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AFM News

German distributors secure AFM deals

Several German distributors returned from this year’s American Film Market with signed and sealed deals for new acquisitions.

Grindstone takes US for Among Friends

Danielle Harris makes directing debut on horror comedy.

VMI sells major territories on Blood Of Redemption

VMI Worldwide has licensed its upcoming production to star Dolph Lundgren and Vinnie Jones in multiple territories, including eOne Films North America for North America, Anchor Bay for the UK, KSM for Germany and Klockworx for Japan.

Film finance roundtable: 'The advantage is having great material'

EXCLUSIVE: The money’s around, but only for perfectly packaged product. That was the message from film finance experts during a special roundtable discussion during AFM.

AFM touts 6% buyer climb despite slow market

Market organisers on Monday projected data through the end of the market’s final day on Nov 7 and said the number of acquisitions executives rose from 1,523 in 2011 to 1,616.

Last Vegas begins principal photography in Las Vegas

CBS Films and Good Universe’s comedy starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline has commenced shooting in Las Vegas and will continue on to Atlanta, Georgia.

Benaroya on board to produce Felony as shooting begins

Benaroya Pictures made the announcement on Monday (5) and joins Goalpost Pictures Australia and Blue-Tongue Films on the drama, which The Solution Entertainment Group has been selling at AFM. Village Roadshow will distribute in Australia.

Imagina to handle world sales of Marcelo Pineyro's Ismael

EXCLUSIVE: Imagina International Sales is working with Zeta Cinema and Antena 3 Films on the intimate drama about family relations directed by Marcelo Piñeyro (The Method).

JuntoBox Films, Indiegogo joins forces to help filmmakers

The collaborative studio announced at AFM it has teamed up with the crowdfunding platform and greenlit Sharon Is Caring, the fourth project selected by JuntoBox co-chairman Forest Whitaker.

Canada’s Double Dutch International acquires comedy Conception

Josh Stolberg wrote, directed and produced the rom-com about the stories of nine couples on the night they conceive.

New Films to commence production on Air Disturbance

Joe Dante will commence shooting the horror thriller on Nov 27 in Los Angeles.

Buyers soak up IM Global musical Sunshine

IM Global has reported a strong response to the comedy-musical Walking On Sunshine with Kylie Minogue and Gemma Arterton attached to star.

Good Films unveils ambitious six-film slate

Miriam Segal, the producer behind Viggo Mortensen drama Good, has resurfaced with a slate of six new films with budgets of up to $55m.

Spotlight shines on Stuck Between Stations, Oogieloves

EXCLUSIVE: Spotlight Pictures has come on board to sell Stuck Between Stations and The Oogieloves In The Big Balloon Adventure.

Red Sea strikes production pact with Enderby Entertainment

Red Sea Media’s genre label Dead Sea Media has closed the four-film deal with Enderby and its genre label Tony-Seven Films. Red Sea and Ton-Seven introduced the titles at AFM and Red Sea will handle international sales.

Freestyle plans theatrical release for InAPPropriate Comedy

Freestyle Releasing has acquired North American rights to the sketch comedy and plans a theatrical launch followed by DVD and VoD through Freestyle Digital Media.

Scarcity of AFM must-haves drives up prices

In contrast to the deadly Storm Sandy that ravaged the East Coast on the eve of the AFM and delayed the arrival of a number of attendees, the pace of the market itself some 3,000 miles away in Santa Monica has been far more languid.

Home, Stung sell well for XYZ, Celluloid Nightmares

Celluloid Nightmares has struck a multi-territory deal with Wild Bunch on Home, Nicholas McCarthy’s follow-up to Sundance hit The Pact.

Dracula project among 10-strong Steven Paul roster

EXCLUSIVE: Steven Paul has wrapped production on Dracula: The Dark Prince, one of 10 features he has committed to producing in the next 12 months through his group of companies SP Entertainment Group, Crystal Edge and Crystal Sky.

Seven Arts founder Peter Hoffman talks Thomasina, Winter Queen

Peter Hoffman’s Seven Arts has moved into self-distribution and is lining up a remake of the family property Thomasina after acquiring rights from the late author Paul Gallico’s estate.

Cargo, Jump Street solidify Australian ties

EXCLUSIVE: Cargo Entertainment and Australia’s Jump Street Films have signed a multi-year output deal and formed a financing, production, distribution and sales company to develop original Australian content.

