Fedor Bondarchuk’s keenly anticipated sci-fi action movie “Attraction,” which Sony Pictures releases in Russia on Jan. 26, has been picked up by distributors in several major territories. The Russian filmmaker has directed some of his country’s biggest blockbusters, including “Stalingrad,” the highest-grossing film ever in Russia with $55 million. Variety has been given exclusive access to the film’s trailer with English subtitles.

“Attraction” will be released in 43 countries, with the latest distributors to acquire the pic including AB Groupe in France and Barter in Italy. China’s HGС Entertainment acquired the movie during the Cannes Film Festival in May.

The visual effects-heavy movie starts with the crash-landing in Moscow of a mysterious flying object, which turns out to be a spaceship and the prelude to an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth.

Richard Maroko, head of programs and acquisitions at AB Groupe, said: “We are extremely excited to work with Art Pictures bringing to the French audience such a spectacular movie as ‘Attraction.’ We really believe in the potential of the movie and are amazed by the quality of the VFX.”

Valentina Gardani, distribution coordinator and producer of Barter Entertainment, said: “We’re extremely excited to present in our territory such an amazing and well-made movie as ‘Attraction’….The projections of box office are very high.”

The film, which stars Irina Starshenbaum, Alexander Petrov, Rinal Mukhametov and Oleg Menshikov, was produced by Art Pictures Studio and Vodorod Film Company. The screenplay is by Oleg Malovichko and Andrey Zolotarev.

Visual effects were by MainRoadlPost, whose credits include “Wanted,” “August. Eighth,” “Metro” and “Stalingrad.” Dave Whitehead, whose credits include “District 9,” “King Kong,” “Elysium” and “The Hobbit” trilogy, developed the film’s sound design.

source: Variety