Fox Searchlight Acquires Davis Guggenheim Doc ‘He Named Me Malala’

Fox Searchlight has acquired worldwide rights (minus France and French-speaking territories) to Davis Guggenheim‘s “He Named Me Malala.”

The documentary follows Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for promoting the education of young girls. The film’s synopsis continues: “The then 15-year-old teenager, who had been targeted for speaking out on behalf of girls’ education in her region of Swat Valley in Pakistan, was shot in the head, sparking international media outrage. An educational activist in Pakistan, Yousafzai has since emerged as a leading campaigner for the rights of children worldwide and in December 2014, became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.”

“Malala’s incredible journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring,” said Fox Searchlight Presidents Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula. “Her bravery in the face of adversity brought us to tears. The chance to bring her story to a global audience will be an honor for all of us here at Searchlight.”

“Spending the last 18 months with Malala, her father Ziauddin and their family has been one of the great experiences of my life,” said Guggenheim.

The film will also launch an international advocacy and fundraising campaign in partnership with Yusafzai’s non-profit organization, The Malala Fund, to empower adolescent girls around the world.

No release date was announced.