support international directors with unique personal visions. They know exactly who their discerning audience is and I am delighted audiences all over America will have a chance to see ‘Viceroy’s House.’”
Arianna Bocco from Sundance Selects/IFC Films negotiated the deal, with Muriel Sauzay and Cameron McCracken from Pathe International on behalf of the filmmakers.