The Playmaker has come on board as the international sales agent for the upcoming family entertainment movie “Barry & Me,” which will have its pre-sales launch at the American Film Market in Los Angeles (Nov. 11 – 16).
On a snowy mountain pass, a boy befriends and raises a St. Bernard puppy, but when others threaten to take his beloved dog away, he risks everything to protect their bond.
Directed by German filmmaker Markus Welter, the film is inspired by the Swiss legend of the famous barrel-wearing rescue dog who helped recover dozens of people swept up in avalanches in the 1800s. This version, however, focuses on his friendship with 12-year-old Georg, who discovers and secretly raises the puppy in a mountain hospice, leading to adventures in the Swiss alps.
“Barry & Me” is a Swiss-German co-production from Atlantis Pictures and MMC Zodiac, supported by Zürcher Filmstiftung, Deutscher Filmförderungfonds, Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Bundesamt für Kultur, Filmförderungsanstalt FFA, SUISSIMAGE, Kanton Luzern and Valais Film Commission.
The distributors in Germany and Switzerland are Wild Bunch and Ascot Elite, respectively. The film will start in Swiss cinemas in January and in Germany in March 2026.
“As a little boy, I was captivated by the image of the legendary St. Bernard with the wooden barrel — a timeless Swiss icon. ‘Barry & Me’ is a heartwarming adventure that will enchant audiences of all ages and win hearts around the world,” Moritz Hemminger, head of sales and acquisitions at The Playmaker, said.
“I want to tell Barry’s story with this film because it has deeply moved me. Barry represents courage, compassion, and that quiet greatness that lies in helping others. He saved countless human lives without ever asking for anything in return – and that is where his greatness lies. To me, Barry is a symbol of humanity and of the unbreakable bond between humans and animals, a bond that transcends both time and language,” producer Marcel Wolfisberg of Atlantis Pictures said.
“After producing ‘Heidi,’ I knew how well stories about friendship and courage can move audiences. With ‘Barry & Me,’ we continue that tradition: a big family adventure inspired by the Swiss legend of Barry and the extraordinary friendship between a boy and his dog,” Lukas Hobi, a co-producer on the film for MMC Zodiac, said.
variety.com
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