BETA CINEMA PICKS UP CHARMING FEEL-GOOD COMEDY AGNES & AMIR AHEAD OF MUNICH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERE
Beta Cinema announces today that it has acquired one of Filmfest Munich’s most eagerly awaited premieres, AGNES & AMIR, directed by Helena Hufnagel (Pretty Far From Okay). The feel-good-comedy is based on the remarkable true story of a young refugee and his 101-year-old landlady, a Berlin original, which made headlines in 2022:
After escaping Iran and starting over in Berlin, Amir finds unexpected refuge with Agnes, a 101-year-old Berliner who’s “too young” for a retirement home – and definitely too young for dying. When living alone becomes difficult, Amir moves in with her, and together they turn everyday obstacles into a defiant, joyous dance through life.
X Verleih will release the film to German cinemas on November 19.
The screenplay is written by Malte Welding (Text for You, Love Again), based on a story by Paul M. Feldmann, and German writer-director-producer Helena Hufnagel directs. She first gained international attention with her short film Willa (2014), adapted from a Stephen King story, which screened at major festivals including Palm Springs International. She made her feature debut with Pretty Far From Okay (2017), earning an Bavarian Film Award. Her feature Commitment Phobia, which premiered at Filmfest Munich, became one of the most successful German theatrical releases of 2021. Hufnagel’s first international feature, Silver and the Book of Dreams, produced by Constantin Film for Amazon Studios, premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in 2023 and was nominated for the German Television Award.
The cast is led by Katharina Thalbach, one of Germany’s most acclaimed and beloved actresses. Internationally, she is best known for her performances in Volker Schlöndorff’s Palme d’Or- and Oscar-winning The Tin Drum (1979) and Alan J. Pakula’s Sophie’s Choice (1982). Thalbach is also an Officier des Arts et des Lettres, awarded by the French Ministry of Culture.
She stars opposite emerging actor Bardo Böhlefeld (Jesus Cries, Darkroom), who was nominated for Best New Actor at Filmfest Munich in 2022 for All Russians Love Birch Trees. The ensemble cast also includes Ulrike Kriener, Noah Saavedra, Ronald Zehrfeld, Rainer Bock, Jannik Schümann and Sara Fazilat.
Agnes & Amir is produced by Fabian Halbig and Florian Kamhuber of Nordpolaris, in co-production with ZDF and arte. It is supported by MBB, FFF Bayern, MDM, FFA and DFFF. Director of Photography is Aline László (The Colony), with music by Martin Kohlstedt (A Higher Law). Beta Cinema handles international sales. The film will celebrate its German premiere at Filmfest Munich on Sunday, June 28, at 8 pm at the Deutsches Theater.