Svensk thrils buyers with thrillers

EXCLUSIVE: Swedish sales outfit Svensk Filmindustri has closed AFM deals on The Paganini Contract, The Hypnotist and Marie Kroyer.

Intandem closes deals on thriller Ocean Beach

EXCLUSIVE: AFM deals for thriller include Germany, Latin America, CIS and Middle East; Intandem also attaches Sam Claflin to The Laureate.

Buyers go to The Deep and After Lucia with Bac

EXCLUSIVE: Bac has closed a host of territories on its Icelandic and Mexican foreign language Oscar contenders.

Deals roundup: Dracula, The Bunny Game, Closed Circuit, UFO

Deals from Filmexport Group, Jinga’s UXB and Gaia Media.

Buyers flow to WestEnd’s Joe

EXCLUSIVE: Deals on new Nicolas Cage drama include a mid-six figure deal with Wild Side for France.

Momentum high on Altitude’s The Good People

Momentum has taken UK rights to Altitude Film Sales’ horror The Good People, to be directed by Corin Hardy [pictured].

CJ swings into Jungle

EXCLUSIVE: CJ Entertainment has come on board to close financing on SC Films’ family animation Jungle Shuffle, due for delivery in Q4 2013.

Recidive falls for Romeo and Juliet

EXCLUSIVE: Musical Romeo and Juliet: A Love Song has been sold to Recidive SAS for France.

Raven Banner closes deals on Manborg

MPI Media Group has picked up US rights to Steve Kostanski’s sci-fi action Manborg.

CineTel boards The Cure by David Gould

CineTel Films has acquired international sales rights to action/thriller The Cure, written produced and directed by visual effects veteran David Gould.

Leomark closes VoD delas on Pinching Penny

Erik Lundmark’s Leomark Studios has licensed VoD rights to the crime caper Pinching Penny to Beijing-based JY Entertainment.

CMG closes Sarila deals for Russia, Germany

Ed Noeltner’s Cinema Management Group (CMG) has licensed Canadian 3D animated adventure The Legend Of Sarila to Luxor for Russia, Telepool for Germany and 5 Star Pictures for Israel.

Myriad Pictures to sell Olivia Wilde comedy Relanxious

CEO Kirk D’Amico has introduced the project from The Allegiance Theater to buyers at AFM.

Buyers dreamy for Mister Smith’s Imagine

David Garrett has sold hot new comedy-drama Imagine, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Renner and Julianne Moore, to UK, France, Australia and a host of other territories.

Sierra/Affinity-Par deal offers independent opportunity

The synergy between the studio and independent worlds came into sharp focus on Friday with fresh developments on a pair of Paramount titles and, separately, Red Granite’s red-hot Wolf Of Wall Street.

Speranza13, Amber Entertainment strike sales partnership

Camela Galano’s Speranza13 has signed on to handle exclusive sales on Ileen Maisel and Lawrence Elman’s Amber Entertainment slate and has just introduced the company’s third project Stronghold to AFM buyers.

Cargo Entertainment starts talks on King's Highway

EXCLUSIVE: Adrien Brody is attached to star in the thriller King’s Highway, the latest title that Cargo Entertainment president Mark Lindsay has introduce to AFM buyers.

Tricoast to sell Tolstoy adaptation Two Jacks

Tricoast Worldwide is selling Two Jacks starring Danny Huston, Sienna Miller, Jack Huston, Billy Zane and Jacqueline Bisset.

Buyers flood to Embankment's Le Weekend

EXCLUSIVE: Buyers bite on Roger Michel rom-com Le Weekend as $21m sci-fi Our Robot Overlords closes finance.

Buyers drive to Yellow Affair's Road North

Sales outfit The Yellow Affair has sold Mika Kaurismäki’s comedy drama Road North to Japan (Alcine), Canada (Kinosmith), Benelux (Bridge Rights) and Estonia (Estinfilm).

Celluloid's Tomahawk chops into Australia

EXCLUSIVE: Transmission picks up upcoming horror Bone Tomahawk for “good six figures” from Celluloid Dreams.

Beta books deals for Famous Five and Physician

EXCLUSIVE: Beta Cinema sees strong demand for new titles including Enid Blyton update The Famous Five and big budget adventure The Physician.

Cinephil adds sales for The Gatekeepers

EXCLUSIVE: Metrodome and Madman Entertainment have picked up acclaimed documentary The Gatekepers from Cinephil Sales for UK and Australia, respectively.

