Paris-based sales company Luxbox has acquired Katharina Rivilis’ drama “I’ll Be Gone in June,” which has been selected for Cannes’ Un Certain Regard. The film, whose producers include Wim Wenders, is distributed in Germany and Switzerland by DCM.
In 2001, Franny, a 16-year-old exchange student from Germany, arrives in the sleepy desert town of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Far from home, Franny struggles through awkward school days, stifling heat, and restless nights until she meets Elliott, a boy whose quiet sadness mirrors her own. As America reels from 9/11, something resonates within Franny and an unexpected tenderness begins to bloom.
Jennyfer Gautier, head of international sales, at Luxbox, said, “ ‘I’ll be Gone in June’ perfectly depicts the timeless and somehow surreal atmosphere of New Mexico, between endless deserts and small colorful roadside buildings. We could feel the emotions, the melancholy of this wandering youth. In turn, the retro feeling shaped by the film’s visual language goes beyond aesthetic — it’s a floating sense of time, stirring a gentle, comforting nostalgia.”
The production companies are Road Movies, Wolfskind Films and 8horses. The film is produced by Léa Germain and Wenders, alongside Clemens Köstlin, Andrea Kuehnel and Vincent Savino. The co-producers are Rivilis, Olga Lamontanara and Simon Jaquemet. Executive producers are Lauren Melinda, Helena Sardinha, Rafael Thomaseto, Neil Kopp and Anish Savjani.
Rivilis said, “I’m very happy to begin this collaboration with Fiorella and her team, and to know my film is in such great hands. Being part of a lineup alongside filmmakers I’ve admired for a long time is truly special. ‘I’ll Be Gone in June’ has found its perfect home, and I deeply trust that Luxbox will do a great job getting it seen around the world.”
