Blab Entertainment
Forsaken: Vincent Garenqs Samuel Paty Drama Secures Global Sales After Cannes Premiere
Forsaken, the biographical drama directed by Vincent Garenq, opened its curtains in the Official Selection of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and has already attracted a string of distribution deals that span Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia. The film, produced by Outside Films and Les Films du Kiosque and released in France by UGC Distribution, follows the last eleven days of French history‑geography teacher Samuel Paty, whose 2020 murder sparked a national debate on free speech.
The movie debuted in French cinemas on May 13, 2026, and has drawn more than 500,000 admissions to date. It has been sold to Italy (Satine Film), Spain (A Contracorriente), Austria (Panda Films), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Cinemart), Israel (New Cinema), Canada (Axia Films), Brazil (Ipecine), Indonesia (PT Falcon), Greece (Rosebud), and Bulgaria (Beta). Additional releases have been confirmed in the Benelux region and Switzerland, while negotiations are underway in Germany, Japan, and India.
Studio TF1, acting as the film’s international sales agent, announced the deals following the Cannes screening. “Forsaken resonates far beyond France through both the strength of its storytelling and the universal questions it raises,” said Alice Damiani, EVP International Film Sales at Studio TF1. “The breadth of these sales across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia reflects the strong interest from distributors and audiences in films that engage with the defining issues of our time.”
Garenq, who previously directed The Clearstream Affair, assembled a cast that includes Antoine Reinartz, Emmanuelle Bercot, Nedjim Bouizzoul, Emma Boumali, and Azize Kabouche. The synopsis describes a classroom discussion on free speech that spirals into tragedy after a false accusation triggers a viral online campaign fueled by outrage, misinformation and radicalization.
Samuel Paty, born in 1973, was a history‑geography teacher in Éragny, Val‑d’Oise, when he was beheaded on October 16 2020 by an 18‑year‑old Islamist extremist. The attack followed a student’s false claim that Paty had shown cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in class, a claim that was later retracted. The incident led to a nationwide debate and a series of legal proceedings against individuals who allegedly supported the attacker.
The film’s release follows a broader trend of French cinema engaging with recent history. According to the French film industry, the country’s export market has declined in recent years, but domestic productions such as Forsaken continue to attract international attention. The film’s performance at the box office—over 500,000 admissions in France alone—demonstrates the domestic appetite for narratives that confront contemporary social issues.
In addition to theatrical releases, the film’s distribution strategy includes digital and television platforms, although specific agreements have not yet been disclosed. UGC Distribution has handled the domestic theatrical rollout, while Studio TF1 has secured rights for international markets.
The film’s reception at Cannes was mixed, with some reviewers noting the delicate balance between documentary and dramatization. However, the official sales figures confirm that distributors in multiple regions see commercial potential in a story that remains politically relevant.
As of now, Forsaken has completed its theatrical run in France and is scheduled for release in the other markets that have secured distribution rights. The film’s release in Benelux and Switzerland is set for late summer, while the German, Japanese and Indian releases are expected in early 2027 pending final negotiations.
The film’s production and distribution timeline reflects a coordinated effort to bring a sensitive historical narrative to a global audience. With sales secured in over a dozen countries and a strong domestic box‑office showing, Forsaken is positioned to contribute to ongoing discussions about free speech, media responsibility and the impact of misinformation.
The film’s release schedule, distribution agreements, and box‑office performance illustrate the continued relevance of French cinema on the international stage, even as the industry navigates changing market dynamics and audience expectations.
The movie debuted in French cinemas on May 13, 2026, and has drawn more than 500,000 admissions to date. It has been sold to Italy (Satine Film), Spain (A Contracorriente), Austria (Panda Films), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Cinemart), Israel (New Cinema), Canada (Axia Films), Brazil (Ipecine), Indonesia (PT Falcon), Greece (Rosebud), and Bulgaria (Beta). Additional releases have been confirmed in the Benelux region and Switzerland, while negotiations are underway in Germany, Japan, and India.
Studio TF1, acting as the film’s international sales agent, announced the deals following the Cannes screening. “Forsaken resonates far beyond France through both the strength of its storytelling and the universal questions it raises,” said Alice Damiani, EVP International Film Sales at Studio TF1. “The breadth of these sales across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia reflects the strong interest from distributors and audiences in films that engage with the defining issues of our time.”
Garenq, who previously directed The Clearstream Affair, assembled a cast that includes Antoine Reinartz, Emmanuelle Bercot, Nedjim Bouizzoul, Emma Boumali, and Azize Kabouche. The synopsis describes a classroom discussion on free speech that spirals into tragedy after a false accusation triggers a viral online campaign fueled by outrage, misinformation and radicalization.
Samuel Paty, born in 1973, was a history‑geography teacher in Éragny, Val‑d’Oise, when he was beheaded on October 16 2020 by an 18‑year‑old Islamist extremist. The attack followed a student’s false claim that Paty had shown cartoons of the prophet Muhammad in class, a claim that was later retracted. The incident led to a nationwide debate and a series of legal proceedings against individuals who allegedly supported the attacker.
The film’s release follows a broader trend of French cinema engaging with recent history. According to the French film industry, the country’s export market has declined in recent years, but domestic productions such as Forsaken continue to attract international attention. The film’s performance at the box office—over 500,000 admissions in France alone—demonstrates the domestic appetite for narratives that confront contemporary social issues.
In addition to theatrical releases, the film’s distribution strategy includes digital and television platforms, although specific agreements have not yet been disclosed. UGC Distribution has handled the domestic theatrical rollout, while Studio TF1 has secured rights for international markets.
The film’s reception at Cannes was mixed, with some reviewers noting the delicate balance between documentary and dramatization. However, the official sales figures confirm that distributors in multiple regions see commercial potential in a story that remains politically relevant.
As of now, Forsaken has completed its theatrical run in France and is scheduled for release in the other markets that have secured distribution rights. The film’s release in Benelux and Switzerland is set for late summer, while the German, Japanese and Indian releases are expected in early 2027 pending final negotiations.
The film’s production and distribution timeline reflects a coordinated effort to bring a sensitive historical narrative to a global audience. With sales secured in over a dozen countries and a strong domestic box‑office showing, Forsaken is positioned to contribute to ongoing discussions about free speech, media responsibility and the impact of misinformation.
The film’s release schedule, distribution agreements, and box‑office performance illustrate the continued relevance of French cinema on the international stage, even as the industry navigates changing market dynamics and audience expectations.