Empress Road reveals horror slate

Empress Road Pictures has unveiled a slate of horror titles, building on last year’s success with Elevator.

Oi Leng Lui and Peta Browne join uConnect

uMedia’s sales arm are currently in AFM selling Giuseppe Tornatore’s The Best Offer, starring Geoffrey Rush, Donald Sutherland and Jim Sturgess.

Intandem out with Terrimel on Holidater

Intandem is teaming with LA-based Terrimel Entertainment to produce rom-comedy Holidater in spring 2013.

Toby Wilkins lines up Dead Sand with Stealth, 77 Films

Splinter and The Grudge 3 director Toby Wilkins will helm Dead Sand, a zombie/war thriller that will start shooting in March 2013 in Morocco.

Germany chomps on Fresh Meat

Capelight Pictures has acquired German rights to New Zealand horror comedy Fresh Meat.

AFM finance conference: Equity market robust

Experts struck a mostly bullish note at the AFM Finance Conference’s Current Issues In Film Finance panel.

Tiberius Film adds three with AFM buys

Deals led by raunchy comedy Johnson acquired from Salt.

Global Media Group adds AKA Private to slate

The Global Media Group has added AKA Private to its sales slate.

Dominick Fairbanks joins Poverty Row's The First

Douglas Fairbanks Jr’s grandson Dominick Fairbanks has come on as co-producer on Poverty Row Entertainment’s Mary Pickford biopic The First.

Jude Law joins cast of Queen Of The Desert

Sierra/Affinity represents international sales on Werner Herzog’s period drama, which also stars Naomi Watts and Robert Pattinson.

Millennium Entertainment to release Khumba in North America

Millennium Entertainment has picked up the 3D family animation, which has been a big seller for Cinema Management Group (CMG).

Anchor Bay Films hires distribution ace Bill Lewis

Lewis joins as svp of theatrical distribution and marketing and most recently served as evp and general sales manager at Summit Entertainment, where he worked on the Twilight and The Hurt Locker, among others.

Distribution round-up: XLrator finds Inbred, FDM takes Samsara

XLrator Media has picked up all US rights from Darclight to the horror comedy Inbred. Separately, Freestyle Digital Media has acquired digital and television rights to Samsara.

Shout! Factory, SC Films International enter multi-film pact

UK genre titles Cockneys Vs. Zombies [pictured] and Tower Block, both written by James Moran, to be distributed by Shout! Factory.

Rainbow World strikes deal with Wide for Approved For Adoption

The animated documentary [pictured] will be the company’s first release.

Visit Films boards sales on The Wait

EXCLUSIVE: Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films has acquired world sales rights to M Blash’s The Wait starring Jena Malone and Chloë Sevigny.

Cinema do Brasil brings seven titles to AFM

Brazilian film promotion body Cinema do Brasil is presenting seven titles to buyers during the AFM including Brazil’s foreign language Oscar submission The Clown.

Danny Glover, Derek Luke join Phil Driscoll prison drama

Danny Glover, Derek Luke and Brian Dennehy will star alongside Grammy winner Phil Driscoll in Saboa Entertainment’s true-life prison drama Long Day Journey.

Panorama, Cross Creek to co-finance 999

EXCLUSIVE: Panorama Media will finance 999, John Hillcoat’s follow-up to Lawless, and is in talks with Cross Creek Pictures to come on board as co-financier.

Peace Point Rights, Stealth announce distribution agreement

Agreement sees Peace Point Rights service worldwide television, home entertainment and digital distribution rights for Stealth’s catalogue.

The Works finds Jared Leto’s Artifact

Leto’s documentary [pictured] won the People’s Choice Award Documentary at TIFF.

Celluloid spins sales on Frances Ha

EXCLUSIVE: Celluloid Dreams has picked up Noah Baumbach comedy Frances Ha [pictured] and closed deals for France (Memento), Australia (Transmission) and Benelux (A-Film), with further sales imminent.

Elijah Wood clicks on Nacho Vigalondo’s Open Windows

EXCLUSIVE: Wild Bunch launches international sales on Spanish director’s English-language debut which began shooting on a high-security set in Madrid this week.

ARRI boards sales for Indian Summer

EXCLUSIVE: ARRI Worldsales has boarded world sales (excluding UK and Ireland) for Brian Ward’s Indian Summer.

