Roadside Attractions and Black Label Media have acquired all U.S. rights to Yann Demange’s thriller “’71,” which stars Jack O’Connell (“300: Rise of an Empire”).
Story takes place over a single night in the life of a young British soldier (O’Connell) accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971. Unable to tell friend from foe, and increasingly wary of his own comrades, he must survive the night alone and find his way to safety through a disorientating, alien and deadly landscape.
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Written by Gregory Burke, “’71” is Demange’s feature debut after directing several TV series including the award-winning “Top Boy” for Channel 4. Robin Gutch of Warp Films and Angus Lamont of Crab Apple are producers. ’71 is backed by Film4, BFI Film Fund, Screen Yorkshire, and Creative Scotland. International sales are being handled by Protagonist Pictures.
“’71 is a thrilling debut by the major new director Yann Demange, who delivers astonishing action sequences and tense character drama, with Jack O’Connell giving a knockout performance as a soldier trapped behind enemy lines,” said Howard Cohen, co-president of Roadside Attractions.
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“Black Label Media is thrilled to partner with Roadside Attractions on the acquisition of ’71. Yann Demange is a brilliant filmmaker who has made a gripping film, with an incredible performance by Jack O’Connell who is set for a breakout year in the U.S,” said Black Label Media partner Trent Luckinbill.
The deal was negotiated by CAA on behalf of Black Label and Cohen on behalf of Roadside Attractions with Mike Goodridge of Protagonist on behalf of the filmmakers.