Cannes Un Certain Regard Grand Prize Winner ‘Unclenching the Fists’ Sells to Mubi For North America, U.K. (EXCLUSIVE)

Mubi, the London-based streamer and theatrical distributor that’s been on a buying spree this week in Cannes, has acquired the rights for North America, U.K., and a host of other territories for Kira Kovalenko’s “Unclenching the Fists,” which took home the top prize in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section, Variety can reveal.
Set in a former mining town in Russia’s North Ossetia region, “Unclenching the Fists” is the story of a young woman, played by Milana Aguzarova, who struggles to escape the stifling hold of the family she both loves and rejects. The film is produced by two-time Oscar nominee Alexander Rodnyansky (“Leviathan,” “Loveless”).
The deal includes all rights for North America, U.K., Ireland, Latin America and India. Wild Bunch International, which is handling the film’s world sales, has also closed deals for France (ARP), Benelux (September Film), Greece (Cinobo), Italy (Movies Inspired), Portugal (Legendmain Filmes), Israel (Shani Film), Turkey (Bir), and ex-Yugoslavia (Fivia MCF).