Lightdox Takes World Sales on Swiss Documentary The Big Boom! Ahead of Amsterdam Premiere
Lightdox has acquired world sales rights to The Big Boom!, a documentary that has its world premiere on Saturday at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, known as IDFA. Deadline reported the deal as an exclusive.
World sales rights let a company sell a film to cinemas, broadcasters and streaming services in countries around the globe. Anna Berthollet is chief executive of Lightdox. The deal was struck before the film's premiere, so buyers will see it for the first time in Amsterdam.
The film was directed by Swiss filmmaker Gabriel Tejedor, and it is his fifth feature. It was produced by Mira Film Basel GmbH and co-produced by RTS Radio Télévision Suisse and SRG SSR. Susanna Guggenberger produced the film, Thomas Szczepanski handled the cinematography, Christine Hoffet edited it, and Petar Dundakov composed the score.
The documentary is set in Kazanlak, a town in Bulgaria's Valley of Roses. There, ancient traditions sit alongside the Arsenal weapons factory. The Arsenal was founded in the 19th century and employs thousands of people who make weapons and ammunition. The film examines the role that industry plays in the town through the lives of four residents.
The world premiere takes place in the Frontlight section of IDFA. Festivals like Amsterdam are often where sales companies and buyers first sit down with a documentary, so a premiere there can set the pace for what comes next. For the film, Saturday's screening is the next public step.
