Anuparna Roy’s Lovers in the Blue Night, which will have its world premiere in the Orizzonti competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, has secured international sales representation from Parallax.
The deal, reported by Variety on August 27, gives Parallax the film’s international sales rights ahead of its Venice premiere.
Set amid Mumbai’s restless nightlife, Lovers in the Blue Night follows four migrants whose lives intersect: a husband hiding his sexuality, his wife who works in a bar, a petty criminal and a man involved in sex work. Their stories converge through romance, hidden longing and the struggle to survive and belong.
Parallax’s Liuying Cao said the company was impressed by the film’s “delicate and nuanced portrayal” of human emotions and Roy’s distinct directorial voice. The company said it hopes to accompany Roy and her future work on their international journey, beginning with Lovers in the Blue Night.
The sales deal marks a new step in the film’s international trajectory. Parallax will now represent the film to overseas buyers, although specific territory deals and commercial release dates have not been announced.
The film also marks Roy’s return to Venice a year after Songs of Forgotten Trees won her the Orizzonti Best Director award. She became the first Indian filmmaker to win the prize.
Lovers in the Blue Night is Roy’s second feature and her second consecutive film at Venice. The Biennale lists the film as an India-US production with a 107-minute running time. Its cast includes Neelima Sharma, Pritam Pilania, Bhushan Shimpi, Jatin Sarin, Kajal Keshav and Vinod Suryavanshi.
The production is led by Vikas Kumar’s Khan & Kumar Media and Sharib Khan’s Ammi Media, with Bibhanshu Rai and Romil Modi returning from Roy’s previous film. U.S.-based Rhet Topham has joined as producer, with Beesham Sreecharan as executive producer and London-based Amar Singh as associate producer.
With its Venice premiere already establishing the film’s festival platform, the Parallax deal is the latest indication that Lovers in the Blue Night is being positioned for international circulation beyond the Lido.
