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1-2 Special Takes Cannes Winner ‘A Man of His Time’ for North America
A New York-based indie distributor has secured North American distribution rights to a French historical drama that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Emmanuel Marre's "A Man of His Time" examines the Vichy regime's collaboration with Nazi Germany and won the screenplay award at Cannes, with a planned theatrical release in 2026. The film centres on Henri Marre, a character inspired by the director's own great-grandfather, as he navigates the political landscape of 1940s France.
Critics praised the film for its unconventional approach to period storytelling, combining contemporary filmmaking techniques with historical material in ways that engage modern audiences. 1-2 Special, known for acquiring festival selections with critical recognition, will add the film to its slate of independent auteur projects. The distributor has previously secured rights to other acclaimed festival films including works by Mark Jenkin and Christian Petzold.
In short
- French historical drama about WWII collaboration wins Cannes screenplay prize
- 1-2 Special acquires North American theatrical rights for 2026 release
- Film praised for blending contemporary filmmaking with 1940s period setting
Explained simply
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world's most prestigious annual film events, where films from major studios and independent filmmakers gain international recognition and distribution deals. Emmanuel Marre's "A Man of His Time" is a French historical drama that won the screenplay award at this year's festival, and it examines the Vichy regime, the French government during Nazi occupation in the Second World War that collaborated with Nazi Germany. The film has been noted for its unconventional approach to historical storytelling, using contemporary filmmaking techniques to engage modern audiences.
Film distribution is the business of getting completed films into cinemas, and independent productions often struggle to secure the deals needed to reach audiences. For a film to reach North American cinemas, it needs a distributor with industry connections and experience in that market. 1-2 Special is a New York-based distributor known for acquiring acclaimed festival selections and bringing independent films to audiences across North America.