By continuing to use the site you agree to our Privacy & Cookies policy

Screen
Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

  • French Parliament rejects bill to unplug Internet pirates

    12-Apr-2009

    After a heated battle, a bill that would have unplugged French Internet pirates was rejected by the country’s Parliament on Thursday.

  • Other Angle picks up rights for Bus Palladium and Les Beaux Gosses

    9-Apr-2009

    Other Angle Pictures, the new Paris-based sales company, has picked up the international rights to Bus Palladium and Les Beaux Gosses.

  • Roissy takes on international sales to Singing Nun tale Soeur Sourire

    3-Apr-2009

    Roissy Films has acquiredSoeur Souriredirected by Stijn Coninx for international sales. Produced by Ocean Films’ Eric Heumann and Marc Sillam, the film will be released byOcean on April 29 in France.

  • France has record year for production and investment

    19-Mar-2009

    France had a record year for production and production investment in 2008, according to figures released by France's Centre National du Cinema which warned that the industry still needs to be prudent in the current financial climate and pointed to the growing importance of online distribution.

  • Lionsgate takes North America on Paris With Love

    18-Mar-2009

    Lionsgate has taken North American rights to Luc Besson's EuropaCorp thriller From Paris With Love, starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers and directed by Pierre Morel.

  • Breathless wins big at Deauville Asian festival

    16-Mar-2009

    South Korea's Breathless was the big winner at the 11th Deauville Festival of Asian Film which wrapped on Sunday evening. Yang Ik-June's film, a feature directorial debut in which he also stars, is a brutal look into domestic violence in South Korea. The film also took the International Critics Prize.

  • Cannes Atelier selects 15 projects including Lerman's Moral Sciences

    16-Mar-2009

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced the lineup of participants for the fifth edition of the Atelier de la Cinefondation program.

  • Roissy sells four more territories for Cesar winner Seraphine

    16-Mar-2009

    Roissy Films has concluded further sales on Cesar winner Seraphine. The film by Martin Provost has sold to Alcine Terran in Japanas well as Atalanta Filmes in Portugal, Gutek in Poland and With Cinema in South Korea.

  • Cannes announces participants for upcoming Cinefondation Residence

    2-Mar-2009

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced the six participants participating in the 18th session of the Cinefondation Residence.

  • Seraphine wins seven Cesars including best picture

    1-Mar-2009

    Martin Provost's Seraphine was the big winner at Friday night's Cesar awards ceremony in Paris. The film scored seven prizes including best picture.

  • Francis Boespflug to leave Warner Bros France after 12 years

    27-Feb-2009

    Warner Bros Pictures France's Francis Boespflug is leaving the company, Warner announced today. Most recently, the industry veteran served as managing director production and distribution for the French arm of the US major.

  • Training - Opinion - 'It took time but the field opened up'

    27-Feb-2009

    For a country where a husband's infidelity is almost tacitly agreed in a marriage contract, it is surprising that machismo has very little place in the French film business. Women have been running companies, working as producers, editors, screenwriters and directors for years in what appears to be one of the few places where the glass ceiling has been seriously cracked.

  • Boon's Welcome To TheSticksmakes him highest paid actor in Europe

    26-Feb-2009

    Welcome To The Sticks director and star Dany Boon has become the highest paid actor in the history of European cinema, according to French daily Le Figaro.

  • Cannes Film Festival honours Clint Eastwood

    25-Feb-2009

    The Cannes Film Festival has honoured Clint Eastwood with a special Palme d’Or.

  • France's Critics Union honours Agnes Varda's Les Plages D'Agnes

    19-Feb-2009

    France's Critics Union handed out its prizes for 2008 on Monday night with top honours in Paris going to Agnes Varda's Les Plages D'Agnes as the best French film while Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood took the best foreign film award.

  • Pyramide goes strong on Corsini's Leaving

    17-Feb-2009

    Pyramide International has announced strong pre-sales on Catherine Corsini's Leaving at the European Film Market in Berlin.

