Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to Bruno Dumont’s The Empire, an intergalactic sci fi farce starring Anamaria Vartolomei, Camille Cottin, Lyna Khoudri, and Fabrice Luchini. The Empire made its World Premiere at the 2024 Berlinale, where it was awarded the Silver Bear Jury Prize. Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release in 2024, followed by a home video, educational, and digital release on all major platforms.
The acquisition of The Empire marks the sixth time that Kino Lorber has collaborated with Bruno Dumont, with previous releases including Li'l Quinquin, Coincoin and the Extra-Humans, Juliette Binoche-starrers Slack Bay and Camille Claudel 1915, and, most recently, France, starring Lea Seydoux.
In a quiet and picturesque fishing village in Northern France, something finally happens: a special baby is born. A child so unique and peculiar that it unleashes a secret war between extraterrestrial forces of good and evil. In an attempt to restore their empires, two opposing forces from the depths of outer space, One and Zero, unleash an apocalyptic conflict on Earth. Demons of the Zero forces covertly take over the village locals, possessing their bodies in order to establish pandemonium on earth. But at the same time, a new species of creature formed by the Ones is working for an alternative and beneficial evolution. While waiting for the final battle, the imperial legions struggle to win humanity over to their cause. A slapstick intergalactic space opera from the singular mind of auteur Bruno Dumont, The Empire is a dramatic blockbuster spectacle and a comedic tour de force that pits good against evil, One against Zero in a fabulous tale of the forces that shape the world and humans into what they are.
The deal for The Empire was negotiated by Kino Lorber Senior Vice President Wendy Lidell and Alexandre Moreau for Memento International. The film has also sold in numerous territories worldwide, including France (ARP), Benelux (Cineart), Italy (Academy Two), Sweden (Njuta), Ex-Yugoslavia (MCF Megacom), Bulgaria (Beta Film), Hungary (Vertigo), Baltics (Scanorama), and Indonesia (PT Falcon).
“We’re exhilarated to board Bruno’s latest excursion into the cinematic future!” said Richard Lorber, Chairman and CEO of Kino Lorber. “He pulls off new risks in The Empire with philosophical wit and visual glee, inventing his own brand of special effects to make for stunts like no other. Being a cinephile in the Dumont-osphere has never been so much fun, and our whole Kino Lorber gang is going into space training to navigate with the most adventurous auteur working today. We can’t wait to deliver this huge entertainment payload to American audiences, proving anew Bruno’s got the cinematic right stuff.”
“To Battle! To Battle! With Kino Lorber again!” added Bruno Dumont.
The acquisition of The Empire is the latest move in a busy 2024 for Kino Lorber, who most recently acquired queer Sundance hit Sebastian and announced the merger of leading international series streamers MHz Choice and Topic, which Kino acquired last year. Additionally, Kino Lorber’s 2023 release Four Daughters, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards.
Written and directed by Bruno Dumont, The Empire stars Brandon Vlieghe, Anamaria Vartolomei, Lyna Khoudri, Julien Manier, Camille Cottin, and Fabrice Luchini. A Tessalit Productions production in co-production with Red Balloon Film, Ascent Film, Novak Prod, Rosa Filmes, and Furyo Films, The Empire is produced by Jean Bréhat and Bertrand Faivre and co-produced by Dorothe Beinemeier, Fabrizio Mosca, Andrea Paris, Matteo Rovere, Ines Vasiljevic, Olivier Dubois, Joaquim Sapinho, Marta Alves, and Emma Binet.