Charades signs rights to basketball drama set in Serbia

The independent film distribution company Charades has acquired international rights to Import, a feature film that explores the high stakes of European professional basketball. The acquisition positions the studio to bring a story focused on athletic perseverance to a global audience. This move follows the company’s recent focus on acquiring distinctive narrative projects from emerging markets.

The project originated in 2020 when director Paul Shkordoff’s short film Benjamin, Benny, Ben competed at the Cannes Film Festival. That early success helped establish Shkordoff’s reputation in the industry. He subsequently developed the script for Import through the TorinoFilmLab ScriptLab program in 2022. The writing credits are shared with Frank Graziano, who also co-wrote the 2021 Caméra d’Or winner Murina.

Production took place in Belgrade, Serbia, with filming completed in 2025. The cast includes Jawaun Daniels, an American professional player who has competed for clubs across Europe. He shares the screen with Alexis Manenti and Mouna Soualem. The plot follows Danny Ingram, a former high school prospect who moves to Eastern Europe after a serious injury derailed his initial professional prospects. He conceals his physical limitations to secure a spot with the Partizan club.

Charades will present the film to buyers at the American Film Market next month. Pierre Mazars, co-founder of Charades, stated that the movie offers a fresh perspective on a sport historically dominated by the United States. He noted that in Serbia, basketball holds a status similar to a religion. Mazars said Shkordoff captures the fierce atmosphere of the region effectively.

Shkordoff described the film as an examination of the tension between ambition and physical limits. He explained that the body often realizes what the mind refuses to accept. The director added that work often serves as a primary method for defining personal identity. When that work is removed, the identity built upon it can feel like it vanishes.

The production was a partnership with KK Partizan, a prominent EuroLeague club. The team appears directly in the film. Jason Aita of Sweet George Films, Emily Harris of OPC, and Rosalie Chicoine Perreault of Metafilms served as producers. The project received financial support from Telefilm Canada, Eurimages, and the French CNC Aide aux Cinémas du Monde. It also involved the Île-de-France Region, SODEC, and Ontario Creates.

Shkordoff’s previous short, Twelve Hours, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021. His earlier work was nominated for best live-action short at the Canadian Screen Awards. The film also won best Canadian short film at the Toronto festival. Import marks his first time directing a feature length project.