Magnolia Pictures has acquired the North American rights to the documentary “Cold Case Hammarskjöld,” which won the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award at Sundance this month. Magnolia is planning to release the film this year.
The film follows the unfinished investigation into the death of UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, who was killed in a plane crash in 1961. It’s understood that because at the time, Hammarskjöld was advocating for Congo’s independence, the “crash” was an assassination.
With the case still unsolved fifty-plus years later, Danish journalist and filmmaker Mads Brügger takes up the case and begins to uncover a critical secret that could send shockwaves around the world.
“Mads Brügger has gotten ahold of a whopper of a tale,” said Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles. “‘Cold Case Hammarskjöld’ is destined to be one of the most hotly-discussed films of the year.”
“Closing a deal with Magnolia makes me very happy and very proud,” said Brügger. “Magnolia is the badge of excellence, and I really look forward to working with them on bringing my film to U.S. audiences.”
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of acquisitions John Von Thaden with Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers and DR Sales. DR Sales are handling international sales for the film.