Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Fatih Akin’s Coming of Age Cannes Drama 'Amrum'
“Graceful and profound… offers a taste of a near-extinct big-screen film about
the innocence of childhood, its loss and endurance.”
– Tomris Laffly, Variety
“Beautifully shot, delicately shaded and at times almost unbearably poignant…
Akin has fashioned a rare film that relies on the power of simplicity to
tell a story that is anything but simple.”
– Steve Pond, The Wrap
“A film that explores how memories shape us—and how often we decide at an early age
what type of person we’re going to be.”
– Stephanie Zacharek, Time
Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to Fatih Akin’s stirring coming of age drama Amrum, which made its World Premiere as an Official Selection of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The film will be released theatrically by Kino Lorber followed by a digital, educational, and home video release.
Directed by Fatih Akin and co-written by Akin and frequent collaborator Hark Bohm (In the Fade, Goodbye Berlin), Amrum is based on Bohm’s own personal experiences growing up on Amrum Island. Starring Laura Tonke, Diane Kruger, and first-time child actor Jasper Ole Billerbeck, the film marks Akin’s first collaboration with Kruger since In the Fade, which won her the Best Actress prize at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
Amrum Island, Spring 1945. In the final days of the war, 12-year-old Nanning (Billerbeck) braves the treacherous sea to hunt seals, goes fishing at night, and works the nearby farm to help his mother feed the family. Despite the hardship, life on the beautiful, windswept island almost feels like paradise. But when peace finally comes, it reveals a deeper threat: the enemy is far closer than he imagined.
The deal for Amrum was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Dirk Schuerhoff, CEO of Beta Cinema.
“We were moved by the meditative beauty and stunning cinematography of Fatih Akin's Amrum, a true standout of this year's Cannes Film Festival,” said Lisa Schwartz, Chief Distribution & Revenue Officer for Kino Lorber. “Eighty years after its conclusion, Akin captures a rarely depicted side of World War II with emotion and poignancy, and found the perfect lead in the remarkable young actor Jasper Ole Billerbeck. We're proud to continue partnering with the team at Beta Cinema to bring this powerful film to North American audiences.”
“I have been following Kino Lorber’s program for many years. Their selection always includes highly sophisticated and distinctive films that have broadened my cinematic horizons. That’s why I am deeply delighted that Kino Lorber will be distributing my film Amrum in the United States and Canada. It is a film that reflects the spirit of our times and tells the story of political rifts within a family. I look forward to the collaboration and hope the film will find its audience in America,” said director Fatih Akin.
Amrum is a Bombero International, Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany production, in co-production with Rialto Film, with the support of FFA, DFFF, Moin Film Förderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, BKM, MBB, MFG and Bayerischer Filmpreis. The film is produced by Fatih Akin and Herman Weigel.