SONY PICTURES CLASSICS GOES HUNTING FOR 'THE LOST LEONARDO'

NEW YORK (March 11, 2021) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired worldwide rights, excluding UK, France and Germany, to THE LOST LEONARDO.  The documentary, directed by Andreas Koefoed and produced by Andreas Dalsgaard for Copenhagen-based Elk Film and Christoph Jörg for Paris-based Pumpernickel Film, is currently in post-production. Dogwoof and its production finance arm, TDog Productions, are both financiers in the project.

THE LOST LEONARDO tells the inside story behind the Salvator Mundi, the most expensive painting ever sold at $450 million, claimed to be a long-lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci. From the moment it is purchased from a shady New Orleans auction house, and its buyers discover masterful brushstrokes beneath its cheap restoration, the fate of the Salvator Mundi is driven by an insatiable quest for fame, money and power.  But as its price soars, so do questions about its authenticity. Is this multi-million dollar painting actually by Leonardo – or do certain power players simply want it to be? Unravelling the hidden agendas of the world’s richest men and most powerful art institutions, THE LOST LEONARDO reveals how vested interests became all-important, and the truth secondary. 

A clip of the film can be found here.

Film clip embed:

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“The story of the Salvator Mundi is a fascinating dark fairy tale” says Koefoed. “It merges the love of art, money and power in such an explosive way.”

"THE LOST LEONARDO is a gripping real-life art thriller with more twists than a John Le Carré novel,” stated Jörg.

"We will marvel at truth stranger than fiction,” adds Dalsgaard.  “It’s definitely the most intriguing art story of the 21^st century. It will take the audience from one secret world to another.”

“THE LOST LEONARDO is an art story like no other, which places us in the middle of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people in a story full of incredible twists and turns. We're incredibly happy to be partnering on the film with Sony Pictures Classics, with whom we had such a successful collaboration with MAIDEN,” said Anna Godas and Oli Harbottle of Dogwoof.

 

The film is co-produced by Mantaray Film. In association with Danish Film Institute, Nordic Film and TV Fund, Swedish Film Institute, Hot Docs Partners, Nika Media, Mitten Media, Alba Collis.

 

 

ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992—which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.  Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 39 Academy Awards® (35 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 175 Academy Award® nominations (149 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. 

ABOUT DOGWOOF

Dogwoof is regarded as the foremost documentary specialist brand in the world and is a stamp of the highest quality content. They sell worldwide, distribute theatrically in the UK and invest in the production of creative feature docs and docu-series. Founded in 2004, notable releases include theatrical hits such as Blackfish and Dior and I and acclaimed titles such as OSCAR®-nominated Cartel Land and BAFTA-winning The Act of Killing. Dogwoof recently launched a film investment fund - TDog Productions - focusing on the development and production of feature docs and docu-series, gearing up the company towards vertical integration of production, sales and distribution.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT    

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. 

For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com.