Nour Films Takes French Rights to Lav Diaz’s ‘Magellan’ Ahead of Cannes Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

Sales agency Luxbox has closed a distribution deal for France with Nour Films on Lav Diaz’s “Magellan,” starring Gael García Bernal, which has its world premiere in the Cannes Premiere section of the Cannes Film Festival.

The film, set in the 16th century, follows Magellan, a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator. He rebels against the power of the King of Portugal, who doesn’t support his dream of discovering the world, and persuades the Spanish monarchy to fund his bold expedition to the fabled lands of the East.

The voyage is exhausting beyond expectations, with hunger and mutiny pushing the crew to their limits. Upon reaching the islands of the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan’s mind changes. He becomes obsessed with conquest and conversion, which sparks violent uprisings beyond his control.

The Nour Films team said in a joint statement: “With rare evocative power, ‘Magellan’ stands out as a new masterpiece by Lav Diaz. The Filipino filmmaker delivers a pictorial fresco of the 16th century, at once a sensory immersion and an uncompromising political perspective on colonial violence.

“Gael García Bernal plays an unsettling Magellan, full of contradictions. His magnetic, restrained performance gives flesh to this mythical character, without ever sanctifying him. A monumental film that Nour Films is proud to support.”

Nour Films was the distributor of Berlinale 2018 Golden Bear winner “Touch Me Not,” Cannes 2023 Caméra d’Or winner “Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell,” Berlinale 2023 documentary “Seven Winters in Tehran” and Berlinale 2024 Teddy Award winner “All Shall Be Well.”

The producer of “Magellan” is Joaquim Sapinho at Rosa Filmes in Portugal. The co-producers are Andergraun Films (Spain), Black Cap Pictures (Philippines), Ten17P (Philippines), El Viaje Filmes (Spain), Volos Films (Taiwan), Lib Films (France) and AKP21 (France).

Diaz’s previous films include “The Woman Who Left,” which won Venice’s Golden Lion in 2016, and “From What Is Before,” which won Locarno’s Golden Leopard in 2014.