The Constitution (Ustav Republike Hrvatske) directed by Rajko Grlic, picked up for US Distribution by Synergetic

The Constitution has been picked up by Synergetic for release in all media in the USA beginning with a theatrical release later this year.  The deal was closed by Antonio Saura’s Latido Films World Sales at this years’s Berlinale.

SYNERGETIC is a worldwide distribution company which releases feature films, documentaries and televisions series. Their reach includes: US Theatrical; internet platforms (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, iTunes); TV (Showtime, Stars); Cable VOD (Time Warner, Verizon Fios, Comcast); DVD, existing chains (B&N, RedBox), schools, libraries and educational distributors, plus major one-stops (Ingram, B&T, AEC, Waxworks).

Produced by Zagreb’s Inter Film in co-production with FILM AND MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT of the UK, IN FILM, Prague, REVOLUTION PRODUCTION, Skopje, SEVER & SEVER, Ljubljana,  HRT, Zagreb and NP7, Zagreb, the film is financed by Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Croatian Radio Television, Film Foundation Czech Republic , Macedonian Film Fund, Slovenian Film Centre and the Eurimages – European Cinema Support Fund.  The film was developed with the support of Creative Europa – MEDIA,  Croatian Audiovisual Centre and the City of Zagreb.

Written by Grlic and Ante Tomic, the film tells the story of four very different people live in the same building but avoid each other because of differences in how they live their lives, what they believe in, and where they come from. They would probably never exchange a word, but misfortune pushes them towards each other. Their lives entangle in ways that profoundly challenge deep-held beliefs and prejudices surrounding material status, sexual orientation, nationality and religion.  Slowly, and even painfully, they begin to open up to each other and recognize the essential humanity each of them possesses.

Grlic, whose films have won awards at festivals all over the world, and whose Bravo Maestro and You Only Love Once had its world premieres in Cannes, calls the film "A love story about hate."

"If the saying "Hate is local!" is true," says Grlic, "and I believe that it is, then every local hate, like the one this film is about, will be comprehensible to each person in Europe who has ever hated or been hated."

The acquistition comes hard on the heels of a major theatrical release in the former Yugoslavia as well as further acquisitions for a number of other European territories including Poland. 

"The acquisition comes on the eve of the film’s release in Croatia and the former Yugoslavia," says Downey, "and will provide a handy boost for international sales which are being handled by Antonio Saura’s Latido Film sales."

The Constitution has garnered a number of major international awards including the Grand Prix Des Ameriques at the Montreal World Festival and the top prize at the Santa Barbara Film Festival amongst others.

 "The Croatian Constitution is a very intimate love story of four people who live in the same building in the center of Zagreb, " continues Grlic, "It is a story of three people very different in terms of social status, sexual orientation, political views and in terms of the religions to which they do or do not belong. In our story, what connects them is not only the space they live in, but also their, often mutually confronted, demons from the past; demons which force them to live in the past rather than in the present."

Recent Synergetic titles include:  THE ANCHORITE By Aviv RUBINSTEIN,  THE BIG LIE: AMERICAN ADDICT II by Sasha KNEZEV,  THE MYSTERY BENEATH, GAME OF ACES, Damien LAY,  THE MILLENNIAL DREAM, AMATEUR TEENS By Niklaus HILBER, and GOLD  By Niall HEERY

LATIDO FILMS is an international sales agency founded in 2003 to commercialize all-film rights of titles from all over the world (with a line-up of no more than 15 per year to ensure our quality standards), with a special focus in Spain and Latin-America.

LATIDO is not only proud of its collaboration with some of the most prestigious filmmakers, like Rajko Grlic,  such as Oscar Award winner Juan José Campanella with THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES, Sundance Film Festival winner Andrés Wood with VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN or legendary Spanish director Carlos Saura with FADOS but also in rising up new talent to the international market such as Rome Film Festival winner Sebastian Borensztein with CHINESE TAKE-AWAY or Cuban Oscar proposed Ernesto Daranas with BEHAVIOR