Bankside Films and Heretic Debut 'The Birthday Party' at European Film Market

"The Birthday Party," starring four-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe, is set for international sales representation by Bankside Films and Heretic. The film will be showcased to buyers with a promotional screening at the European Film Market.

Written and directed by Miguel Ángel Jimenéz, "The Birthday Party" is based on the novel of the same name by Panos Karnezis. Giorgos Karnavas and Nikos Panayotopoulos contributed additional writing to the screenplay. Variety obtained exclusive access to a first-look image of the film, which is currently in post-production.

Set in the late 1970s in the Mediterranean, "The Birthday Party" follows Marcos Timoleon (Dafoe), an opulent tycoon hosting an extravagant birthday celebration for his daughter Sofia on his private island. Unbeknownst to his guests, Marcos harbors a sinister plan for his daughter's future.

As the celebration unfolds and guests indulge in revelry, the tension between Marcos and Sofia intensifies, leading to a shocking confrontation.

Joining Dafoe in the cast are Vic Carmen Sonne, Joe Cole, and Emma Suárez. The supporting cast includes Carlos Cuevas, Christos Stergioglou, Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos, Pelle Heikkilä, Fransesc Garrido, Maria Pau Pigem, and Elsa Lekkakou.

Giorgos Karnavas of Heretic produced the film alongside Adria Mones of Fasten Films, Kurban Kassam of Raucous Pictures, and Erik Glijnis and Leontine Petit of Lemming Film. "The Birthday Party" is a co-production of Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, and the U.K. and was filmed in Corfu and Athens. Funding was provided by the Greek Film Center, ICEC, the Netherlands Film Fund, and the BFI's Global Screen Fund.

The film's executive producers include Ginevra Bulgari, Alexandra Daskalopoulou, Ivan Samokhvalov, Ioanna Stais, Talal Abu Ghazaleh, Mohamed Hefzy, Lee Broda, Alexander Tsekalo, Shane West, Richie Walls, Jeff Rice, Gabriel Kaplan, Bruno Lowagie, Ingeborg Willaert, Martien Uyttendaele, Dirk De Lille, Edgar Daarnhouwer, Olivier Mortagne, and Dries Phlypo.