KimStim has officially acquired the North American rights to Katharina Rivilis' directorial debut, 'I'll Be Gone in June'. This coming-of-age drama, backed by renowned filmmaker Wim Wenders, recently made its global premiere to critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival within the Un Certain Regard section. The acquisition marks a significant step for the film, securing its theatrical distribution in North America in spring 2027.
The narrative of 'I'll Be Gone in June' centers on Franny, a 16-year-old German exchange student whose initial excitement for an American adventure in Las Cruces, New Mexico, during the tumultuous months leading up to the September 11th attacks, quickly gives way to profound homesickness, social awkwardness in her new school environment, and the relentless desert heat. Her sense of isolation begins to dissipate when she encounters Elliott, a local boy quietly grappling with his own personal sorrow, forming an unexpected bond amidst the global unrest.
Director Katharina Rivilis drew inspiration from her personal experiences as an exchange student in New Mexico when crafting the film's screenplay and directing it. Before her journey into directing, Rivilis honed her craft as an actor at the University of Film and Television “Konrad Wolf” in Potsdam-Babelsberg, subsequently pursuing directing studies at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin. Her earlier works include several acclaimed short films such as “Ariana Forever!”, “Day X”, which received a Student Academy Award nomination in 2021, and “Rondo”, which premiered at the Berlinale, showcasing her consistent talent and vision.
The film is a collaborative production involving Germany, Switzerland, and the U.S., with Road Movies, led by Léa Germain and Wim Wenders, at the helm, alongside Clemens Köstlin and Rivilis. Co-production efforts were contributed by Olga Lamontanara and Simon Jaquemet. Andrea Kuehnel and Vincent Savino served as producers, with executive producer roles filled by Lauren Melinda, Helena Sardinha, Rafael Thomaseto, Neil Kopp, and Anish Savjani. Starring Naomi Cosma, David Flores, Bianca Dumais, and Rebecca Schulz, the 125-minute feature is presented in both English and German. Luxbox handles international representation, having already secured distribution deals across Europe and Asia, including France, Greece, the Baltics, Israel, Romania, Ukraine, Indonesia, and the former Yugoslavia.
Ian Stimler, co-president of KimStim, expressed his admiration for the film, highlighting its ability to capture a deeply personal and human story against the backdrop of a significant collective tragedy. He noted that Rivilis's direction portrays post-9/11 America through Franny's eyes as a complex tapestry of the strange, the seductive, the lonely, and the promising. Stimler praised Naomi Cosma's performance as beautifully open and vulnerable, and commended Rivilis's filmmaking for its tender yet assured approach, emphasizing KimStim's immediate desire to champion the project. The agreement for North American distribution was negotiated between Stimler and Jean-Benoit Henry, Luxbox's head of international sales.
