Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all US rights to Academy Award nominee Agnieszka Holland's In Darkness from sales agent Beta Cinema. The film, based on the true story In the Sewers of lvov by Robert Marshall, is written by David F. Shamoon and stars Robert Wieckiewicz, Benno Fürmann (North Face, Merry Christmas), Maria Schrader (Aimee & Jaguar DVD) and Herbert Knaup (Run Lola Run, The Lives of Others). In Darkness is produced by The Film Works, Schmidtz Katze Filmkollektiv and Zebra Films.

In Darkness is set in 1943 and the Polish town of Lvov is occupied by the Nazis. Poverty grows. One day the selfish thief and burglar Leopold Socha encounters a group of Jewish refugees - and hides them for money in the labyrinth of the town's sewers. At first only interested in lucrative business the whole thing reaches more and more Socha's conscience. The Polish small-time crook makes up his mind and finally risks his own life for the refugees...

Director Agnieszka Holland said, "This story shows how fine the line is between the best and the worst of human nature."

"With In Darkness, Agnieszka Holland has made her masterwork and is truly at the peak of her form and maturity. This new true story of WWII and the Holocaust is a revelation. It is a privilege and pleasure to be together again with our friends Agnieszka, Dirk Schuerhoff and Beta Cinema," states Sony Pictures Classics.

The acquisition of In Darkness continues a longstanding and rich relationship between Michael Barker and Tom Bernard (while at Orion Classics) and Agnieszka Holland, who previously worked together on Olivier, Olivier and Europa Europa. This also marks another wonderful collaboration with Beta Cinema, who negotiated the sales for Academy Award winners The Lives of Others and The Counterfeiters.