Digital aggregator Under The Milky Way has acquired US theatrical rights to award-winning music biopics Dalida and Django (pictured).
The company plans to theatrically release the two films in autumn 2017 and early 2018 respectively.
Lisa Azuelos’ Dalida explores the life of the Egyptian-born Italian singer (born Yolanda Cristina Gigliotti) who was a major star in France from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Recording in more than five languages, Dalida sold a record-breaking 170 million albums during her lifetime. Italian-model-turned actress Sveva Alviti plays Dalida in the film.
Under The Milky Way co-founder Alexis Derendinger said: “Quite simply, we were blown away by Sveva Alviti’s performance in Dalida. In her time, Dalida sold more records than Madonna and inspired generations of music lovers around the world. We are thrilled to bring Lisa Azuelos’ masterful interpretation of her story to US audiences.”
The opening film of this year’s Berlin film festival, Etienne Comar’s Django tells the story of the legendary Romani jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who is played in the film by Reta Kateb (A Prophet).
Derendinger continued: “We were also astonished by first time filmmaker Etienne Comar’s Django, with Reta Kateb giving a powerhouse performance as the beloved musician and exceptional artist Django Reinhardt, fighting against Nazi-occupied France and the treatment of his community.”
“In this time of political uncertainty worldwide, we believe the film will strike a chord with a wide audience domestically.”