  • Six sentenced in illegal Internet broadcast of Les Bronzes 3

    12-Feb-2009

    A Paris court has sentencedsix people, includingthree employees of TF1, to a one month suspended jail sentence for their involvement in illegally broadcasting Patrice Leconte's 2006 hit Les Bronzes 3 Amis Pour La Vie on the Internet.

  • Coach 14 to remake Proyecto Dos with Rosa Entertainment.

    9-Feb-2009

    French sales company Coach 14 has announced a remake deal for Guillermo Fernandez Groizard's thriller Proyecto Dos with LA-based Rosa Entertainment.

  • Wild Bunch arrives in Berlin with auteur-packed sales slate

    6-Feb-2009

    Wild Bunch comes to Berlin this year boasting new projects from both seasoned and fresh talent - and has a few special events up its sleeve.In casting news, Kate Hudson, Elias Koteas, Bill Pullman and Ned Beatty have joined the previously announced The Killer Inside Me, a $13m adaptation of a novel by Jim Thompson which Michael Winterbottom is directing. The actors join Casey Affleck and Jessica ...

  • Wild Bunch launches 3D label kicking off with Oceans

    5-Feb-2009

    Wild Bunch is going 3-D. The French sales, distribution and financing outfit will create a new label, Wild Bunch 3-D, under which 3-D films will be distributed and sold. The new arm is to kick off with Oceans 3-D Into The Deep from filmmaker brothers Jean-Jacques and Francois Mantello and presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau.To mark the occasion, Wild Bunch will hold promo-reel screenings at Berlin ...

  • Elle Driver to take London River and Samson & Delilah to EFM

    27-Jan-2009

    After a successful Sundance, French sales house Elle Driver is revving up for the European Film Market with new titles from Rachid Bouchareb and Warwick Thornton.

  • French Cesar nominations announced

    23-Jan-2009

    Nominations for France's equivalent to the Oscars were announced Friday morning in Paris with Public Enemy Number One(Mesrine)at the top of the heap, and Arnaud Desplechin's A Christmas Tale (Un Conte De Noel)and Remi Bezancon's Le Premier Jour Du Reste De Ta Vie tying with nine nods each.

  • Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre named president of Unifrance.

    22-Jan-2009

    Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre has been named president of French export body, Unifrance.

  • Distribution - Paris Match

    16-Jan-2009

    For French films at the local box office, 2008 will be a hard act to follow. Pathe's juggernaut Welcome To The Sticks saw more than 20 million film-goers pack France's cinemas to help bring admissions for 2008's top 10 local films to more than 41 million, approximately double the admissions for the top 10 local films in 2007.

  • In Focus: Production's French correction

    16-Jan-2009

    An oft-heard lament in the French film industry has been the lack of incentives for foreign productions considering a shoot in the territory. Since 1998, when Steven Spielberg told a crowd at the Deauville film festival he had chosen not to shoot Saving Private Ryan in France because it was ‘too expensive’ (he shot in the UK), France has scrambled to spruce up its image as a locations destination.

  • Gaumont and French Éclair Laboratoires do digital deal

    12-Jan-2009

    Gaumont has entered into a multi-year deal with French post-production house Éclair Laboratoires for the digital restoration of 150 films.

  • Legendary film-maker Claude Berri has died aged 74

    12-Jan-2009

    Legendary French filmmaker Claude Berri passed away in Paris on Monday morning at the age of 74.

  • France admissions up 6.7% year on year

    8-Jan-2009

    The French box office saw an increase of 6.7% over 2007 with 188.8 million admissions, with French films taking the number one and two spots.

  • Isabelle Huppert to head Cannes jury

    2-Jan-2009

    Isabelle Huppert will preside over the jury for the 62nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival.

  • France creates new tax rebate system for foreign films

    18-Dec-2008

    After four years of strategic planning and lobbying, Film France has announced the creation of a new tax rebate system aimed at foreign films shooting in the country. Adopted by the French parliament, the measure will give qualifying foreign productions a 20% rebate on their local spend with a cap of $5.7m (Euros 4m.)Films will be eligible for the rebate providing they meet a list of criteria. Some of the criteria are yet-to-be determined, but Patrick Lamassoure, ...