K5 to handle sales on Eggers' Witch of New-Canaan Woode

Van Hoy and Knudsen to produce with Redmond and Bekerman.

Global Screen spends Night with Binoche

EXCLUSIVE; German sales company boards drama starring Binoche, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr.

Papadopoulos and Sons to get European Parliament screening

EXCLUSIVE: Sales consultancy 7&7 also adds thrillers Vampires vs Leprechauns and DEADlocked.

Showbox sells Confession of Murder

Korean’s Showbox Mediaplex has sold action thriller Confession Of Murder to multiple territories, including Japan (Twin Co) and German-speaking Europe (Splendid Films).

All Rights Entertainment takes on Mumbai Cha Raja

Paris and Hong Kong-based sales company All Rights Entertainment has picked up international rights excluding India to Manjeet Singh’s Mumbai Cha Raja.

AFM Hong Kong panel: Chinese audiences seek quality movies

Speakers at the co-production panel, held as part of ‘Hong Kong Day’ yesterday, discussed how Chinese audiences are gravitating towards films that reflect one culture rather than co-productions or ‘hybrid’ films.

Spitfire's Formula 1 doc to screen at Austin Grand Prix

Exclusive Media’s Spitfire Pictures will unveil its Formula 1 documentary 1 at a special event to kick off the inaugural 2012 Formula 1 US Grand Prix on Nov 15.

Stellan Skarsgård joins Hector And The Search For Happiness

Peter Chelsom will direct the German/Canadian comedic drama, set to begin shooting in January.

Lightning talks up Scorned with Billy Zane

AnnaLynne McCord, Zane and Viva Bianca have signed on to the revenge thriller, which Lightning Entertainment is selling at the AFM.

Colin Firth, Michael Fassbender to star in Genius

The acting royalty will star in the true-life drama, which FilmNation is introducing to international buyers at AFM. CAA arranged financing and represents North American rights.

The Bronx Bull joins Arclight sales slate for AFM

Arclight Films has taken on sales rights to The Bronx Bull starring William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, Paul Sorvino, Natasha Henstridge, Penelope Ann Miller, Tom Sizemore and Robert Davi.

Distribution round-up: Lionsgate Home Ent acquires Hellbenders

Lionsgate Home Entertainment has picked up North America and India to JT Petty’s horror-comedy following the world premiere in Toronto. The Exchange represents international rights and is in talks with AFM buyers.

eOne takes multiple territories on Scorched Earth

VMI Worldwide announced on Thursday (Nov 1) that it licensed rights on the Sean Bean thriller prior to the market for the US, UK, France, Germany, Australia and Scandinavia.

Myriad talks up Wonderful Tonight with Patrick Dempsey, Amanda Seyfried

Kirk D’Amico’s Myriad Pictures will handle world sales on Castle Rock’s Wonderful Tonight to star Patrick Dempsey and Amanda Seyfried.

Roger Avary to direct Castle Wolfenstein film

Panorama Media and Samuel Hadida will partner on video game adaptation Castle Wolfenstein written and to be directed by Pulp Fiction screenwriter Roger Avary.

Jinga sells Sawney to Grindstone for US

Jinga’s cannibal horror Sawney sells to Grindstone for North America.

Columbia Pictures acquires US rights to Foxcatcher

The studio has also come on board to co-finance with Annapurna Pictures chief Megan Ellison, whose Panorama Media is handling international sales on Bennett Miller’s Moneyball follow-up.

Foresight lines up Rob Reiner thriller You Belong To Me

EXCLUSIVE: Harrison Ford and Zac Efron (pictured) are in advanced negotiations to star in the psychological thriller backed by Foresight Unlimited that Rob Reiner will direct.

WestEnd takes Kwanten leap

EXCLUSIVE: Sales outfit boards rom-com The Right Kind of Wrong, starring True Blood’s Ryan Kwanten [pictured].

Breakthrough to screen Tony Gitone, Summerhood at AFM

Toronto-based Breakthrough Entertainment arrives in Santa Monica with market premiere screenings for The Resurrection Of Tony Gitone, Summerhood and Please Kill Mr Know It All.

Radiant Films Int'l warms to Decoding Annie Parker

EXCLUSIVE: President and CEO Mimi Steinbauer will handle sales and debut footage at AFM on the drama starring Samantha Morton and Helen Hunt.

