Raven Banner has boarded international sales for Polish-American directorial duo Richard Karpala and Gabriel Bienczycki debut feature Falling Stars, ahead of its world premiere on the Piazza Grande at the Locarno Film Festival.

The horror drama follows three brothers who pay a heavy price when they venture into the “wind-blasted badland” of the Californian desert in search of a legendary witch’s grave.

As per the official synopsis: “In this puritanical, fervently religious American West dominated by ritual and old sins passed down across generations, three brothers are facing the costs of coming-of-age, of leaving home and venturing off into the unknown.”

Karpala’s credits include the award-winning shorts Iris while Bienczycki is an experienced cinematographer, whose directorial credits include Nowhere Band.

Key cast include Piotr Adamczyk, Orianna Milne, Shaun Duke Jr. and Andrew Gabriel

North American sales rights are handled by XYZ. 

The film is also produced by the directorial duo under their Latarka Studio and Zebra Visual banners.
 
“We’re excited to bring this exceptional horror drama to the international market. Celebrating its world premiere at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival, is the best possible start for this striking film with the potential of becoming a cult film of its genre”, said Raven Banner managing director James Fler.

Other titles playing on Locarno’s 8,000-capacity Piazza Grande include opening film The Falling Star by Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel as well as Justine Triet’s Cannes 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall and Ken Loach’s The Old Oak.

The Locarno Film Festival runs from August 2 to 12. Read more line-up details here.