Dublin, February 27th, 2019
„An outrageous real-life escape story which is brought to the screen in brilliantly sense and nerve-shredding style.” – Gráinne Humphreys, Festival Director
Michael Bully Herbig celebrated the Ireland premiere of Balloon, his spectacular film, an adaptation of the true story about a flight from East Germany, at the Virgin Media Dublin International Film festival (February 20th – March 3rd) this Saturday. Accompanied by his co-producers from STUDIOCANAL, co-producers Kalle Friz and Isabel Hund, he was rewarded with a tumultuous applause in the full house which continued throughout the following Q&A session.
Established in 2003, the festival is one of Ireland’s premier feature film festivals, bringing together filmmakers, producers and actors from Ireland and the entire world. Balloon was shown in the category “World Cinema”.
In his first thriller Michael Bully Herbig tells the story of the families Strelzyk and Wetzel as a breathless race against time. The two families ventured to escape from the communist East Germany to freedom with a handmade hot-air balloon – eight people in a tiny gondola.
Balloon is not only a success in Ireland, the movie is very much in demand worldwide. It starts April 24th in France (ARP) and this summer STUDIOCANAL will release it in the UK. The thriller, produced by herbX film in co-production with STUDIOCANAL Film and Seven Pictures, has already been sold to various territories, e.g. Benelux States (Cinéart), Greece (Spentzos Film), Italy (Lucky Red) and Spain (Avalon distribution), in Eastern Europe Czech Republic, Slovakia (both Cinemart) and Hungary (Cinetel). In North America, Canada-based AZ-Films have secured the rights and Asian audiences can watch Balloon in Hong Kong (Edko Films), Japan (KINO), South Korea (Playlist) and Taiwan (Caichang). STUDIOCANAL Australia will be releasing the movie in Australia.
STUDIOCANAL is in charge of worldwide distribution. Principal photography took place in Bavaria, Berlin and Thuringia in 2017.