Ariane Fraser, Delphine Perrier launch Highland Film Group slate

EXCLUSIVE: Ariane Fraser’s Highland Film Group and Delphine Perrier’s production and sales company Stonebrook International have joined forces as Highland Film Group and arrive at the AFM with a bumper sales slate led by teen assassin thriller Barely Lethal from producer Brett Ratner.

Splintered Thing sparks sales for Voltage Pictures

EXCLUSIVE: Voltage has closed key sales heading into AFM on its upcoming rom-com A Many Splintered Thing starring Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan. McG is producing with Voltage chief Nicolas Chartier and production is set to begin in Los Angeles on Saturday (Nov 3).

Metrodome strike UK deal for found footage horror Hollow

Distributor will release the film [pictured], the first on Parkland Pictures’ new genre label Darkland Distribution, in January.

Memento boards thriller Back in Crime

Paris-based sales company also set to premiere first images from Jim Mickle’s cannibal picture We Are What We Are [pictured].

The Works boards LFF hit Kelly + Victor

EXCLUSIVE: Kieran Evans’ acclaimed debut [pictured] stars Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Julian Morris as young lovers in Liverpool.

Metrodome, Salt team on production slate

EXCLUSIVE: UK distributor Metrodome will exec produce and distribute the slate, with sales handled by Salt; production partners include Ben Wheatley’s producers Rook Films, Fulwell 72 and Black Camel.

Gaumont kicks off sales on Brats

Anthony Marciano’s film [pictured] stars Alain Chabat, Sandrine Kiberlain and Max Boubli.

eOne goes on Viking saga with Salt

EXCLUSIVE: eOne has taken multiple territories on upcoming action film Northmen – A Viking Saga.

Le Pacte reveals snapshot of Wenders' Sebastiao Salgado doc

Wim Wenders co-directing Shade and Light with photographer’s son Juliano Salgado.

Other Angle takes His Wife to AFM

French sales company will also premiere Omar Sy-starrer On The Other Side of the Tracks.

Vicki Brown flies to Altitude

Vicki Brown, former Focus Features International sales coordinator, has joined Will Clarke’s Altitude Films as international sales executive.

Ford's Resolution brings Duband on board; Cold Patrol planned for 2013

Pete Ford’s Melbourne-based Resolution Independent has brought on board Wayne Duband, former president of Warner Bros International, as executive producer for Resolution’s planned slate of big-budget genre films.

Jinga's After goes to Japan

Ryan Smith’s dark fantasy stars Steven Strait and Karolina Wydra.

Hyde Park International kicks off talks on The Wonder

Karl Urban, Willow Shields from The Hunger Games franchise and Taiwan’s Leehom Wang will star in the upcoming 3D family adventure.

Joe Carnahan to direct Stretch for IM Global, Blumhouse

EXCLUSIVE: IM Global has come on board to finance the action title starring Patrick Wilson (pictured), one of several new titles to emerge on the opening day of the market.

Jennifer Garner joins Dallas Buyers Club

Voltage Pictures holds international rights and has begun talks with buyers at the AFM.

Grindstone picks up US on Dark Feed; Recreation to sell int'l

Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired all US rights to writer-directors Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen’s directorial debut horror feature. Ariel Veneziano’s Recreation Media will handle international sales.

Exclusive Media unveils pre-AFM sales on Tombstones

Alex Walton and the team have closed a raft of major territories on the upcoming Liam Neeson thriller A Walk Among The Tombstones led by a deal with Alliance Films for the UK, Canada and Spain. Universal holds US rights and production is set for February 2013 in New York City.

XLrator picks up US rights to Under The Bed

XLrator Media has acquired all US rights to the horror-thriller in a deal negotiated with Ehud Bleiberg, whose Compound B handles international sales at the AFM.

All Six Feet heads Vesuvio AFM slate

Vesuvio Entertainment has boarded sales rights for the drama about the relationship between music promoter “Punkin Pie” Irene Laughlin and actress Lana Clarkson, who died in Phil Spector’s mansion in 2003.

Sarah Jessica Parker boards comedy Mixtape

Aldamisa International commences sales at AFM on the music-driven coming-of-age story from Jim Wedaa Productions and Maven Pictures.

Vince Vaughan to star in, produce Triple Time

The comedian will star in Triple Time as a US Marshall who must race to solve a conspiracy when the plane he travels in with a prisoner explodes.

The Global Media Group boards Chez Upshaw for AFM

The comedy stars Kevin Pollak and Ileana Douglas as a married couple who turn their ailing B&B into an assisted suicide business.

