PARK CITY, Utah – Netflix is making its presence known at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival with its first acquisition of the event. The streaming giant has secured the rights to “Ibelin,” a new documentary film from Norwegian filmmaker Benjamin Ree. The film had its world premiere in Park City on Thursday, where it competed in the World Cinema Documentary category.
“Ibelin” tells the story of Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer who tragically passed away from a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. Initially perceived by his parents as living a lonely and isolated existence, they later discovered that Mats had a vibrant digital life and had made a deep impact on a community of fellow gamers. The film showcases the adventurous online life of Mats, focusing on his charismatic World of Warcraft persona, Ibelin. Through reconstructed animated scenes from his gameplay, entries from his blog, and interviews with those who knew him as Ibelin, the documentary paints a picture of a remarkable young man and highlights the power of community and meaningful relationships in the digital realm.
Produced by Ingvil Giske for Medieoperatørene in collaboration with Norway’s VGTV, “Ibelin” marks Ree’s second directorial project following his critically acclaimed 2020 documentary, “The Painter and the Thief.” The film explores the unlikely friendship between hyperrealist artist Barbora Kysilkova and Karl-Bertil Nordland, who had stolen her artwork. “The Painter and the Thief” premiered at Sundance, earning accolades such as the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Creative Storytelling. It also received a DGA Award nomination and was shortlisted for the Oscars’ Documentary Feature category.
Ree expressed excitement and gratitude at “Ibelin” being acquired by Netflix, noting the honor of having his film reach millions of people worldwide. The documentary’s distribution deal was negotiated by Salma Abdalla and Jason Resnick of Autlook Filmsales.
The Sundance Film Festival, taking place from January 18-28, showcases a variety of independent films, with selected films available for online viewing starting January 25. Netflix’s acquisition of “Ibelin” solidifies its commitment to bringing compelling and diverse content to its global audience.