Press Releases

NEW YORK (October 4, 2024) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired rights in North America, the Middle East, Turkey, Asia, India, Japan and South Korea to THE PENGUIN LESSONS following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Galas section. Based on Tom Michell’s 2016 memoir of the same name, the film is directed by Oscar ^® nominee Peter Cattaneo (MILITARY WIVES, THE FULL MONTY) with a screenplay by BAFTA Award^®-winning writer Jeff Pope (STAN & OLLIE, THE LOST KING).

THE PENGUIN LESSONS stars Academy Award^® nominees Steve Coogan (PHILOMENA, THE RECKONING) and Jonathan Pryce (THE TWO POPES, THE CROWN) alongside Vivian El Jaber (GUAPAS), Björn Gustafsson (SPY), and Alfonsina Carrocio (SOCIETY OF THE SNOW).

42’s Ben Pugh produced the film alongside Rory Aitken, while Intake Films and Rolling Dice financed the film with Aperture Media Partners. Nostromo’s Adrián Guerra and Andy Noble also produced with Robert Walak. Intake Films’ Joshua Horsfield and Nia Vazirani for Rolling Dice executive produced, alongside Jeff Pope, Josh Varney, Tom Michell, and Coogan.

THE PENGUIN LESSONS is inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976. Expecting an easy ride, Tom discovers a divided nation and a class of unteachable students. However, after he rescues a penguin from an oil-slicked beach, his life is turned upside-down.

The film reunites Sony Pictures Classics with Pope and Coogan after they collaborated on the 2018 biographical film STAN & OLLIE, which was nominated for a BAFTA Award^® among other accolades. Coogan also previously starred in SPC’s satirical black comedy GREED (2019), and Pryce starred in THE WIFE, which was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics in 2017.

"I am delighted to team up with Sony Pictures Classics on THE PENGUIN LESSONS. I was thrilled by the audience reaction at TIFF, and I’m so excited to continue this journey with the experience and expertise of SPC behind the movie,” said Cattaneo.

“THE PENGUIN LESSONS is grounded in historical events, and yet it’s timeless. It’s richly entertaining and deeply moving in all the right ways, and is sure to resonate with audiences everywhere,” added Sony Pictures Classics.

The deal was negotiated between Sony Pictures Classics and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers. Rocket Science represents the international rights, with Lionsgate releasing the film in the UK.

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 41 Academy Awards^® (37 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 187 Academy Award^® nominations (161 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for THE FATHER, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. 

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT      
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services.
http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html