  • France 's annual IFCIC production prize goes to Les Films du Poisson.

    18-Dec-2008

    Film financing institute's $14,600 purse for most promising young independent production company goes to Les Films du Poisson.

  • Raymond Depardon's La Vie Moderne wins France's Louis Delluc prize

    12-Dec-2008

    The Louis Delluc prize has gone to Raymond Depardon's La Vie Moderne, it was announced in Paris on Friday.

  • Roissy Films concludes sales on Martin Provost's Seraphine

    11-Dec-2008

    Roissy Films has concluded sales on Martin Provost's Seraphine; Arsenal Filmverleih take all rights in Germany, Austria and Switzerlandwith Austria goes to Filmladen releasing Seraphine in Austria and Xenix in Switzerland.

  • TFI International generates strong sales for Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Micmacs

    26-Nov-2008

    TFI International has generated strong sales on Jean-Pierre Jeunet's upcoming Micmacs following the recent American Film Market.

  • The Cesars best film category to increase to seven nominations

    21-Nov-2008

    France 's Academie des Arts et Techniques du Cinema has announced modifications to this year's voting rules. In the category of best film, 7 films will vie for contention as opposed to the traditional five.

  • The Class among seven films shortlisted for Louis Delluc Prize

    10-Nov-2008

    Seven films have been short listed for France's Louis Delluc Prize, one of the local industry's most prestigious awards. Among the titles is Laurent Cantet's The Class which is also France's entry for the foreign-language Oscar and was this year's Palme d'Or winner in Cannes.The other films rounding out the list are Raymond Depardon's La Vie Moderne; Arnaud Desplechin's

  • The Class among seven shortlisted for Louis Delluc Prize

    10-Nov-2008

    Seven films have been shortlisted for France's Louis Delluc Prize, one of the local industry's most prestigious awards. Among the titles is Laurent Cantet's The Class which is also France's entry for the foreign-language Oscar and was this year's Palme d'Or winner in Cannes.

  • StudioCanal takes on sales for Yorkshire Ripper trilogy

    4-Nov-2008

    StudioCanal has announced the acquisition of two new English-language projects which comprise four films in total. The first, The Red Riding Trilogy, is based on a series of cult British crime novels by David Peace inspired by the true story of the Yorkshire Ripper. The second, Cotton, is a faux-documentary suspense film from producers Strike Entertainment and Eli Roth.

  • TF1 International sells Gatlif, Veber, Jeunet at AFM

    4-Nov-2008

    TF1 International has boarded Tony Gatlif's latest Korkoro, the story of a gypsy family facing persecution in World War II France which stars Marc Lavoine and Marie-Jose Croze. The film, currently shooting, will be released by TFM Distribution in France.TF1 is here with the world premiere of Francis Veber's latest comedy A Pain In The Ass starring Richard Berry and Patrick Timsit as two men who ...

  • Amazonas announces competition titles and jury, led by Alan Parker

    3-Nov-2008

    The 5th annual Amazonas Film Festival has announced its line up, with filmmaker Alan Parker presiding over the jury.

  • Marrakech Film Festival to show 15 films from 14 countries in competition

    3-Nov-2008

    The 8th annual Marrakech Film Festival will showcase 15 films in competition, with Barry Levinson presiding over the jury.

  • Wild Bunch AFM slate mixes major buzz titles and new film-makers

    3-Nov-2008

    Wild Bunch is heading into the AFM with a series of new projects from young film-makers; the first images from Woody Allen's latest; and at least one film that could spark a bidding war among US distributors.

  • AFM buzz - France

    31-Oct-2008

    There are a handful of big projects headed for the AFM from France - including one that could provoke a bidding war - but some sales agents are holding back on announcing new projects, for the moment at least.

  • Le Pacte acquires world rights to Bonnell's La Dame De Trefle

    30-Oct-2008

    French sales and distribution company Le Pacte has acquired world rights to the latest film from director Jerome Bonnell, La Dame De Trefle. Le Pacte will handle the French release and will commence sales at the AFM next week.A drama with a thriller bent, the film stars Malik Zidi, Florence Loiret Caille and Jean-Pierre Darroussin. It is produced by Gloria Film and tells the story of Aurelien whose double life as a florist and a trafficker ...

