Kino Lorber is positioning this acquisition as an unmissable cultural event, with VP Karoliina Dwyer praising the 'infectious energy' of the ensemble cast and calling the film a 'stunning' portrayal of a generation grappling with unrealized dreams.
The timing is absolutely suspicious in the best way possible. Insiders suggest Kino Lorber is racing to lock down the North American rights immediately after the film’s Cannes win and fresh BIFA nominations to beat competitors to the punch. It’s a classic move: grab the buzz before the award season chatter drowns it out.
The deal was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP Karoliina Dwyer with Charades and Gersh. The film recently won the top prize in the progressive cinema competition at the Rome Film Festival, where Anthony Boyle also shared the best actor prize, and took home the people’s choice audience award at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight.
This isn’t just a distribution deal; it’s Kino Lorber snatching up the hottest prestige property in town before the rest of Hollywood can even finish their coffee.
Listen up, because the independent film circuit just got loud, and Kino Lorber is moving fast to secure the bag. Fresh off the press release announcing eight nominations for the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), Clio Barnard’s critically acclaimed drama “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning” has officially landed its North American theatrical distribution. The acquisition marks a significant win for the director, whose film has been generating serious heat on the festival circuit since its world premiere at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight.
The cast is nothing short of a powerhouse assembly of the UK and Ireland’s most compelling talent, and they are about to take over American screens. Starring Anthony Boyle (“Manhunt”), Joe Cole (“Gangs of London,” “Peaky Blinders”), Jay Lycurgo (“Steve”), Daryl McCormack (“Wake Up Dead Man,” “Bad Sisters”), and Lola Petticrew (“Furious”), the film follows childhood friends Patrick, Shiv, Rian, Oli, and Conor. These five grew up on a Birmingham estate, skipping school and dreaming big, but now that they’ve hit thirty, the harsh reality of adulthood is setting in.
The narrative dissects the drama that ensues when shared dreams crumble under the weight of adult responsibilities. Boyle plays Patrick, whose marriage to Shiv (Petticrew) is rocked by old secrets, while Cole’s character Rian has left the estate for London but finds himself lonely and disconnected. Meanwhile, charismatic Oli (Lycurgo) is partying too hard and fading by the day, and Conor (McCormack) faces a baby on the way and a business plan that could change everything.
It’s a recipe for high-stakes drama, and the critics are already eating it up. Barnard’s track record gives this deal serious weight. Her previous feature, “Ali & Ava,” also premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, went on to win two BIFAs, and earned two BAFTA nominations.
For “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning,” the accolades have already started pouring in before it even hits US screens, signaling that Barnard is one to watch. The film won the people’s choice audience award at Cannes and recently secured the top prize in the progressive cinema competition at the Rome Film Festival. At the same festival, Anthony Boyle shared the best actor prize, cementing his status as a rising star to watch.
Barnard herself expressed thrill at sharing the story of these five friends with US audiences, emphasizing the film’s exploration of their generation’s struggles in a quote that screams 'prestige darling.' The deal was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer with Charades and Gersh, signaling a strong industry confidence in the film’s commercial and critical viability. Dwyer praised Barnard for crafting a “beautifully observed coming of age story” that “sensitively captures a generation grappling with unrealized dreams.” The film is produced by Barnard’s long-term collaborator Tracy O’Riordan of Moonspun Films, with development support from BBC Film and co-financing from the BFI via National Lottery funding.
With a planned 2027 theatrical release followed by digital and home video rollouts, Kino Lorber is betting big that American audiences are ready for this raw, emotional journey. The stakes are high, the stars are rising, and the tea is hot: this is the indie film everyone will be talking about next year, and Kino Lorber just made sure they get the first slice of the pie.
