Focus Features andStudioCanal subsidiary Eskwad have teamed up to finance the thriller SaintAnge, Focus co-presidents DavidLinde and James Schamus announced today (Apr 24).

Principal photography is setto begin imminently in France, where the film will be shot simultaneously inEnglish-language and French-language versions.

Focus has worldwide rightsto the film excluding France and other French-speaking territories and will begin international sales on the film atCannes next month.

The picture, which was writtenand will be directed by Pascal Laugier, is set in a mysterious desertedorphanage in 1960 and stars Virginie Ledoyen (8 Women, The Beach) and Lou Doillon.

Eskwad founder and chiefexecutive officer Richard Grandpierre (who produced Brotherhood Of The Wolf) will produce with Christophe Gans (who directed Brotherhood), marking the first project for Gans' productioncompany H Factory.

Stephane Sperry willexecutive-produce the film through his Liaisons Films production company, whichhas a multi-year first-look production deal with Focus. France 3 Cinema and ARP will co-produce.

"Pascal's concept is in thegreat thriller tradition, echoing not only The Sixth Sense and The Others but also French classics like Diabolique," Linde and Schamus said in a joint statement.

"We've been eager to workwith Christophe and Richard for some time, and we're also happy to be partneredwith such valued colleagues as Stephane and the StudioCanal group."