Paris-based Tomsa Films will co-produce Andrei Epure’s first feature film, Don’t Let Me Die.
Founded in 2018, the company is also behind Laura Samani’s critically acclaimed Cannes Critics Week premiere ‘Small Body’ and the documentary ‘Zaho Zei’.
“Don’t Let Me Die” follows the consequences of a woman’s death in front of her apartment building. Her neighbor, Maria, is questioned by the police and eventually takes charge of the funeral. As she tries to escape the feeling of being possessed, she finds herself caught in a maze of bureaucracy.
Produced by Alexandru Teodorescu and Ana Gheorghe of Bucharest-based production company Saga Film, the project received production funding from CNC in Romania and is about to apply for funding in France. At this time, we plan to start production in early 2024.
“One day, while I was on the bus, some strangers were talking about a Romanian journalist who was found dead two weeks later in his apartment. I was witnessing impromptu eulogies in between,” Epre said, noting that his film “explores the agony of dying in complete indifference.”
“This is a story of alienation, a ghostly realm in which we live, where the everyday becomes mysterious and the alien becomes familiar. Just the way we see death. Instead, we’re looking for images, camera movements, and sounds that embody the way death sees us.”
Tomsa Films’ Thomas Lambert has been busy at Locarno this week, presenting two projects in Alliance 4 Development, Locarno Pro’s joint development program for film projects in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.
In Vero Cratzborn’s “Molecules,” two twin sisters must fight for their bond because one of them begins to develop a degenerative disease.
“They are like ivy around trees. When they try to separate, blood spurts out,” observes Lambert, adding, “The rescuer is the tragic hero, and dedication and sacrifice give strength.” But I will pay a terrible price, ”he talks about the story.
He will also co-produce Switzerland’s Veronique Vergari (Luna Films) and Stefan Riedhauser’s “Orpheus”.
“This project has had a wonderful aura since it was developed at this year’s Résidence du Festival in Cannes,” said Lambert, a continuation of Epure’s short film “Interfon 15,” which premiered at Critics in Cannes. I’m talking about Don’t Let Me Die. Week of 2021.
“A disturbing debut that mixes dark comedy and horror, and invites audiences into a dialogue between the dead and the living.”
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Post ‘Small Body’ producer Tomsa Films has boarded Andrey Epure’s first feature ‘Don’t Let Me Die’ (Exclusive), first appearing in Media Pub News.