Bendita Film Sales has acquired the international rights to "Objet a", the second feature from writer-director-artist Ann Oren, ahead of its world premiere in the main International Competition at the Locarno Film Festival in August. The deal builds on Oren's international profile following her 2022 debut "Piaffe", which also premiered in competition at Locarno and went on to win the Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival, Best Debut from the German Film Critics' Association and a North American release via Oscilloscope Laboratories.

The new film follows Ingeborg and Adam, two hand surgeons bound by love and control, whose relationship is disrupted when an accident introduces the enigmatic Gaia and stirs unexpected desires. The cast includes "Piaffe" star Simone Bucio, alongside Aenne Schwarz, Louis Hofmann, Georg Friedrich and Sofia Kokkali. "Objet a" is lead produced by Berlin-based Schuldenberg Films in co-production with Tarantula, asterisk* and ERT, with backing from bodies including Film Fund Luxembourg, the German Federal Film Fund and Creative Europe Media. It is one of 17 titles competing for Locarno's Golden Leopard prize this year.