Cinema Guild Snaps Up ‘Bogancloch’ for North American Release: Locarno Film in Spotlight!

Cinema Guild has secured the North American distribution rights for “Bogancloch,” a new film by the renowned British director Ben Rivers.

This contemplative documentary, which was first shown at the Locarno Film Festival last year, profiles Jake Williams, who lives a reclusive life in the secluded Scottish Highlands. Filmed over several seasons on 16mm, this project is a continuation of Rivers’ earlier documentary from 2011, “Two Years at Sea.” It revisits Williams ten years later, capturing changes in his solitary existence.

Since its premiere in Locarno, “Bogancloch” has been showcased at various prestigious festivals including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Viennale, CPH:DOX, Cinéma du Réel, Tokyo International Film Festival, Festival dei Popoli, and at MoMA’s Doc Fortnight.

The film was produced by Ben Rivers in collaboration with Sarah Neely and John Archer, and with the co-production support of Zsuzsanna Király and Hanna Björk Valsdóttir. It received financial backing from Screen Scotland, the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and the Icelandic Film Centre.

The acquisition agreement was handled by Kelly with Meng Xie and Fen Chen from Rediance, the international sales representative for the film. Rediance is also promoting the film at the Cannes Film Market.

Peter Kelly, president of Cinema Guild, praised Ben Rivers as “one of the most distinctive and innovative filmmakers working today.” He described “Bogancloch” as a “profoundly absorbing and beautifully shot reflection on isolation, the passing of time, and nature, leaving an enduring impact on its audience.”

Ben Rivers expressed his excitement about the film’s release, noting, “It’s wonderful for ‘Bogancloch’ to be released by Cinema Guild. Our previous partnership on ‘Two Years at Sea’ was very fruitful, and it feels particularly fitting to continue our collaboration with this film.”

Cinema Guild is set to debut the film at the Anthology Film Archives this summer, followed by a nationwide theatrical release. Their upcoming lineup includes Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich’s “The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire,” Hong Sangsoo’s “By the Stream,” and 4K restorations of films by French director Luc Moullet and João César Monteiro. Recent releases also include Matías Piñeiro’s “You Burn Me” and a new restoration of Shinji Somai’s “Moving, Love Hotel.”

London-based filmmaker and artist Ben Rivers has received numerous awards for his work, including the Fipresci Prize at the Venice Film Festival, the Tiger Award at Rotterdam, and a Special Orizzonti Jury Prize. He is also a recipient of the Radcliffe Fellowship from Harvard University and the Jarman Award, with his films being featured in major festivals and venues globally.