“Woman Of…,” the pioneering trans drama directed by Malgorzata Szumowska and Michal Englert, has recently been sold by Memento International across Europe.
The film, set against the backdrop of Poland’s transformation from communism to capitalism, follows the story of Aniela Wesoły, portrayed by Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik. Spanning 45 years of Aniela’s life, the movie explores her journey as a trans woman, as she seeks personal freedom amidst the challenges of marriage, parenthood, strained family relationships, and societal attitudes.
The distribution rights for “Woman Of…” have been acquired by various territories across Europe. These include Italy (I Wonder), France (UFO), Germany (Salzgeber), Austria (Filmladen), Spain (Karma), Benelux and Israel (Cinemien), Switzerland (Xenix), Sweden (Lucky Dogs), Greece (Cinobo), Ukraine (Arthouse Traffic), and Czech Republic and Slovakia (Film Europe).
Discussions are underway for the film’s release in other territories such as the U.K. and Scandinavia. North American sales are being handled by Anonymous Content and Memento International. In Poland, the film will be released by Next Films, known for their work on “Loving Vincent” and “The Peasants,” and is scheduled for March 2024.
“This is the first Polish film to feature so many transgender and non-binary individuals cast in both trans and cisgender roles. We are extremely grateful for their participation,” shared directors Szumowska and Englert. They emphasized the importance of providing emerging transgender actors and performers with opportunities to both represent themselves and develop diverse characters.
“Woman Of…” had its world premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival, followed by screenings at other prominent festivals including Busan, Thessaloniki, and Sao Paulo.
The film is also part of the feature film selection for the European Film Awards in 2023. It was produced by Nomad, a collaboration between Madants and Nowhere, and Plio Ltd. Additionally, it has co-productions with Film i Väst in Sweden and Common Ground Pictures, with co-financing from the Polish Film Institute.
Aside from “Woman Of…,” Memento International’s impressive slate of films includes Bruno Dumont’s upcoming French science-fiction comedy, “The Empire,” and Alexandra Pechman’s U.S. project, “The Murderous Miss Highsmith.”
