METROGRAPH PICTURES ACQUIRES SANDHAYA SURI’S SANTOSH FOLLOWING WORLD PREMIERE AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

THE SEARING, SUSPENSEFUL POLICE PROCEDURAL PREMIERED TO RAVE REVIEWS IN UN CERTAIN REGARD

New York, NY (May 20, 2024) – Metrograph Pictures has acquired North American rights to Sandhya Suri’s Cannes standout Santosh following its world premiere in Un Certain Regard at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Metrograph Pictures will distribute the film theatrically, with additional release details to be announced at a later date.

The film follows Santosh (Shahana Goswami), a recent widow who, under a government scheme, inherits her husband’s job as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. When a low-caste girl is murdered, she is pulled into the investigation under the wing of charismatic feminist inspector Sharma (Sunita Rajwar).

Santosh is the first narrative feature from Suri, who was previously nominated for the Sundance World Documentary Grand Jury Prize for her breakout documentary, I For India. Her short film The Field, was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Short Film in 2019, and won Best International Short at TIFF in 2018. The film received great reviews following its premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Variety called it a “whip-smart film” that “speaks the language of a fiercely feminist empowerment saga”. IndieWire heralded it as a “master class in subtlety” while Screen called it a “terrific feature debut… a propulsive neo-noir that holds up a mirror to contemporary India.”

David Laub, Head of Metrograph Pictures, says, “Santosh is a brilliant film, a deeply layered, sharply modern look at gender, class, race, and morality all woven into the suspense and mystery of a procedural thriller. Sandhya Suri is a major new filmmaking voice, who tells a riveting story set in contemporary India , but which resonates much more broadly for its complexity, intelligence, and insightfulness. We are thrilled to be bringing this incredible movie out into the world.”

The film was backed by the BFI and BBC Film in co-production with ZDF/ARTE, in association with Haut et Court Distribution and with the support of Aide aux Cinémas du monde – CNC -Institut Français. Production companies are Good Chaos in association with Suitable Pictures in India and in co-production with Razor Film in Germany and Haut et Court in France.

mk2 negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

For Press Inquiries, Please Contact:

Nico Chapin, nico@metrograph.com

Layla Hancock-Piper, layla@cinetimcedia.com

About Metrograph

Metrograph is an entertainment company founded in 2016, based in New York City. Metrograph NYC is an independent movie theater at 7 Ludlow Street focusing on rare archival screenings (35mm and digital), special premieres, Q&As, and includes a restaurant, The Commissary, bookstore, and Candy Store.

Metrograph Pictures is an independent distribution company started in 2019 centered around Metrograph’s signature curation. Works acquired and released to date include restorations such as Possession (1981), A Bigger Splash (1973), Downtown 81 (1981/2001), Hyenas (1992), and will include a slate of new theatrical releases starting in 2024. The company’s first new acquisition is India Donaldson’s acclaimed Sundance film Good One. Metrograph’s SVOD platform, Metrograph At Home, launched in July 2020, and has been bringing Metrograph’s signature curation to a nationwide audience at metrograph.com.