Spud

Coming to a Cinema Near You

Spud fans and fanatics will be glad to hear that Spud will be takingon the world! After a successful releasein South Africa in December 2010 which saw it top the summer box office aheadof international blockbusters like Harry Potter, the film adaptation of one ofSouth Africa’s best-loved books has made massive international strides withdistribution deals in place to release it in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East,Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia.

The deal to distribute the film in the UK wasannounced at the Toronto Film Festival this past weekend by the film’sinternational sales agent, The Little Film Company, and will see Universal UKhandling theatrical, home entertainment and television rights, with the cinemarelease set for early 2012.

Universal UK is the British & Irish arm of Hollywoodstudio NBC Universal.
Spud Producer Ross Garland is delighted that such apowerhouse player has picked up the film, “It’s a bit of a coup for a majordistributor like Universal UK to pick up a South African film – and we’redelighted that they’re so passionate about it” he says.

 “2012 isshaping up to be a big Spud year - in addition to our first foray into theinternational market, the fourth book in the series is being published andwe’re working on plans to shoot the sequel film”

Universal UK Acquisition Head Richard Thompsonbelieves that UK audiences will enjoy Spud’s coming-of-age story: “The bookfranchise has an incredible following in South Africa.  The film toppedthe South African box office - beating Harry Potter – and we know UK audienceswill fall in love with these characters and this story.”

In addition to itssales success, Spud will be part of the prestigious Cinekid Festival in Hollandin mid-October. Cinekid is the largest international children’s film festival.The film will also play at Germany’s Schlingel International Film Festival forchildren and youths, and has already screened at the Giffoni Film Festival inItaly in July.



Based on the best-selling South African novel byJohn van de Ruit, Spud is directed by Donovan Marsh and stars BAFTA-winner, Emmywinner and Academy Award nominee John Cleese and newcomer Troye Sivan (X-MenOrigins: Wolverine) and was produced by Ross Garland of Rogue Star Films andBrad Logan of BLM Productions.



The film will be distributed in the Middle East byFront Row, in Australia by Pinnacle and by Another World in Scandinavia.Airline rights have been acquired by Terry Steiner.

Read my blog post on Spud the Books and what I thought of thisamazing Movie HERE

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