The film ‘The Souffleur,’ starring Willem Dafoe, has been acquired by Kino Lorber for distribution in North America. Directed by Gastón Solnicki, the English-language dark comedy world premiered at the Venice Film Festival in the Horizons section. The story follows Dafoe’s character, a longtime hotel manager in Vienna facing the demolition of his workplace.
‘The Souffleur’ features Willem Dafoe as Lucius, an American who has managed an iconic hotel in Vienna for 30 years. The plot centers on his efforts to save the building after it is sold to an Argentine developer intent on demolishing it. Assisted by his daughter and a few loyal employees, Lucius embarks on a series of detours, espionage, and a paranoid fight to preserve his home.
Directed by Argentinian filmmaker Gastón Solnicki, the movie is his latest narrative work following previous features such as ‘Kékszakállú,’ which premiered in Venice’s Horizons section and won the FIPRESCI prize, ‘Introduzione all’Oscuro,’ shown out of competition at Venice, and ‘A Little Love Package,’ which debuted at the Berlinale in the Encounters section. All of Solnicki’s films are part of the Museum of Modern Art collection.
The cast includes Solnicki himself, newcomer Lilly Lindner, Stephanie Argerich, and Claus Philipp. Cinematography is by Rui Poças, known for Miguel Gomes’ ‘Grand Tour,’ which screened at Cannes and earned Gomes the best director award in 2024. Production involves Gabriele Kranzelbinder and Paolo Calamita of Little Magnet Films and KGP Filmproduktion, Eugenio Fernández Abril of Primo, and Solnicki’s Filmy Wiktora.
The distribution deal was handled by Austin Kennedy, Magnify’s director of global sales, and Candace Tan of Kino Lorber. Internationally represented by Magnify, the film’s acquisition marks a key step for its release in North America.