  • Celluloid Dreams acquires Wagenhofer doc, Let's Make Money

    30-Oct-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has acquired Erwin Wagenhofer's documentary, Let's Make Money.

  • Trumer named COO, Buet promoted to evp at StudioCanal

    28-Oct-2008

    Former Paramount Pictures France chairman Camille Trumer has segued to StudioCanal just one week after announcing his departure from the US studio's French arm.Trumer has been appointed chief operating officer of StudioCanal, reporting to president Olivier Courson. Trumer will take up his functions beginning December 1 and will be in charge of the mini-studio's operations in France including distribution and French and European co-productions and acquisitions.At ...

  • Jean-Julien Baronnet becomes CEO of EuropaCorp

    24-Oct-2008

    EuropaCorp has announced the appointment of Jean-Julien Baronnet to the post of chief executive.

  • MK2 sells Rumba to Koch Lorber Films for the US

    20-Oct-2008

    France 's MK2 has sold Rumba to Koch Lorber Films for the US.

  • MIPCOM: YouTube boss reaches out to content owners

    15-Oct-2008

    YouTube founder and CEO Chad Hurley reached out to content owners at MIPCOM claiming the difference between old media and new media is 'semantics; we are all confronting the same challenges.' The comments echoed those of many at the annual conference at Cannes where the refrain has been one variation or another of the idea that with so much convergence today, the lines between online and physical media have blurred.

  • Fire shuts EuropaCorp's From Paris With Love

    14-Oct-2008

    A fire on the set of From Paris With Love, a new EuropaCorp production starring John Travolta, has caused the film to shut down. On Sunday night, in the Montfermeil suburb of Paris, several stunt cars were set ablaze and burned through the night in what is being investigated as an arson attack.

  • Content remains king, Michael Eisner tells MIPCOM

    14-Oct-2008

    'What we all have in common is that we worship at the altar of creativity,' said Michael Eisner as he began his keynote speech on day two of the MIPCOM TV market.The former Disney CEO and founder of new media company Tornante, whose 40-year career has spanned pretty much every aspect of the entertainment business, told attendees that he continues to 'have faith in all media. If you have a great story to tell, it will work on any delivery system.'

  • Viacom's CEO Philippe Dauman urges content growth as MIPCOM opens

    14-Oct-2008

    Despite the worldwide economic freefall, the annual MIPCOM TV market got underway on Monday expecting record attendance.

  • Nicolas Traube re-elected as president of Film France

    10-Oct-2008

    Nicolas Traube has been re-elected to the post of president of Film France, the organisation responsible for promoting the country as a shooting location. The board also renewed the posts of David Kodsi as treasurer and Olivier Meneux as secretary. Three vice-presidents will be nominated to represent the regional film commissions, the technical industries and producers. Further, five new members have joined the board: Anne-Dominique Toussaint (Les Films des Tournelles),Raphael ...

  • Celluloid picks up international rights to Sex My Life

    10-Oct-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has acquired international rights to Bahman Motamedian's feature Sex My Life. The film, which debuted in Venice last month, is a mix of documentary and fiction that follows seven transsexuals living in modern-day Tehran.

  • Ymagis and Universal agree D-cinema deal

    7-Oct-2008

    Universal Pictures has signed a deal with European digital cinema services provider Ymagis to supply films to theatres equipped by Ymagis. Universal will also pay digital print fees under a long-term agreement.

  • MK2 picks up Patrice Chereau's Prosecution

    3-Oct-2008

    MK2 has announced the acquisition of Patrice Chereau's latest Prosecution.

  • Six film-makers begin Cannes Residence de la Cinefondation

    1-Oct-2008

    The Cannes Residence de la Cinefondation has started its autumn session with six new film-makers. The group will spend the nextfour and a half months in Paris whilst honing their first or second feature with the support of the local film industry.

  • Danish production Valhalla Rising completes shooting

    1-Oct-2008

    After ten weeks in the Scottish highlands, shooting on Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising has been completed. The film stars Bond villain Mads Mikkelsenk as One-Eye, a savage warrior held captive by a clan leader. With the help of a young child, he escapes on a Viking ship which leads to a new land rich with secrets.

