ScreenDaily is reporting that UK distribution and sales company Dogwoof has made a deal to sell the international rights for Irish co-produced documentary Forever Pure. The film premiered at the Jerusalem Film Festival last month, and is part of the 9 strong Irish delegation heading to the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
Forever Pure is an Israeli, UK, Irish, and Norwegian co-produced documentary from director Maya Zinshtein. Beitar Jerusalem F.C. is the most popular and controversial football team in Israel, the only club in the Premier League never to sign an Arab player. Mid-way through the 2012/13 season, a secretive transfer deal by the owner, Russian-Israeli oligarch Arcadi Gaydamak, brought two Muslim players from Chechnya. The deal inspired the most racist campaign in Israeli sport that sent the club spiraling out of control. One season in a life of this famed club is a story of Israeli society, personal identity, politics, money and a window into how racism is destroying a team and society from within.
The film is produced by Maya Films and Duckin’ & Divin’ Films, and co-produced by Alan Maher for Roads Entertainment in Ireland. It is supported by Yes Docu, NFCT, Sundance Institute, the Irish Film Board, BBC Storyville, Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund, DR, Liminal Fund Grant – BRITDOC, Filmkraft Rogaland, Fritt Ord, Bertha Film Fund, and Canal Plus.
The agreement was made between producer Geoff Arbourne and Dogwoof for the UK company to handle all deals for the film (excluding TV deals in UK, Denmark, Norway, France, and Israel).
Commenting on the news Dogwoof’s Vesna Cudic said:
Forever Pure is a deeply affecting film about xenophobia and racism. Our buyers like edgy, topical, headline-grabbing stories. This one will do very well and we look forward to presenting it at TIFF.
John Battsek, executive producer for Passion Pictures added:
To have Dogwoof as our partners on this film is extremely exciting, their passion for the film and expertise in the marketplace is exactly what we need in order to bring this powerful film to as wide and as international an audience as possible.