EXCLUSIVE: Latvian Canadian writer and director David Bezmozgis will begin principal photography on an adaptation of his novel The Betrayers this June.
Michael Aronov (The Americans, The Drop), Simon McBurney (Nosferatu, The Pale Blue Eye), Kaelen Ohm (Hit & Run, From), and Tina Benko (The Report, The Good Fight) have signed for the cast.
Bezmozgis has adapted his critically acclaimed 2014 work with Canadian writer Paige Cooper.
The politically charged psychological drama follows a disgraced Israeli politician and former Soviet dissident who seeks refuge in a Crimean resort town.
While there, he comes across the man who betrayed him decades earlier. The encounter sets off a reckoning with the past and the murky nature of justice, memory, and forgiveness.
The Crimea portion of the feature will be shot in Bari, Italy.
The project is a Canada–Ukraine treaty co-production, produced by Bill Marks (Forsaken) at Votex Media, Volodymyr Yatsenko, and Anna Yatsenko (U Are The Universe).
“We’re incredibly proud to bring The Betrayers to the screen,” said Marks. “David’s novel is rich with moral tension, political insight, and emotional depth—and this team is perfectly suited to tell that story with urgency and elegance.”
Vortex Media will distribute the film in Canada; the rest of world rights remain available. The film has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Hollywood Suite and the Canadian Media Fund.
“This has long been a passion project for David and Bill, and we couldn’t be happier with the incredible collaborators they’ve assembled,” said Matt Orenstein, VP Acquisitions and Strategy, Vortex Media.
“We look forward to working with this team on the Canadian release.”
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