Naomi Osaka-Produced Tennis Drama ‘Julie Keeps Quiet’, Belgium’s Oscar Entry, Gets North American Deal with Film Movement (EXCLUSIVE)

Film Movement has acquired North American rights to the Belgian Oscar film “Julie Keeps Quiet,” produced by tennis champion Naomi Osaka, which had its world premiere at Cannes Critics Week.

“Julie Keeps Quiet,” a feature debut directed by Leonardo Van Dijl, played in Carlsbad and Toronto and will next be shown at the BFI London Film Festival following its premiere in Cannes. The film will have its US premiere at the Hamptons Film Festival.

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In the drama, newcomer Tessa Van den Broeck plays the role of Julie, a young and promising tennis player who faces a dilemma when her celebrity coach is suspended following the suicide of a former prodigy. Suspicions of inappropriate behavior increase and the pressure on Julie to speak out grows. By failing to share her experiences, her silence leaves the investigation and the coach’s future in limbo.

“Julie Keeps Quiet” is scheduled to hit theaters in early 2025 and will then roll out across all leading digital and home entertainment platforms. The announcement was made by Michael Rosenberg, President of Film Movement, and Jan Naszewski, CEO of Warsaw-based New Europe Film Sales.

“Leo (Van Dijl) is a very talented young director who examines a social, current issue in a powerful first feature,” said Rosenberg. “From the exceptional cinematography and sensitive script to Tessa Van den Broeck’s impressive debut, it is an undeniable and thought-provoking film.”

“Julie Keeps Quiet” was written by van Dijl and Ruth Becquart and is produced by Gilles De Schryver, Gilles Coulier, Wouter Sap and Roxanne Sarkozi at De Wereldvrede, co-produced by Delphine Tomson, Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne at Les Films du Fleuve, Nima Yousefi at Hobab, Kristina Börjeson, Anthony Muir at Film i Vast and executive producer of Osaka, Hana Kuma at Stuart Duguid and Federica Sainte-Rose and Florian Zeller at Blue Morning Pictures. Van Dijl is represented by 2AM, Ken Lambrechts, CAA and Granderson Des Rochers.

Film Movement’s recent acquisitions include Lou Ye’s An Unfinished Film, which recently had its North American premiere at Centerpiece in Toronto, and Hiroshi Okuyama’s My Sunshine, which screened at Un Sure Regard in Cannes .

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