EXCLUSIVE: 011films and Ventureland are partnering on what guarantees to be the definitive documentary on undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.
We’re advised post-production is underway in Rome on the movie directed and produced by Pablo Benedetti, who gained entry to the Ukrainian powerhouse throughout a span of 5 years, following the star athlete inside and outdoors the ring. Usyk, gold medalist on the 2012 London Olympics, grew to become the primary boxer to concurrently maintain titles from boxing’s 4 prime sanctioning our bodies — the World Boxing Affiliation, World Boxing Council, Worldwide Boxing Federation, and World Boxing Group.
Boxer Oleksandr Usyk (left) with director Pablo Benedetti
001films/Ventureland
Benedetti’s documentary, anticipated to be launched in 2025, will reveal the champion “at dwelling, together with his household and teammates in Ukraine – together with through the conflict – in addition to in lots of international locations world wide,” in response to a launch. “The movie will function pivotal moments in Usyk’s life and storied profession in addition to documenting all the highs and lows within the locker room earlier than and in spite of everything his most essential fights of the final 5 years, together with these for the world title in opposition to Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury.”
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In a press release, Benedetti commented, “As a director, telling tales is a superb duty, and I’m proud to have this privilege. With Usyk, there was an prompt, magical spark; it doesn’t occur typically—in reality, it’s uncommon—however when it does, you instantly sense that, in some way, that story was ready for you as a lot as you have been looking for it. For me, it has change into extra of a mission day-after-day, one to which I’m dedicating all of my power and life with sacrifice. Usyk’s story isn’t just an ideal screenplay; it’s an everlasting parable of humanity and sport for everybody.”
Oleksandr Usyk (left) fights Tyson Fury through the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Undisputed Heavyweight titles’ bout on Could 18, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Richard Pelham/Getty Photos
Standing 6’3”, with a attain of 78”, Usyk has compiled an expert report of 22-0, with 14 of his victories coming by knockout. The southpaw from Shypyntsi, Ukraine coincidentally shares a birthday – January 17 – with the late Muhammad Ali.
“I used to be in Kyiv, and when my brother Serhii referred to as me, he mentioned, ‘Pay attention, there’s an individual residing in Italy, he’s a director, and he may make a tremendous documentary about you—not nearly boxing, however about your entire life,’” Usyk recalled. “Once we linked through video name, I used to be at a restaurant with pals. I stepped outdoors to hitch the dialog… I don’t know why, however I believed in Pablo, in the concept he would create one thing unimaginable. He grew to become like a brother to me, a part of my household.”
011films is an award-winning Italian manufacturing firm that has debuted function movies and documentaries on the world’s most prestigious movie festivals — Berlin, Venice and Cannes — and distributed internationally since 2006. 011films’ Davide Sordella and Ventureland’s John Battsek are producing the Usyk documentary alongside Benedetti.
Oleksandr Usyk weighs in earlier than combating Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Richard Pelham/Getty Photos
“It was a singular alternative for us to productively assist this human and sporting journey from Kyiv to Ryad, passing via the UK, Spain, Turkey, Greece, UAE,” mentioned Sordella. “A protracted journey that allowed us and the spectator to change into a part of an enormous household, Usyk’s household,”
Ventureland, the corporate based by Kerstin Emhoff, Battsek, and Ali Brown, specializes within the improvement of authentic leisure throughout all media platforms, together with theatrical, streaming, podcasts, and extra. Battsek, a a number of Emmy winner, earned a 2024 Academy Award nomination for producing Nationwide Geographic’s Bobi Wine: The Folks’s President.
“Oleksandr Usyk hearkens again to the golden period of heavyweight Champions,” Battsek famous. “No fuss, no BS, simply rock-solid prime stage unparalleled boxing abilities. His story is dramatic, emotional and extremely thrilling and I’m honored to be a part of the staff entrusted by Oleksandr to make this movie.”
011films, primarily based in Florence and Turin, was based by Sordella and Benedetti, who each studied on the London Movie College. Fratelli di Sangue, the corporate’s first function movie, was introduced on the Venice Movie Pageant in 2006. Their second manufacturing, Corazones de Mujer, premiered on the 2008 Berlin Movie Pageant. Further credit embody the 2019 sports activities documentary El Numero Nueve, about Argentinean footballer Gabriel Batistuta. In 2021, they produced Florence in a Glass Ball, a movie exploring the historic metropolis through the Covid lockdown in 2020 (the title is on the market on Prime Video worldwide).
Amongst Ventureland’s current credit are Wham!, The Rescue, and The Deepest Breath. “Ventureland has a number of large initiatives on the horizon,” the corporate notes, “together with the David Oyelowo led scripted collection Authorities Cheese on Apple TV in addition to a number of to-be-announced function documentaries at present in post-production.”
Earlier credit embody the Emmy Award-winning Rising Phoenix (Netflix); Critics Selection nominee The Actual Charlie Chaplin (Showtime); TIFF-selected Werner Herzog documentary Theater of Thought; Mary McCartney’s documentary on Abbey Highway Studios, If These Partitions Might Sing (Disney+); and Increase! Increase! The World vs Boris Becker (Apple TV+), Alex Gibney’s portrait of the previous tennis legend which premiered on the 2023 Berlin Movie Pageant.