Locarno, winner of the Sarajevo "Safe Place" award picked up for sale by Cercamon of Dubai (EXCLUSIVE)

Dubai-based sales agent Cercamon has acquired worldwide sales rights for "Safe Place" from Juraj Lerotić, which won three awards after its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival and was named best film in Sarajevo.

The Croatian director's feature debut is the moving story of a family in shock after a suicide attempt which focuses on a man's struggle to save his younger brother, creating a rift in the family's daily life.

"Safe Place" plays on Lerotić's painful family history, with the Croatian multihyphenate taking on the role principal in his deeply personal story - a performance that also won him the best actor award in Sarajevo. "The film is cut to the nitty-gritty, to a short duration and to a clear situation that can be summed up in one word: saving the loved one," the filmmaker said in a statement.

Sebastien Chesneau, director of Cercamon, said: "We were overwhelmed by the sincerity and realism of the movie. Juraj Lerotić touched us deeply with his autobiographical drama, in which we immediately felt connected. "Safe Place" stays in your mind."

Producer Miljenka Čogelja added: "I believe Cercamon is the best choice for 'Safe Place' and I hope for the continuation of the successful journey of the film.When, from the first conversations, the collaborators penetrate deep into the film and that it corresponds to the way you see it, you know that the film is in good hands. "

"Safe Place" won Best First Feature, Best Emerging Director and Best actor in Locarno. Guy Lodge of Variety described the film as an "extremely balanced and moving feature debut" and "smashing" debut, "with a long streak of other festival bookings to come". p>

"Safe Place" is produced by Pipser and Zelena zraka, with support from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Eurimages , HRT, CineLink Industry Days and Slovenian Film Center.

The cast is led by Snježana Sinovčić Šiškov, Goran Marković and Juraj Lerotić. The director of photography is Marko Brdar and the editor is Marko Ferković.

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