“Second Chance,” the directorial debut of Indian filmmaker Subhadra Mahajan, has been picked up for international sales by Thailand-based Diversion ahead of its world premiere at the 2024 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The film is set to debut on July 2 in the festival’s Proxima Competition section.
The film tells the story of Nia, a young woman from the city who returns to her family home in the western Himalayas after a decade-long absence. Grappling with personal trauma, Nia forms an unexpected bond with Bhemi, an elderly mountain woman, and Sunny, a spirited young boy. As Nia begins to heal, she must confront the demons of her past while striving for a new beginning.
“Second Chance” was developed through various industry programs, including Produire Au Sud Kolkata 2020, NFDC Film Bazaar Co-Production Market 2020 and the Cannes Marche du Co-Production Day 2021. The film also participated in the Film Independent Global Media Makers Program in 2022.
Shot in black and white, the feature is in the Hindi, English and Kullavi languages. It is produced by Metanormal Motion Pictures and Latent Pictures, with Shyam Bora as producer and Pan Nalin and Swapnil Suhas Sonawane serving as executive producers. The production team also includes Bhaskar Hazarika as co-producer. Hazarika, a co-founder of Metanormal alongside Bora, is known for directing critically acclaimed films such as “Aamis” and “Kothanodi.”
The technical team includes cinematographer Swapnil Suhas Sonawane, known for his work on “Sacred Games” and “Last Film Show,” production designer Namra Parikh, editor Tinni Mitra, and sound designer Anirban Borthakur.
Diversion’s current slate showcases a strong focus on Asian cinema, featuring titles such as the Malaysian film “Oasis of Now” and the Thai film “Solids by the Seashore,” both of which premiered in the New Currents Competition at last year’s Busan International Film Festival. The company is also handling sales for the Taiwanese film “A Journey in Spring,” which screened at the 2023 San Sebastian International Film Festival, and the Filipino film “Gospel of the Beast,” which competed at the 2023 Tokyo International Film Festival.
Mai Meksawan, founder of Diversion, said about “Second Chance”: “We appreciate how the director carefully orchestrates a symphony of elements to convey the weighty emotions that reside within the characters, creating moments of poignant intimacy that can resonate deeply with the audience.” Meksawan added that “Second Chance” aligns well with Diversion’s mission to support emerging talent in Asia and highlight important issues faced by women globally.
Producer Bora added: “Diversion’s works are a testament to their commitment towards championing Asian cinema and talent, and I couldn’t be happier that they have boarded our film.”
Executive producer Pan Nalin, known for “Last Film Show” and “Angry Indian Goddesses,” said: “In the way that ‘Second Chance’ tackles a story of an urban Indian girl with rooted local Himalayan themes, it will speak to audiences across the globe because it is pure and emotional.”
Writer-director Mahajan added: “I am delighted to have new partners in ‘Diversion,’ as they relate to the heart of ‘Second Chance’s intimate, feminine story and embrace the film with all its unique nuances and cinematic choices.”
Source Agencies
