Following its North American acquisition by A24 at EFM, pre-Cannes news is now stirring with word that Altitude has scooped up the U.K. rights for upcoming martial arts action drama, A Prayer Before Dawn. Jean-Stephane Sauvaire directed the film which is slated for the Midnight Screenings segment at Cannes next month.
In Klong Prem, there are 10 rules. If you break them, you will almost certainly die. If you don’t break them, you will definitely die. This is the true story of Billy Moore — jailed in one of the world’s toughest prisons, Klong Prem, the notorious “Bangkok Hilton.” Refusing to die there, Billy becomes a student of the lethal art of Muay Thai Boxing and in the process finds a brotherhood that will help guide him on an incredible journey to redemption.
Filmed in a real Thai prison, Peaky Blinders and Green Room actor Joe Cole leads the Muay Thai boxing drama which takes its cues from author Billy Moore's own 2014 book of the same name. The film will mark Sauvaire's sophomore offering since debuting Johnny Mad Dog at Cannes back in 2008. Jonathan Hirschbein adapted the screenplay previously treated by Nick Saltrese.
Rita Dagher produced the film through her Senorita Films banner along with Nicholas Simon, and Hurricane Films’ Sol Papdopoulos and Roy Boulter. The film was financed through a deal between executive producer James Schamus's Symbolic Exchange, and Meridian Entertainment whose Jennifer Dong and Figo Li also served as executive producers.
Altitude’s Will Clarke and HanWay Films’ Gabrielle Stewart brokered the deal.
Per Screendaily:
Will Clarke for Altitude commented: “A Prayer Before Dawn is a truly visceral and stunning feature from Jean-Stephane Sauvaire. Joe Cole turns in a truly powerhouse performance depicting Billy Moore’s real life experiences that further cements him as one of the most exciting British actors.”
Gabrielle Stewart for HanWay Films added: “The team behind A Prayer Before Dawn has gone through an incredible journey to tell Billy Moore’s story in such an authentic and powerful way, and it is so well deserved they get to premiere the film on the big screen of the Palais in Cannes with partners such as Altitude and A24 by their side.”
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