EXCLUSIVE: Angels Studios has set a limited theatrical release on Dec. 25 with January expansion for Brandt Andersen’s feature drama The Strangers’ Case.
The title, which made its world premiere at the 2024 Berlinale, was curated by the studio’s Angel Guild of 1.1M members.
Inspired by Andersen’s Oscar-shortlisted 2020 short film Refugee (2020), The Strangers’ Case unfolds through a Shakespearean lens, drawing its title from a poignant speech in Sir Thomas More defending displaced peoples. Set against the backdrop of the Syrian Civil War, the film follows a pediatric surgeon, Amira (Yasmine Al Massri), and her daughter, whose lives intertwine with five families across four continents in a chain reaction of tragedy, resilience, and hope. The ensemble cast includes Omar Sy, Yahya Mahayni, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis, and Jason Beghe.
The Strangers’ Case won the Amnesty International Film Award. Andersen, who wrote and directed the movie, is also a seasoned producer (Everest, Lone Survivor) and activist who has worked extensively with refugees in Syria, Jordan, and beyond. The movie features Syrian extras who have faced the Aegean crossing depicted in the story. To date, the film has received over 50 Festival awards.
“Stories that amplify light like The Strangers’ Case are for global mainstream audiences,” said Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer at Angel. “Brandt Andersen’s vision to inspire compassion and understanding resonated with the Angel Guild, and we’re thrilled to bring this masterpiece to our audience.”
“I am honored and grateful to partner with Angel to share The Strangers’ Case with a global audience,” said Andersen in a statement. “I cannot wait for everyone to see the hard work of this amazing cast and crew on the big screen. This film is deeply personal, and I believe its message of shared humanity is more important now than ever.”
The Angel Guild counts a community of over 1.1M members from more than 170 countries who cleared The Strangers’ Case for distribution.