Paolo Branco and his company Gemini Films are preparing two new high-profile projects, one from veteran Andre Techine and the other a third film from Rodolphe Marconi.

Techine's project is titled Le Temps Qui Passe and reunites legendary actors Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu. This marks their fifth dramatic collaboration and the first since 1988's Drole d'Endroit Pour Une Rencontre. Set in Tangiers, the film tells the story of a married woman whose former lover appears after more than 20 years to try and win her back. Depardieu plays the role of the would-be seductor while according to Gemini the husband's part has not yet been cast.

The film is set to begin shooting in the spring on a Euros 4.5 million budget and is being co-written by Techine and Laurent Guyot.

Le Dernier Jour from Rodolphe Marconi is a second collaboration for the director and producer Branco following 2001's Ceci Est Mon Corps.

Starring Nicole Garcia, Christophe Malavoy, Melanie Laurent and Gaspard Ulliel - who is starring in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's next work - the dramatic comedy will begin shooting in France in coming weeks on a Euros 2.2m budget.

Branco will produce both films for which Gemini will handle international sales.