Few objects hold a bigger sway over contemporary life than the smartphone. Now, the rise and fall of the BlackBerry, the world’s first smartphone, gets the big screen treatment. “BlackBerry,” Matt Johnson‘s latest, has its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival today.
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Johnson and Matthew Miller adapt Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff‘s 2015 bestseller “Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry” for the new docudrama. In the film, Jay Baruchel stars as Mike Lazaridis and Glenn Howerton as Jim Balsillie, the men behind the Blackberry’s meteoric rise and precipitous fall that changed the mobile phone forever.
Alongside Baruchel and Howteron, “BlackBerry” also stars Cary Elwes, Rich Sommer, Martin Donovan, Michael Ironside, and Johnson.
“Blackberry” is Johnson’s first film since 2016’s “Operation Avalanche.” Between then and now, he’s also directed episodes of “Nirvanna The Band The Show” and “Matt & Bird Break Loose.” Miller co-produces the film with Niv Fichman, Fraser Ash, and Kevin Krikst. Rhombus Media and Zapruder Films co-produce “BlackBerry,” with Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, CBC Films, IPR.VC, and XYZ Films on board as executive producers.
After its world premiere at the Berlinale, “BlackBerry” heads stateside for a screening at SXSW in Austin in March. Then IFC Films releases the movie theatrically on June 2. Check out an exclusive first-look poster for “BlackBerry” below.
