Metrograph Pictures has acquired North American rights for Dea Kulumbegashvili ’s Venice Special Jury prizewinner “April.”

The festival standout earned unanimous critical praise upon world premiering at Venice with Variety describing it as a “radical, shattering exploration of women’s lives, rights and bodies in peril.” The film, which received a prize from a Venice jury presided over by Isabelle Huppert, went on to play at Toronto and San Sebastian where it also nabbed an award. It will next screen at the New York Film Festival as part of its main slate. Metrograph Pictures will release the film in theaters next year.

“April” follows Nina, a skilled obstetrician at a maternity hospital in Eastern Georgia. “After a difficult delivery, an infant dies and the grief-stricken father demands an inquiry into her methods. The resulting scrutiny threatens to bring to light Nina’s secret side job—driving through the stunningly beautiful countryside to the village homes of pregnant girls and women to provide unsanctioned abortions—and to destroy the work that is the only source of meaning in her life,” reads the synopsis.

“April” represents Kulumbegashvili’s follow-up to her 2020 debut feature, “Beginning”, which was selected for Cannes, as well as the San Sebastian Film Festival where it garnered four awards for best film, director, screenplay, and actress for Ia Sukhitashvili.

Kulumbegashvili's second film brings back the cast and crew of “Beginning,” including Sukhitashvili and Kakha Kintsurashvili, as well as cinematographer Arseni Khachaturan (“Bones and All”).

Kulumbegashvili said, “‘April’ is my humble tribute to Georgia, perhaps depicting a world full of pain but also of immense beauty.”

“Traveling from village to village, observing the lives of women hidden within their homes, listening to the whispers of those trapped by their destinies… ‘April’ evolved into a testament to overwhelming, unbearable empathy and the chilling feeling of helplessness. While in some ways, ‘April’ may appear as a feverish dream consumed by anxiety and anger, it ultimately stands as a declaration of love for the place I hail from and will always carry within me,” Kulumbegashvili continued.

The director added that Metrograph cinema has “introduced many of (her) favorite films to New York City and have proven to be champions of art house films.”

David Laub, head of Metrograph Pictures, remarked that “‘April’ is a bold, brilliant, entirely original cinematic work unlike anything we have ever encountered.”

“While addressing important and relevant contemporary issues, the film transcends easy categorization and stands out as one of the most unique and captivatingly unconventional films ever made,” stated the executive, who lauded the filmmaker as an “amazing, singular artist. “We are thrilled to support her work and present this film in a way that will resonate with a wider audience seeking fresh and distinctive cinema. It’s a masterpiece for a new generation.”

“April” was a collaborative effort, produced by Frenesy Film, First Picture, Memo Films, and Independent Film Project. Producers include Luca Guadagnino, Ilan Amouyal, David Zerat, Francesco Melzi d’Eril, Archil Gelovani, Gabriele Moratti and Alexandra Rossi. Executive producers include Steven Darty, Adrien Dassault, Christian Vesper, Giovanni Corrado, Raffaella Viscardi, Moreno Zani, Malcom Pagani, Marco Colombo and Federico Marchetti, with Sergei  Yahontov co-producing alongside associate producers Livio Strazzera and Jan Pastori.

The agreement was brokered by Eva Diederix at Goodfellas on behalf of the filmmakers.