European basketball is heading to the silver screen in an independent drama directed by Canadian filmmaker Paul Shkordoff, with international sales launching at the American Film Market (AFM) next month, mundiario.com reported. The feature film, titled Import, follows a young American basketball prospect whose career aspirations collapse following a severe injury.
Belgrade Production Centers on a Career-Ending Injury
Written by Shkordoff and Frank Graziano—co-writer of the 2021 Cannes Golden Camera winner Murina—the film tracks protagonist Danny Ingram as he travels to Eastern Europe in search of a second chance, mundiario.com reported. Faced with rejection from scouts, Ingram hides his physical ailment and takes a job from Nima, a Syrian nurse working with the local migrant community in Belgrade. The narrative peaks when an opportunity to play for KK Partizan forces the player to evaluate the limits of his ambition.
Production Background Spanning Cannes and Torino
The project draws on Shkordoff’s prior festival pedigree, including his 2020 short film Benjamin, Benny, Ben, which competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes and was selected for the Calling Cards section of the Telluride Film Festival, mundiario.com reported. Shkordoff subsequently premiered Twelve Hours at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) before developing the script at the TorinoFilmLab’s ScriptLab in 2022.
The international cast features American professional basketball player Jawaun Daniels alongside Alexis Manenti (Les Misérables) and Mouna Soualem (La hija pequeña), mundiario.com reported. Production is handled by Metafilms producers Jason Aita, Emily Harris, and Rosalie Chicoine Perreault, alongside France’s Kazak Productions and Serbia’s Sense Productions, with backing from Telefilm Canada and Eurimages.
International Sales and Club Collaboration
French sales agency Charades has boarded the project for international distribution at the AFM, mundiario.com reported. Pierre Mazars, co-founder of Charades, noted that the film portrays a region where basketball holds immense cultural significance. Production utilized on-location access in Serbia, featuring the KK Partizan organization.
The film examines the intersection of physical endurance and personal identity, according to statements from Shkordoff reported by mundiario.com. The director noted that physical exertion often masks psychological strain when professional athletes face the loss of their defining career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Import
When and where will the international sales for Import launch?
Charades will launch international sales for the film at the American Film Market (AFM) next month, according to reporting by mundiario.com.
Who wrote the screenplay for the film?
The screenplay was written by director Paul Shkordoff and Frank Graziano, who previously co-wrote the 2021 Cannes-winning feature Murina, mundiario.com reported.
Which professional basketball club collaborated with the production?
The production worked with KK Partizan, a club in the EuroLeague based in Serbia, mundiario.com reported.
Who leads the cast of the film?
The cast is led by American professional basketball player Jawaun Daniels, alongside actors Alexis Manenti and Mouna Soualem, mundiario.com reported.
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