12-02-2009

Marhoul scores big in Berlin with WWII epic Tobruk

By Anna Franklin in Berlin
    Prague based director, producer and scriptwriter Vaclav Marhoul has scored big with his three million Euro WWII Czech historic action drama Tobruk.
    The film which was released in the Czech Republic in September where it earned nearly $600,000 was picked up by Intramovies in Berlin for world sales who report there are already negotiations underway for UK, France, Poland and Sweden after its market screening just four days ago.

    Tobruk has also made a clean sweep of nominations at the March 9 Czech Lions, the Czech equivalent of the Oscars with nominations in all top categories of best film, director,script and cinematography. Altogether the film has garnered nine nominations. It is also nominated for the Czech Critics Prize.

    Marhoul has run the successful Prague theatre group Sklep for nearly 20 years but he is best known in the international film world for his stint as general director of the Barrandov Studios in the 1990's which he successfully took from state entity to one of the first private studios in central and eastern Europe.

    His feature debut Smart Philip was a quirky and stylish detective drama that garnered critical attention although it did not manage to break into the international circuit.

    Marhoul shot Torbruk over three grueling months in the Tunisian desert. The script is based on an idea that Marhoul developed after reading Stephen Crane's classic The Red Badge of Courage. Marhoul speaking exclusively to FNE said: "I am pleased of course about the positive response the film has had in Berlin. I cannot say that I especially had an international audience in mind when I shot it. The film business is always roulette."

    International Sales Intramovies Jef Nuyts +39 06 807 72 52

    Producer: Production Silver Screen in coproduction with Česká Televize and Free-Cool-In

    Contact: Silver Screen Tel +420 296 236 491 Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.tobruk.cz