Italian
Music Box has acquired North American rights to “Familiar Touch,” Sarah Friedland’s feature debut which won three major awards in Venice including the Lion of the Future prize.
Represented by Memento International, “Familiar Touch” also won best actress for Kathleen Chalfant, and best director in the Horizons section at this year’s Venice Film Festival. Friedland is now nominated in the “Someone to Watch” award category ahead of the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards.
“Familiar Touch,” which could be described as a “coming-of-old age film,” stars Ruth as Chalfant, an older woman who faces dementia and transitions into assisted living as she contends with her conflicting relationship with herself and her caregivers amidst her shifting memory, age identity and desires. Chalfant stars in the film opposite Carolyn Michelle, Andy McQueen and H. Jon Benjamin.
“Music Box has been a steadfast champion of bold, artist-driven, independent cinema and I’m delighted to partner with them in bringing our coming-of-old-age film to North American audiences,” said Friedland. The rising director added that “Familiar Touch” is a “film for those who are aging, those who are caring, and those who have been cared for; in other words, all of us.”
Popular on Variety Alexandra Byer (Rathaus Films), Sarah Friedland and Matthew Thurm produced the feature which went through the Berlinale Talent Scripts Station/Project Lab.
“‘Familiar Touch’ is an artfully poignant exploration of human connection astutely weaving together vulnerability, intimacy, and emotional depth with remarkable precision,” said Music Box in a statement.
The company praised Friedland as an “emerging filmmaker” “whose vision and sensitivity to the nuances of aging individuals and caregivers resonates with authenticity and emotional depth.”
“The Venice acclaim is a powerful testament to the universal need for touch and belonging in an increasingly disconnected world that we feel will deeply resonate with North American audiences,” the company added.
Variety’s review gave the film a rare review and said it was “built around a performance of immense care and delicacy by Kathleen Chalfant.” It also praised the film as a “precise, funny and deeply moving portrait of a woman adjusting to assisted living.”
Music Box Films will release “Familiar Touch” in 2025 following a strong festival run in the U.S. and worldwide screening at Mill Valley, BFI London, AFI fest, Tallinn Black Nights, Red Sea FF among many others.
The deal has been negotiated by Brian Andreotti, head of acquisitions at Music Box Films, and Alexandre Moreau, head of sales at Memento International, on behalf of the filmmakers.
