Picture via Netflix
The Sundance Film Festival is underway, and Netflix has wasted no time in making its first major acquisition from the famous snow-filled film festival with the Norweigen documentary, Ibelin.
The documentary has just made its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, competing in the World Cinema Documentary Competition.
The film looks into the life and legacy of Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer who tragically passed away at the young age of 25 due to a degenerative muscular disease. While his parents initially believed Mats had led a life marred by loneliness and isolation, they were soon touched by an outpouring of messages from his global online community. These messages painted a picture of a life rich in friendship and connection, albeit in a digital realm.
The BBC covered the story in excellent detail back in 2019 by journalist Vicky Schaubert in an article titled: “My disabled son’s amazing gaming life in the World of Warcraft.”
Credit: Kristoffer Kumar
Directing the documentary is Norwegian documentary filmmaker Benjamin Ree, who has previously worked on Magnus (2016) and, more recently, The Painter and the Thief (2020).
In a statement, Ree expressed his excitement and honor at having Ibelin distributed by Netflix, saying: “Many of my favorite documentary films and series of all time have been distributed by Netflix. It’s a huge honor that Ibelin will now be on Netflix, and Mats Steen’s story will be available to so many millions of people across the world. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Producing the title is Ingvil Giske for Medieoperatørene in co-production with Norway’s VGTV.
Netflix did not provide any release date for the new documentary, although, from previous pickups, they often debut within a year of acquisition, so expect it to land sometime in 2024.
Picture: Sundance Institute
In total, 82 feature-length films from 24 countries are debuting at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024 alongside 53 short films.
Last year, Netflix picked up The Deepest Breath and Fair Play, which both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. This year, Netflix went to the festival with The Greatest Night In Pop, a music documentary from director Bao Nguyen.
We’ll have more coverage of Netflix’s other pickups from the Sundance Film Festival as and when we get them.
Will you check out Ibelin when it drops on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.
