Beta Cinema acquires global rights to "Arcadia"

Beta Cinema announces it has acquired all rights except Greece and Bulgaria for "Arcadia," the second feature film by multi award-winning director Yorgos Zois, set to premiere globally in the Encounters Competition section at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival. “We are proud to have found a true gem with 'Arcadia',” states Tassilo Hallbauer, Head of Sales and Acquisitions at Beta Cinema. “It is a beautiful, magical tale with a profound emotional impact and shows the unique handwriting of the extremely talented Yorgos Zios. Its universal topic will speak to audiences all over the world.”

"Arcadia" is co-produced by Veselka Kiryakova at Red Carpet in association with Two & Two Pictures and was supported by Eurimages, Greek Film Center, Bulgarian National Film Center, Ekome, Flux Laboratory Athens and Onassis Culture. It was written by Konstantina Kotzamani and Yorgos Zois and lensed by Konstantinos Koukoulios (GSC). Elena Topalidou, Nikolas Papagiannis and Vagelis Evangelinos round out the stellar cast. Beta Cinema will host on-site market screenings and online screenings in Berlin.

The drama-fantasy stars Vangelis Mourikis, who had been at the Berlinale in 2014 with Yannis Economides’ Stratos and in 2020 with Georgis Grigorakis‘ Digger and Angeliki Papoulia, best known for her outstanding performances in Giorgos Lanthimos‘ Dogtooth and The Lobster. The film is produced by Antigone Rota and Stelios Cotionis for Foss Productions, and by Maria Drandaki for Homemade Films.“I always wanted to make a metaphysical love story and I feel moved coming back to Berlin to present the film to the world, the city that I fell in love with as a residence fellow and never let it go," Director Yorgos Zois said.

The film follows radiant neurologist Katerina and Yannis, a former well-respected doctor, who are heading off to a deserted seaside resort. Silence spreads in the car as they travel across sandy dunes in a windy autumn, matching the less-than-pleasant occasion: Yannis had been called to identify the victim of a tragic accident at the hospital of the small town. When the local policeman informs them that the victim’s vehicle had plunged over the parapet of a stone bridge and leads them to the morgue, Katerina sees her worst suspicions confirmed. Together with Yannis, but also on her own nightly excursions to a mysterious, rustic beach bar called Arcadia, they begin to put the pieces of the puzzle together, revealing a haunting story of love, loss, acceptance and letting go.

“Between Foss Productions and Homemade Films, we have worked with Yorgos Zois separately on all his films since his award-winning debut short, Casus Belli, premiered in Venice in 2010," the producers state. "'Arcadia' marks the first time that the two production companies and the three of us worked altogether. When Yorgos told us that he wanted to make a love story where love and loss would coexist between real and imaginary worlds, we immediately realized that this film was a natural sequel to his work and wanted to support it. We are very glad to join forces with Beta Cinema on this adventure and we are looking forward to sharing the film with the audience in the world premiere at the Encounters Berlinale Competition, a competitive section devoted to new and strong cinematic visions.”