Vitagraph Films has entered into a distribution deal with Constantin Film to distribute THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX, the 2009 Academy Award ® and Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, in all media in the United States. Written and produced by Bernd Eichinger (2005 Academy Award nominee DOWNFALL) and directed by Uli Edel (LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN, CHRISTIANE F), the film dramatizes the history of the real-life West German terrorist group Red Army Faction (RAF), which rose to violent action against the German political status quo in the late 1960s. Led by Ulrike Meinhof, a prominent journalist who forfeited her career and children to engage in anti-authoritarian and anti-capitalist acts of resistance, and Andreas Baader, the group’s youthful members went underground, sacrificing leading normal lives, to fight for a more human society – through terrorist bombings and bloodshed. THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX’s ensemble cast includes, Martina Gedeck (THE LIVES OF OTHERS, THE GOOD SHEPARD), Moritz Bleibtreu (RUN LOLA RUN), Johanna Wokalek (AIMEE AND JAGUAR) and Bruno Ganz (THE READER, DOWNFALL). Based on Stefan Aust’s critically acclaimed non-fiction book Der Baader bMeinhof Komplex the film was Constantin Film’s biggest box office success in 2008. An updated edition of Aust’s book was released in March 2009. Vitagraph Films currently plans to theatrically platform the release of the film in August 2009 in 18 of the top 20 markets.
“We are pleased that an American audience will now be able to see this exceptional film in theatres. David Shultz and Margot Gerber have shown a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and Constantin Film is proud to be in business with Vitagraph Films,” says Martin Moszkowicz of Constantin Film AG. “This is a story that has not been widely told in America,” says David Shultz, President of Vitagraph Films.
“With the early years of our current century dominated by the aftermath of 9/11, this is an interesting time for audiences to take a look at a previous generation of terrorism – and through it, a complex political world history that continues to reverberate in our times.” Vitagraph Films LLC is currently distributing THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH, TOKYO! and VALENTINO THE LAST EMPEROR. Established in 1999, some of Vitagraph’s previous titles include JCVD, Larry Clark’s WASSUP ROCKERS, Takashi Miike’s AUDITION and Alex de la Iglesia’s EL CRIMEN PERFECTO.
ABOUT CONSTANTIN FILM
Constantin Film has been one of the most successful producers and independent distributors of feature films in Germany for over 25 years. The company, which is listed on the stock market since 1999, is also involved in the international production of theatrical films in English as well as TV production (TV movies, series, entertainment formats). The classic production and distribution operations were supplemented successfully in 2004 by license trading and the internal exploitation of video and DVD rights and intensified TV service production, with a particular focus on TV entertainment. Constantin Film’s international box-office hits include The Neverending Story, The Name of the Rose, the Resident Evil and Fantastic Four franchises, Perfume—The Story of a Murderer and Academy Award® nominees Downfall and The Baader Meinhof Complex. Forthcoming releases include Pope Joan and Pandorum.
