Award-Winning Timely Documentary Highlights The Vital Role Of Journalism In The Fight Against Corruption at The Highest Levels of Government
Berlin, October 15, 2020 - The Romanian Film Centre/CNC Romania has selected Alexander Nanau’s critically acclaimed observational documentary COLLECTIVE as Romania’s official Oscar® entry for Best International Feature, the first time a Romanian documentary has been the country’s official submission.COLLECTIVE is sold internationally by Cinephil and will be released on November 20th in the USA by Magnolia Pictures and Participant and in the UK and Ireland by Dogwoof and Participant. On November 25th it will be in French Cinemas released by Sophie Dulac distribution. COLLECTIVE will be released in many other countries this fall including Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The film is also currently available in 20 countries through HBO Europe.
COLLECTIVE had its world premiere in Venice last year, before having its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. COLLECTIVE also screened at Sundance earlier this year, and was an official selection of New Directors/New Films, IDFA, True/False, CPH DOX, the San Francisco International Film Festival, Göteborg International Film Festival, Full Frame, and Hamptons International Film Festival, where it recently won Best Documentary Feature. The film will next screen in Germany at DOK Leipzig. At the end of November, it will be broadcast by Germany’s MDR.
COLLECTIVE is part of the European Film Awards Shortlist and can be voted for a nomination in the category European Documentary. The film also recently won Best International Documentary at It's All True Brazil, Best Documentary Conscience Competition at Docville Belgium, Best International Documentary at DocAviv Film Festival, Best International Documentary at Zürich Film Festival, and Best International Documentary at Luxemburg, among others.
Directed by Alexander Nanau (TOTO AND HIS SISTERS), COLLECTIVE follows a team of investigative journalists as they uncover shocking, widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a powerful pharmaceutical firm, and the quiet resignation of a health minister—seemingly unrelated events, all within weeks of each other—the team of intrepid reporters exposes a much larger, much more explosive political scandal. COLLECTIVE is a fast-paced, real-life thriller about truth, accountability, and the value of an independent press in partisan times.
“The hospital corruption and subsequent government cover up in COLLECTIVE took place in Romania,” said Nanau. “Yet this is not just a local story. There is a universality that is even more relevant post Covid. Government corruption is sadly all too familiar across the world and the need to safeguard social justice and press freedom feels more urgent than ever. These are freedoms that have been compromised lately around the world. There could not be a more important time to bring this film to an international audience.”
Directed and filmed by Alexander Nanau, COLLECTIVE is produced by Nanau and Bianca Oana, Bernard Michaux and Hanka Kastelicová. The film is an Alexander Nanau Production in co-production with Samsa Film Luxembourg and HBO Europe, with the support of Romanian Film Centre, Luxembourg Film Fund, and Sundance Documentary Fund, with the participation of Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), RSI Radiotelevisione Svizzera, YES Docu and the support of the Sundance Documentary Fund. Executive producers are Antony Root and Philippa Kowarsky.
Watch the Trailer for Collective