  • EuropaCorp begins shoot on From Paris With Love

    23-Sep-2008

    EuropaCorp has announced the start of principal photography on the $55m (Euros 38m) From Paris With Love, starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Director Pierre Morel began filming Monday near Annecy and will carry on to Paris and its environs for a total 12-week shoot.

  • Cannes winner The Class enters Oscar race for France

    19-Sep-2008

  • Tom McCarthy's The Visitor takes top prize at Deauville

    14-Sep-2008

    Tom McCarthy's The Visitor has taken the Grand Prize at The 34th Deauville Festival of American Film.

  • Magnolia takes North American rights to Julia from StudioCanal

    6-Sep-2008

    StudioCanal has announced a North American sale on Erick Zonca's Julia. Magnolia Pictures has taken the film which stars Tilda Swinton. Julia was released earlier this year by StudioCanal in France and has sold to some 23 territories including Germany's Kinowelt, Spain's Verigo and the UK's Curzon Artificial Eye. In a press release, Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles said: 'Tilda Swinton's ...

  • BackUp launches new funding scheme with indie distributors

    5-Sep-2008

    French film financing agency BackUp Films has created a new funding scheme intended to co-acquire distribution rights alongside independent distributors. The venture, entitled Districup, will share risk with distributors while the distributors will have the opportunity to own all of the co-acquired rights following the first exploitation cycle.In its first partnership agreement, Districup is teaming with Jean Labadie's Le Pacte to co-acquire a five-film slate with ...

  • Memento adds sales on Goodbye Solo to Benelux, Switzerland

    5-Sep-2008

    Memento Films International has generated strong buzz on Venice Horizons title Goodbye Solo with sales to Imagine in Benelux and Xenix in Switzerland. Following its premiere in Venice, the film is also being pursued with offers from France, Portugal, Greece and Italy among others.Ramin Bahrani's third feature will hit Toronto this week where it screens in the World Contemporary Cinema section. Also on Memento's Toronto slate ...

  • Anna Marsh joins StudioCanal as VP of international sales

    5-Sep-2008

    StudioCanal has employed Anna Marsh as vice president of international sales in charge of English-speaking territories, Scandinavia and Latin America. Toronto will be her first outing with StudioCanal.Marsh, formerly of TF1 International, will be based in both Paris and London and report to StudioCanal international sales executive vice president Harold Van Lier. She will also work closely with Optimum's Will Clarke on UK-based productions.Of Marsh, Van Lier told ...

  • Deauville Festival of american film - America's french connection

    5-Sep-2008

    As the summer winds down and the French film industry makes its way back from holiday, the Deauville Festival of American Film has established a strong niche in the industry calendar.

  • UPI France cranks up, hires Lorenzi, Rethore and Peyre

    28-Aug-2008

    Universal Pictures International France has named several key hires as it expands the studio's presence in the territory. Stephane Huard, managing director Universal Pictures International France made the announcement Thursday.Jean-Michel Lorenzi will be UPI France's sales director while Stephane Rethore has joined as marketing director and Myriam Peyre is moving over from UPI in London to work as technical director.In a press release, Huard said, 'These appointments ...

  • Celluloid Dreams picks up two Venice titles

    26-Aug-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has added two Venice titles to its line up. Amir Naderi's Vegas: Based On A True Story and Matt Tyrnauer's Valentino: The Last Emperor now join Celluloid's slate, the company announced Tuesday. Valentino will have a gala screening at La Fenice and is also set to run in Toronto's Reel to Reel section. Celluloid will screen

  • Elle Driver picks up titles in Venice, Toronto including Paper Soldier

    21-Aug-2008

    Nearing its first birthday, French sales company Elle Driver will head to its first Venice and Toronto Festivals with a handful of films across the various sections including some new titles.In Venice, Elle boasts the previously announced The Sky Crawlers by Mamoru Oshii which Warners released in Japan on August 2 to much fanfare. The Sky Crawlers is screening in competition in Venice and in Visions ...

