RAI Cinema International Distribution (RCID) has taken international sales rights for “Of Dogs and Men,” an upcoming drama directed by Dani Rosenberg (“The Death of Cinema and My Father Too,” “The Vanishing Soldier”) and produced by AR Content. RCID is introducing the film to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival‘s market, where Variety has been given exclusive access to a first-look image.
Written by Rosenberg, Ori Avinoam and Itai Tamir (“To Take a Wife,” “Love Life”), “Of Dogs and Men” is produced by two-time Academy Award nominee Alexander Rodnyansky (“Loveless,” “Leviathan,” “Beanpole”) of AR Content and Itai Tamir (“Under a Blue Sun”) of Laila Films.
Set and filmed in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, the film follows 16-year-old Dar, who is returning to her kibbutz to look for her dog which was lost during the terror spree. She navigates the horrors inflicted upon the place and on the faces of people she meets while encountering the stark reality of the unfolding disaster beyond the fence. Between those who seek revenge and those whose faith in mankind remains unwavering, Dar will try to find her own voice.
Produced by AR Content with Rai Cinema, “Of Dogs and Men” was shot in October and November 2023 in the kibbutzim lining the border with Gaza. Though the story is fictional, it stars non-actors and was shot on-location with a small crew who lived in or were present in the region at the time. To portray the reality of the region, it features a light camera, mostly improvised dialogue and no constructed sets.
Rosenberg’s first feature, “The Death of Cinema and My Father Too,” was a Cannes official selection in 2020, while his sophomore effort, “The Vanishing Soldier,” competed for the Golden Leopard last year at the Locarno Film Festival.
“We are incredibly grateful to RAI Cinema for supporting our film, we could not hope for a better partner,” said Rodnyansky. “I believe ‘Of Dogs and Men’ to be a very powerful anti-war statement and Dani’s film, in a very poetic way, reflects on the tragedy of suffering and the endless circle of violence in the region. This is a film on one of the most sensitive subjects done with talent and grace, and I am happy that the team of RAI Cinema shares this belief with me.”
Launched earlier this year, RCID is the standalone film sales unit of Italian state broadcaster RAI’s RAI Cinema film arm.
AR Content’s current slate includes Kornel Mundruczó and Kata Wéber’s “At the Sea,” starring Amy Adams, Laszlo Nemes’ “Orphan,” Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi’s “Occupation” and Kantemir Balagov’s “Butterfly Jam.” Laila Films is currently in production on “Souls,” by Miya Hatav, and “Marmalade,” by Yariv Horowitz.
Source Agencies
