The Apartment Boards Karim Aïnouz’s Next Feature, Rosebushpruning

Fremantle’s Rome-based company, The Apartment, has recently announced their partnership with The Match Factory, Mubi, Kavac Film, and Rai Cinema for Karim Aïnouz’s upcoming feature film, Rosebushpruning. This collaboration marks a significant step for The Apartment following the appointment of Annamaria Morelli as CEO earlier this year, succeeding founder Lorenzo Mieli.

The film, which is set to begin shooting later this year, will star Kristen Stewart, Josh O’Connor, and Elle Fanning. Aïnouz will be directing from a script penned by Efthimis Filippou, adapted from Marco Bellocchio’s debut feature, Fists in the Pocket. The production of Rosebushpruning is being overseen by Viola Fügen and Michael Weber of The Match Factory, with worldwide sales being handled by the same company.

The rights for the adaptation have been acquired from Kavac Film, with Simone Gattoni also attached to the production team. The Apartment is co-producing the film, with Morelli serving as the executive producer. Rachel Dargavel from Crybaby Films is co-producing in the UK. The financing for production is being provided by Mubi, Catherine Boily, Mitch Oliver’s Metafilms, and Anna Films, in association with Fremantle. Additional funding for the film comes from Film und Medienstiftung NRW, Medienboard, and the German Federal Film Board.

Director Karim Aïnouz expressed his excitement about revisiting Bellocchio’s seminal work, Fists in the Pocket, which was released over 50 years ago. He highlighted his ambitions for the film, aiming to create a contemporary parable about the breakdown of traditional patriarchal family structures. Aïnouz mentioned his admiration for the ensemble cast of actors and his eagerness to bring this explosive adaptation to modern audiences.

The Apartment’s involvement in the production of Rosebushpruning signifies a new chapter for the company under the leadership of Annamaria Morelli. The collaborative efforts with The Match Factory, Mubi, Kavac Film, and Rai Cinema demonstrate a shared commitment to bringing innovative storytelling to the forefront of the film industry. With a talented cast and creative team on board, Rosebushpruning is poised to make a significant impact when it is released to audiences worldwide.