Paris and Berlin-based sales company Salaud Morisset has secured international sales for “Under the Volcano,” which is set to have its world premiere in the Centrepiece section of the Toronto International Film Festival next month.
Under the Volcano, the second film by Polish director Damian Cukor, tells the story of a Ukrainian family spending the last day of their vacation on the Spanish island of Tenerife. As soon as they arrive at the airport, their flight is cancelled: Russia has invaded Ukraine. The tourists trapped on the island become refugees.
“The world has never been so close to a volcanic eruption, even though we all sleep with the certainty that it won’t happen in our lifetime,” said Kogor. “Unresolved social conflicts or climate change are left for the next generation to deal with. My film is about how obvious our security is, and how quickly we can turn overnight from tourists to refugees, regardless of the colour of our skin or our country of birth.”
“I was immediately struck by the emotional resonance of the story – the stunning set creates a vibrant contrast to the unfolding drama,” added François Morissier, founder of Salud Morissier. “The film’s different layers, from the emotional to the political, offer a rich, multi-dimensional narrative that will deeply connect with audiences and spark meaningful conversations.”
Cukor's first feature film, Bread and Salt, won the Special Jury Prize in the Horizons section of the Venice Film Festival in 2022, and was screened at the Cairo, Antalya, Cottbus, and many other film festivals.
Under the Volcano is the second collaboration between Cukor and Salud Morissette, who previously worked on his latest short film As It Was. The film was co-written and directed by Ukrainian director Anastasia Solonevich and will screen in competition at Cannes in 2023.
Under the Volcano is produced by Mikołaj Lizut of Lizart Film and Agnieszka Jastrzębska of Hawk Art. Co-producers are Grzegorz Słoniewski of MGM SA, Michał Maksym of TVP SA, and the Polish Film Institute.
Salud Morissette’s Toronto slate includes Danish-Palestinian director Mahdi Fleifel’s “To an Unknown Land,” also screening at Centrepiece, as well as two short films from Cannes 2024, “Sauna Day” by Estonian directors Anna Hints and Tushar Prakash, and “Amarella” by Japanese-Brazilian director Andre Hayato Saito.
