RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Filmes do Estação, the distribution arm of leading Brazilian exhibition chain Grupo Estação, has acquired the rights to Juliette Binoche’s directorial debut “In-I In Motion” after its buzzy Latin American premiere at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.
“In-I In Motion” charts the collaboration between the actor and acclaimed British choreographer and dancer Akram Khan, who worked together in 2007 to create “In-I.” The dance theatre spectacle went on to be performed over a hundred times globally between 2008 and 2009. “In-I In Motion” had its world premiere at the San Sebastián Film Festival, where Variety critic Guy Lodge said, “the documentary affords viewers raw access to the creation process, and the rare fascination of watching two leading artists at times out of their depth, figuring out new dimensions to their craft.”
Binoche attended the film’s Rio premiere, where she caused great furore amongst passionate cinephile audiences. The actor reciprocated the love from local audiences by hosting a late post-screening Q&A a few short hours before her homebound flight, and spent her days in town praising not only the festival but Brazil’s national cinema. It’s worth remembering that Binoche led this year’s jury at the Cannes Film Festival, where Brazil’s Oscar-hopeful “The Secret Agent” received a rare two awards – for best director for Kleber Mendonça Filho and best actor for Wagner Moura. While in town, the renowned actor told Variety she would “love” to work in the South American country and already has an idea for a project.
Adriana Rattes, Grupo Estação’s executive director and co-founding partner, as well as the co-founder of the Rio Film Festival, told Variety she found the film to be a “fascinating document about the difficulties and experimentations of the creative process of two artists immersed in a daring play.”
“Years later, Juliette comes out to show the public her own perspective of that theatrical experience and does so in a frank and courageous way,” she adds. “She made a strong film. Every artist will like this film, and so will those who are curious and appreciate beauty. This is why we felt the film should be screened to more audiences in Brazil.”
Rattes adds it was a “luxury” for the distributors to have Binoche attend the film’s Rio premiere. “Binoche has a track record of packing cinema screens in Brazil and has a legion of Brazilian fans. The film is already more well-known and anticipated because she spoke directly about it to Brazilian audiences. It’s everything a distributor can want.”
As for release plans, Rattes says Filmes do Estação still doesn’t have an exact date for “In-I In Motion” to hit screens, but is planning to launch it in the first semester of 2026. “Our promotional work will be gradual and artisanal, going from city to city. We’ve had a similar experience launching Bia Lessa’s wonderful ‘The Devil to Pay in the Backlands,’ also a unique and special film, and gotten interesting results.”