Production underway in Los Angeles on Electric Slide

Jim Sturgess and Isabel Lucas star in Electric Slide, which has commenced production in Los Angeles. The film is a Myriad Pictures presentation of a Killer Films Production in association with Media House Capital. Myriad is handling international sales at the AFM and will partner with UTA on US rights.

AFI FEST announces Presentations and Conversations

The Presentations comprise a restored version of Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard on Saturday (3) and a chance to see finallists in the Levi’s Show Us The Way Short Film Showcase on Nov 7.

Scott Free, Orchard, Focus International team on genre slate

Focus Features International will handle sales on six titles over three years; Orchard Capital and Northern Ireland Screen also on board; most titles to shoot in Northern Ireland.

Kaleidoscope sees plenty in Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing

EXCLUSIVE: UK outfit takes world sales rights (excluding US) to Joss Whedon’s update on Shakespearean comedy.

Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman to star in The Last Knights

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Johnson’s IF Entertainment arrives at its first AFM with the action adventure The Last Knights.

Christine D'Souza moves to WME Global

EXCLUSIVE: The highly regarded executive will operate alongside Graham Taylor and the core independent financing and packaging team.

Pathe boards feature based on UK dance troupe Diversity

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros has UK rights to feature starring and choreographed by troupe frontman Ashley Banjo.

Premiere Entertainment to start AFM talks on The Outsider

EXCLUSIVE: Elias Axume and svp of sales and acquisitions Jack Campbell will talk up the thriller, which has started shooting and stars Jason Patric, James Caan, the UK’s Craig Fairbrass and Shannon Elizabeth.

John Cusack to star in Cargo's Stephen King adaptation Cell

EXCLUSIVE: The star is getting back into the Stephen King business after the global hit 1408. New York and LA-based Cargo Entertainment arranged financing on Cell and president of distribution Mark Lindsay will introduce what is expected to become one of the buzz titles of the AFM to international buyers. Paradigm represents US rights.

TF1's Wolves strike in Germany, Japan, Russia, Middle East

EXCLUSIVE: Other buzz titles on TF1 International’s AFM slate include The Brass Teapot and Before The Winter Chills.

The Sapphires trio reteam on thriller Six Mile Bottom

EXCLUSIVE: Goalpost Film and Goalpost Pictures re-team with writer Keith Thompson on historical thriller.

SC Films re-teams with The Animation Picture Company on Flying South

EXCLUSIVE: SC Films acquires 3D family animation Flying South and thriller Bullet ahead of AFM.

Sola’s Jelly T travels with 11 deals

Part three of animated trilogy now in production.

Synchronicity maiden slate to include Elijah Wood in Cooties

President of international distribution Ruzanna Kegeyan arrives at the market with the first three titles since The Solution Entertainment Group and LA-based Siren Studios launched the genre production and sales outfit last summer.

Celluloid Dreams boards sales on Bone Tomahawk

Wild Side has made a preemptive mid-six figure swoop on French rights to the AFM horror Western to star Kurt Russell, Peter Sarsgaard, Richard Jenkins and Jennifer Carpenter. CAA and UTA co-represent the package and US rights.

Lightning strikes bundle of sales on AFM slate

The Santa Monica-based production and sales company has licensed action title Dead Drop, Liam Hemsworth wartime romance Love And Honor and comedy Struck By Lightning to Pinnacle Films/All Interactive Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand.

Exclusive Media brings JFK drama Parkland to AFM

Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton and Jacki Weaver have signed on to the JFK feature Parkland. Exclusive Media will finance, jointly produce with Playtone and handle world sales.

Sierra/Affinity to start AFM talks on The Keeping Room

The Civil War era thriller will star Olivia Wilde, Hailee Steinfeld and Nicole Beharie. Wind Dancer Films will finance and produce with Gilbert Films and Anonymous Content. WME Global arranged financing and represents North American rights.

Artificial Eye to release Zaytoun in the UK

Eran Riklis’ drama [pictured] premiered at Toronto and will have its US premiere at AFI Fest in November.

Beta brings Paganini biopic, Enid Blyton adaptations to AFM

Acclaimed violinist David Garrett plays composer Paganini alongside Joely Richardson; Beta also showcases Uberto Pasolini’s Still Life and big budget epic The Physician.

Storm Sandy disrupts AFM travel plans

East Coast-based industry professionals have been revising itineraries frantically as they attempt to reach Santa Monica in time for the first day of the market on Wednesday (31).

