Paris-based sales outfit MMM Film Sales has boarded Rima Das‘ “Not a Hero,” which is set to world premiere in the Generation section at the Berlin Film Festival.
The India-Singapore co-production, shot in Assamese, Hindi and English, centers on a young boy who is sent from the city to live in his ancestral village. There, he encounters his embittered aunt, forms a bond with a horse and embarks on wild escapades with the local children, ultimately uncovering an inner strength and the simple beauty of rural life.
The film stars Bhuman Bhargav Das, Sukanya Boruah and Mrinmoy Das.
“We were deeply impressed by this beautiful, contemporary Huckleberry Finn–like story set in today’s global, hectic world, one that contemplates the world that younger generations will inherit,” said MMM. “‘Not a Hero’ is a film about roots and origins, friendship and values – an encounter between younger and older generations, and a reconciliation between the world of yesterday and the one the protagonists will have to face tomorrow.”
Das is known for intimate narratives exploring human connection, self-discovery and maturation against natural landscapes. Her previous works include “Village Rockstars” (2017), which represented India at the 2019 Academy Awards; “Bulbul Can Sing” (2018); “Tora’s Husband” (2022); and “Village Rockstars 2” (2024). Her films have screened at more than 150 festivals globally, collecting over 75 awards, with stops at Toronto, Berlinale and Busan.
“Not a Hero” is produced by Flying River Films in India, Akanga Film Asia in Singapore and TrainTripper Films in India.
Chippy Babu and Abhishek Sharma of TrainTripper Films stated: “TrainTripper Films has always supported filmmakers who have a distinct voice that have empowered change, no matter how small it may seem, even as a conversation starter. Our ethos is to champion films such as Rima’s that have an impact that lasts beyond the screen. Rima is an artist and a singular force of nature, and we are truly honored to join her on this journey and support her in her expression of freedom, and work on making this a larger conversation across the globe.”
At the European Film Market, the newly launched MMM will also present Cris Tapia’s genre offering “Gunman,” which recently premiered at Rotterdam; Abdelkarim El-Fassi’s “Porte Bagage,” which world premiered at Marrakech; Junna Chif’s “Invisibles” and Andrés Clariond Rangel’s “Versalles,” produced by Nicolàs Celis, both in competition at PÖFF Tallinn.
The company’s slate additionally features K. Papadakis and S. Dinopoulos’ “Bearcave,” selected for Venice’s Giornate degli Autori; Stroma Cairns’ “The Son and the Sea,” a BIFA nominee that screened at TIFF, San Sebastián and BFI London Film Festival; and Laurent Slama’s “A Second Life,” starring Agathe Rousselle and Alex Lawther, which will be released in Germany by Port au Prince.