  • Deauville adds Chaos Theory, Sex And The USA, and Polanski doc

    21-Aug-2008

    The upcoming Deauville Festival of American Film has added a handful of films and a tribute to independent director Charles Burnett for its 34th edition. Further, it has announced the jury members for the Cartier Revelation Prize.

  • French illegal downloads equal to box-office admissions

    5-Aug-2008

    Illegal downloading of films in France has reached 450,000 per day according to a report by anti-piracy association ALPA.The figure represents the same level as box-office entries, the report said. Speaking to wire service Agence France Presse, Frederic Delacroix, the director of ALPA, said, 'We are facing a major phenomenon that could endanger the film and television industry. We did not expect such figures.'The study was conducted during the period November 2007 ...

  • Deauville competition includes Snow Angels, Towelhead

    22-Jul-2008

    The line up for the 34th Deauville Festival of American Film includes the first directorial effort from American Beauty writer Alan Ball, Towelhead. Also on deck for the competition are David Gordon Green's Snow Angels and Tom McCarthy's critically acclaimed The Visitor. In total, the competition includes 11 films, five of which are first features. (See below for full list.)

  • Wild Bunchto handle sales and French distribution on Chanel film

    9-Jul-2008

    Wild Bunch will handle international sales and French distribution on Chanel And Stravinsky. The film is to be directed by Jan Kounen and produced by Claudie Ossard and Chris Bolzli of Eurowide Film Production.

  • France - The film Fan-ancier

    4-Jul-2008

    In April 2008, Yann Le Quellec was named managing director of Continental Entertainment Capital's (CEC) European operation based in Paris. A former banker with JP Morgan, Le Quellec is no stranger to the film industry, nor to CEC.

  • Unifrance in controversy over active producing difficulties

    1-Jul-2008

    Trouble is brewing once again at Unifrance. Following a report last March that said that the organisation needed to improve its strategy and governance, the export body is now faced with a mutiny of sorts coming from its internal commissions.

  • France - In a class of his own

    27-Jun-2008

    When Laurent Cantet heard his name called during the awards ceremony at last month's Cannes film festival, he was not entirely surprised. The Class (Entre Les Murs), Cantet's Palme d'Or winning film, had been tipped to take a prize when the busload of schoolchildren who appear in the film was called back to Cannes just one hour after it had left town on Sunday morning. Still, Cantet was not expecting to walk away with the first French Palme d'Or since Maurice Pialat's ...

  • Ben Ammar withdraws from French post-production deal - report

    25-Jun-2008

    Tarak Ben Ammar has withdrawn his efforts to acquire France's Éclair laboratories, according to reports.

  • Eric Lagesse takes control of Pyramide Films

    22-Jun-2008

    Eric Lagesse has taken a majority stake in French sales and distribution outfit Pyramide Films and will henceforth be the company's president.

  • France - Tomorrow le monde

    20-Jun-2008

    Gregoire Melin shot onto the French sales scene as an independent at this year's Cannes with a new company and a line-up of notable, robust-selling titles. But he is no wet-behind-the-ears newcomer. The founder of new label Kinology, Melin began his career in sales at French major Gaumont in 1998. Having impressed then-Gaumont head of worldwide sales and marketing Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, Melin followed him in 2001 to EuropaCorp, which was just starting out under the aegis of Luc Besson ...

  • In Focus - UK Distribution - How to plan a Channel crossing

    20-Jun-2008

    The worldwide success of films such as the critically acclaimed La Vie En Rose and the thriller Tell No One has whetted foreign appetite once again for French product - but not all of it fits the UK theatrical market.

  • UK prepares for French invasion

    10-Jun-2008

    This summer is gearing up to take on a decidedly French feel in the UK.

  • Coproduction Office picks up Delta sales

    27-May-2008

    The Coproduction Office has announced further sales on its major titles coming out of the Cannes market.

  • Number of countries represented at Cannes market tops 100

    25-May-2008

    The Cannes Market had increased attendance this year up 2% over last year with a significant jump in the number of countries represented. There were 101 countries at the market as compared to 92 in 2007.