Speranza13 Media to commence sales at AFM on Molly Moon

Camela Galano will introduce Amber Entertainment’s family adaptation to buyers in Santa Monica this week.

Joe Swanberg, AJ Bowen among cast on The Sacrament

The producers have spilled the beans on the cast of Ti West’s horror film financed by Worldview Entertainment and IM Global genre division Octane. The latter will continue talks with international buyers at the AFM this week and CAA represents US sales.

Film Factory boards Manuel Martín Cuenca's Caníbal

Company will introduce the project to distributors at AFM.

Elle Driver nabs The Late Bloomer ahead of AFM

Comedy stars Elijah Wood as sex therapist who goes through puberty at 30-years-old.

K5 sells Hello Quo documentary to UK, Germany

Ahead of the AFM, K5 has sold Status Quo rockumentary Hello Quo [pictured] to Anchor Bay in the UK and StudioCanal in Germany.

Raven Banner acquires Justin McConnell's The Eternal

The Toronto-based company arrives at the AFM with worldwide rights on the vampire tale to star Michael Biehn. Raven Banner to produce with Unstable Ground Inc.

Lionsgate International boards Pawn Sacrifice for AFM

Ed Zwick directs Tobey Maguire in the Cold War tale of volatile chess Grandmaster Bobby Fischer in a welcome A-list project to drop into the upcoming market.

Emperor to unleash Dante Lam's Demon Within

Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (EMP) will be launching sales on That Demon Within, a cop thriller from leading action director Dante Lam, at the upcoming AFM.

Ealing Metro boards Falklands War thriller Destroyer with Paul Bettany, Matthew Goode attached

EXCLUSIVE: Warp and Crab Apple produce the emotional story surrounding warship HMS Coventry, which was sunk during The Falklands War; Transmission pre-buys Australia-New Zealand.

Horowitz, Rhodes, Ronson among speakers at Nov 5 conference in LA

Magnet Media Group, Forrest Equity Management and the Film Finance Awards are planning a top-level International Film Finance, Production and Distribution Conference to be held in Los Angeles on Nov 5, during the American Film Market.

Eli Roth cements The Green Inferno cast ahead of Peru shoot

Worldview Entertainment’s eco-horror film is on the runway for a Nov 5 start. Exclusive Media will commence sales at the AFM and Roth will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Aftershock co-writer Guillermo Amoedo.

The Exchange nabs international rights to Rob The Mob

Brian O’Shea and Nat McCormick will attend the AFM with the real-life Bonnie And Clyde thriller to star Michael Pitt and Nina Arianda.

FilmNation heads to AFM with Hold On To Me

Carey Mulligan and Robert Pattinson will star in James Marsh’s thriller in the vein of To Die For. CAA represents US rights.

StudioCanal to show first footage of Ben Stassen’s Thunder at AFM

Other StudioCanal AFM buzz titles include Jaume Collet-Serra’s air-flight action thriller Non-Stop reuniting the director with Liam Neeson [pictured].

Protagonist hits AFM with Yann Demange’s '71, Monsters sequel

EXCLUSIVE: StudioCanal has pre-bought UK rights to ‘71; Protagonist’s slate also includes Ben Wheatley’s A Field in England and Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant.

Panorama to commence sales at AFM on The Voices

EXCLUSIVE: Marjane Satrapi will direct Ryan Reynolds in the psychological thriller for producers Mandalay Vision and Vertigo Entertainment. Panorama sales chief Kim Fox will introduce the project in Santa Monica next week.

Breakthrough Entertainment to show Cas & Dylan footage at AFM

Jason Priestley makes his feature directorial debut on the caper to star Richard Dreyfuss and Tatiana Maslany.

Shoreline Entertainment takes world sales on The Zombinator

Sergio Myers’ action film stars Patrick Kilpatrick and Joseph Aviel. Shoreline will kick off sales at the AFM next week.

Fortissimo picks up world rights to Capturing Dad

Award-winning film [pictured] stars Japanese actress Makiko Watanabe as a divorced mother of two angst-ridden teenage sisters who she sends on a road trip to find their estranged father.

Wild Bunch boards Simon Brand’s hijacking thriller Default ahead of AFM

EXCLUSIVE: Slate also features new films from Patrice Leconte, Arnaud Desplechin, Santiago Zannou and Philippe Godeau and 11-minute Blood Ties promo.

