MUBI and New Wave Films Partner to Release Acclaimed Portuguese Epic ‘Arabian Nights’
READ MORE: The Most Ambitious Movie At This Year’s Cannes Film Festival is ‘Arabian Nights’
Miguel Gomes’ lauded epic “Arabian Nights,” which premiered as part of the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight selection, has been acquired for release in a groundbreaking co-distribution deal between New Wave Films and curated VOD service MUBI. The film confronts encompassing social and political realities in contemporary Portugal, spanning six hours over three parts.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis: “[‘Arabian Nights’] creates a vivid portrait of Portugal today. Miguel Gomes, the director of ‘Tabu,’ disturbed by the austerity measures imposed on his homeland, commissioned journalists to gather true stories from all over the country that were then fictionalized. The outcome is a heady blend of the surreal and the all too real, told in a series of episodes where social realism is mixed in with the downright bizarre. It is a snapshot of his country in economic strife and a collection of riveting stories that will resonate far beyond Portugal’s borders.”
According to the deal, MUBI and New Wave Films will co-release the film in cinemas across the U.K. and Ireland. Subsequently, “Arabian Nights” will stream on MUBI for online audiences to discover.
Efe Cakarel, Founder and CEO of MUBI, said, “This is the perfect film to make our foray into releasing a film across all platforms. Not only are we able to partner with such an inspiring company such as New Wave Films but also, we are able to bring one of this year’s most incredibly unique films to cinemas and then our audiences. It is just phenomenal.”
No release date has been set.