  • MK2 add sales for 24 City

    24-May-2008

    MK2 has announced sales on Jia Zhang Ke's 24 City .Deals were closed on the official Cannes competition film in the UK with New Wave, Benelux with Cineart, Greece with Seven Group, Korea with With Cinema, Portugal's Atalanta, Ex-Yugoslavia's Megacom and Austria's Stadtkino.MK2 said that negotiations were pending in Brazil and Russia. The generational drama stars Joan Chen, Lu Liping and Zhao Tao.

  • Aida Begic's Snow takes Critics Week Grand Prize

    24-May-2008

    Critics Week has crowned Aida Begic's Snow with its Grand Prize.

  • Elad Keidan's Anthem wins Cinefondation top award

    24-May-2008

    The Cannes Cinefondation has awarded Elad Keidan's Anthem with its top prize.

  • Wide Management adopts Les Enfants

    21-May-2008

    Loic Magneron's Wide Management has acquired Les Enfants De Don Quixotte (Acte 1). The film is a special Critics' Week selection directed by Ronan Denec, Augustin Legrand and Jean-Baptiste Legrand and co-produced by Mathieu Kassovitz. The company has also had continued success with Sandrine Bonnaire's Her Name Is Sabine which has sold ...

  • MK2 finds sales rhythm with Rumba

    21-May-2008

    MK2 has announced its mid-market sales with comedy Rumba , from directors Adel, Gordon and Romy selling to the UK (Sound and Media), Benelux (Cineart), Germany and Switzerland (X Verleih), Portugal (Pantheon), Japan (Shibata Organisation), Korea (Mars Ent) and Poland (Vivarto). The film is in Critics' Week.

  • Wild Bunch Concert finds right pitch for the Weinsteins

    20-May-2008

    Wild Bunch has sold Radu Mihaileanu's The Concert to The Weinstein Company. The deal marks the third time that a French film has been pre-sold to the US for over $1mn, noted Wild Bunch's Vincent Maraval. The $21m Concert focuses on a former conductor of the Bolshoi Orchestra who was sacked during the communist era for refusing to fire the Jewish players.

  • Memento makes further deals on The Class

    20-May-2008

    Memento continues their selling spree with Laurent Cantet's competition film The Class going to Israel (United King), Korea (Jin Jin) and Switzerland (Filmcoopi). The company is in negotiations with the US, Taiwan, Austria and Australia. Ursula Meier's Home has gone to the UK (Soda), India (Alliance), Italy (Teodora), Portugal (Atalanta) and Greece (Rosebud) with offers from the US, Japan and Spain. Un Certain Regard title Wendy And Lucy ...

  • Memento on top of The Class

    20-May-2008

    Laurent Cantet's competition film, The Class, is doing brisk business for Memento Films International which is handling sales. Deals have thus far concluded in Italy (Mikado), Benelux (Cineart), Spain (Golem), Greece (Ama), Brazil (Imovision) and Ex-Yugoslavia (Megacom). Offers have come in from the US, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, Israel, Scandinavia and Argentina, according to Memento. The film has its official screening on Saturday.

  • Labadie's Le Pacte picks up Sundance favourite Young@Heart

    19-May-2008

    Jean Labadie's Le Pacte has picked up Stephen Walker's Young@Heart for international sales in a deal concluded ahead of Cannes.

  • Wenders to serve up Tokyo-set thriller

    19-May-2008

    Films Distribution has acquired the next film from Wim Wenders. Based on the book In The Miso Soup by Ryu Murakami, the film, entitled, Miso Soup , was developed by producer Philippe Carcassonne who brought the project to Wenders.

  • StudioCanal sells Babylon AD starring Vin Diesel to Italy

    18-May-2008

    StudioCanal has sold rights to big-budget Mathieu Kassovitz' sci-fi project Babylon AD to Moviemax in Italy. Moviemax is looking to release the Vin Diesel-starrer on around 400 prints in the autumn. The company is considering a festival berth, possibly Venice or Rome.The new acquisition comes as Moviemax is enjoying hits in Italy including Nim's Island, and Step Up 2 The Streets. ...

