[youtube_video id=”CXsaXhBiu74″] LONDON, September 22: Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s recent Emirati feature film, Rattle the Cage (Zinzana), is attracting considerable attention from both festivals and partners.

Prolific independent studio IM Global has come onboard to handle international sales rights (excluding the Middle East) via its foreign language label IM Global Anthem; and Cinetic Media has joined to oversee U.S. sales rights.

In addition, Rattle the Cage (Zinzana) director Majid Al Ansari has signed with United Talent Agency for representation.

Michael Garin, CEO of Image Nation, said: “The attention Rattle the Cage (Zinzana) is attracting is testament to the strength of the film and Image Nation’s local slate. IM Global, Cinetic Media and UTA are the perfect partners to help us debut this film and its talented director, Majid Al Ansari, on the international stage.”

Rattle The Cage (Zinzana), a psychological thriller which marks the feature directorial debut of Emirati filmmaker Majid Al Ansari, will have its world premiere alongside the best new horror, thriller and sci-fi films at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas later this month. The film will also have its European premiere at the upcoming BFI London Film Festival in October.

The film stars Ali Suliman (Paradise Now) and Saleh Bakri (Salvo, The Time Remains) and follows the story of a young man trapped in a prison cell who is forced to play a madman’s game in order to save his family’s lives. Produced by Rami Yasin (Seashadow, From A to B), popular Emirati actors Ali Al Jabri, Abdullah Al Shehhi and Mansoor Al Feeli co-star.

Rattle the Cage (Zinzana) marks the second project that IM Global and Image Nation have teamed up on.

Image Nation is also fully financing the feature adaptation of Dave Eggers’ contemporary thriller The Circle starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson.

IM Global is handling international sales on the film. US rights are being jointly repped by UTA Independent Film Group and CAA. The film will be presented by Image Nation Abu Dhabi in association with Parkes MacDonald Productions.

Image Nation has been ramping up its film and TV production output over the last year and has a number of new titles in the pipeline including Emirati filmmaker Al Mostafa’s hit comedy drama From A To B, which will have its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival and Mostafa’s third film Worthy, currently in production.