Radiant Films Int’l lines up As Cool As I Am for AFM

Golden Globe winner Claire Danes from the smash series Homeland stars alongside James Marsden, Sarah Bolger, Thomas Mann and Jeremy Sisto in the comedy drama.

Celluloid Nightmares to tempt AFM buyers with Home, Stung

EXCLUSIVE: Celluloid Nightmares will kick off sales at the AFM next week on a pair of genre titles from Los Angeles-based XYZ Films.

Voltage to commence sales at AFM on I Am Wrath

EXCLUSIVE: Nicolas Cage will star in the Death Wish-style vigilante story that Emmet/Furla Films is financing. The project marks William Friedkin’s follow-up to the widely admired Killer Joe, which Voltage also sold internationally.

Lightning Entertainment moves into feature production

EXCLUSIVE: First title on the slate for the Santa Monica-based sales and distribution company is the thriller Dead Drop starring Luke Goss, Cole Hauser and Nestor Carbonell. Lightning will serve as executive producer and handle world sales at the AFM next week.

The Exchange boards The Last 5 Years for AFM

Founder Brian O’Shea and Nat McCormick will represent international rights to the hit musical when the AFM kicks off in Santa Monica on Oct 31. Anna Kendrick will star.

Kaleidoscope acquires The Seasoning House

London-based sales outfit takes worldwide rights on Paul Hyett’s directorial debut [pictured] which premiered at FrightFest, and will screen it at AFM.

Premiere Entertainment Group lines up The Police doc for AFM

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Yari, Norman Golightly and Brett Morgen are the producers on Can’t Stand Losing You, which is based on the memoirs of the British rock band’s guitarist Andy Summers.

Foresight Unlimited to finance, produce And So It Goes…

Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton will star in the rom-com and Mark Damon and Tamara Birkemoe will introduce to buyers at the AFM.

Indomina lines up Ewan McGregor, Kate Hudson for King

The Scot is confirmed while Kate Hudson is in talks to star in Born To Be King, a rom-com that Peter Capaldi will direct. Indomina Releasing will commence worldwide sales at the AFM.

Puppet Master X: Axis Rising among Full Moon AFM roster

Charles Band’s [pictured] genre distributor will introduce buyers to a packed slate that includes the tenth instalment in the killer puppets thriller.

Lightning Entertainment takes int’l rights to Drugs

How To Make Money Selling Drugs premiered in Toronto where it became one of the must-see docs at the festival. Lightning will commence sales at the AFM later this month.

CMG to screen new Sarila footage at AFM

Nancy Florence Savard directed The Legend Of Sarila and Cinema Management Group head Edward Noeltner plans to show a trailer of the 3D family adventure.

Helen Lee-Kim, Brent Jack join Good Universe

In a timely development before AFM that ends months of speculation, co-founders Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane announced on Wednesday (17) that Lee-Kim has arrived as partner and president of international sales and Jack will serve as head of international marketing and publicity.

Diane Kruger, Anton Yelchin attached to 5 To 7

EXCLUSIVE: Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn of Mockingbird Pictures are producing the rom-com and The Solution Entertainment Group will commence pre-sales at AFM.

DreamAgo, Hamilton International reunite for AFM screenwriting workshops

The non-profit and the Swiss watchmaker will host Hamilton Helps DreamAgo Connect during the AFM.

Elizabeth Banks to star in Lakeshore, SKE’s Walk Of Shame

EXCLUSIVE: FilmDistrict will distribute the comedy in the US and Lakeshore International and Sierra/Affinity will jointly handle pre-sales when they introduce the project at the AFM.

Fortissimo shops its way into Bergdorf documentary

Fortissimo Films has acquired all rights outside of North America to Matthew Miele’s feature documentary Scatter My Ashes At Bergdorf’s.

Paramount takes North America on Wolf Of Wall Street

After several rounds with the US majors, financier Red Granite has found a domestic distributor for its upcoming Martin Scorsese-Leonardo DiCaprio reunion, teeing up what is expected to be a deluge of interest from international buyers at AFM.

The Numbers Station, Assassins among AFM screenings

Market organisers said on Thursday (11) that more than 420 films will screen from Oct 31-Nov 7 in Santa Monica. Content is selling The Numbers Station with John Cusack while Easternlight handles the Chow Yun-fat The Assassins. The schedule includes 77 world premieres and 306 market premieres.