  • MK2 sells Olivier Assayas' Summer Hours to US

    18-May-2008

    MK2 has sold Olivier Assayas' Summer Hours to US distributor IFC Filmsfor a 2009 release. The family drama stars Juliette Binoche, CharlesBerling and Jeremie Renier.Other sales include Artificial Eye (UK),A-Films (Benelux), HGC (China) and Filmware (Taiwan). MK2 handled theFrench release taking $4m. Summer Hours was produced by Marin and NathanielKarmitz of MK2 along with ...

  • TF1 and Jeunet reunite to seek Amelie magic

    17-May-2008

    The team behind Amelie and Delicatessan have reunited with TF1 International taking on sales on Jean-Pierre Jeunet's next film, Micmacs A Tire-Larigot. The $42m project starring Dany Boon, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Julie Ferrier, Andre Dussollier and Yolande Moreau, will begin shooting in August.TF1 International will handle international sales ...

  • Celluloid Dreams gets Beresford's Mao's Last Dancer

    17-May-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has acquired Mao's Last Dancer for international sales. Bruce Beresford's film is the inspirational story of ballet dancer Li Cunxin and was adapted from Li's autobiography by Jan Sardi. Sardi was nominated for an Oscar for Shine in 1997

  • Pyramide International to handle next Bruno Dumont

    17-May-2008

    Pyramide International will handle the next film from Palme d'Or winning director Bruno Dumont. Hadewijch stars Julie Sokolowski, Yassine Salime and Davis Dewaele in a story about Celine, a young woman dismissed from the convent for her shockingly blind, ecstatic faith.

  • Jean-Claude Van Damme sales pack punch

    16-May-2008

    The UK's Revolver has picked up rights to J.C.V.D. , the latest Jean-Claude Van Damme film being sold by Gaumont. The film has been generating a lot of buzz on the Internet and is a hot seller for the French studio.

  • 16-May-2008

    The UK's Revolver has picked up rights to J.C.V.D. , the latest Jean-Claude Van Damme film being sold by Gaumont. The film has been generating a lot of buzz on the Internet and is a hot seller for the French studio.

  • Mazodier and Oursel prepare $9.2m frightener Prey

    16-May-2008

    Two Days In Paris producer Christophe Mazodier and 13 Tzameti producer Olivier Oursel are teaming for an ambitious thriller from first-time director Antoine Blossier. The $9.2m (Euros 6m) project Prey is currently in pre-production. Mazodier describes it to Screen as ' Jaws meets Deliverance in the forest.'

  • Fandango Portobello Sales makes sales on Gomorrah

    16-May-2008

    Fandango Portobello Sales has announced deals on Matteo Garrone's Gomorrah ahead of its competition debut. The UK's Optimum has acquired the film while Prokino has taken it for Germany and Austria.The film is also sold in Turkey (AFS), France (Le Pacte), Benelux (ABC Distribution), Switzerland (Filmcoopi) and Canada (Seville). It is based on the non-fiction bestseller of the same name by Roberto Saviano about the Naples mafia. Saviano ...

  • Film4 reunites with Miranda July for Satisfaction

    16-May-2008

    Film4 has announced it will reunite with director Miranda July for her new film Satisfaction, which will begin shooting in Los Angeles in the autumn. Film Four and July previously collaborated on Me And You And Everyone We Know, which took 4 prizes at the Cannes Film Festival in 2005.Satisfaction, a triangular love story about the elusive quest for satisfaction, ...

  • Elle Driver picks up Japanese title The Sky Crawlers

    16-May-2008

    Nascent French outfit Elle Driver has picked up the mandate to hot Japanese title The Sky Crawlers for European sales. Directed by Mamoru Oshii, the animated film is presented by Nippon Television Network and Production I.G. It will have its debut in Japan on August 2 when Warner Bros. releases it there.Billed as the Greatest Love Story Ever, The Sky Crawlers is the tale of Yuichi, ...

  • Labadie's Le Pacte signs deal with UK's Corniche Pictures

    15-May-2008

    Jean Labadie's sales, distribution and production outfit Le Pacte has created a partnership with Hani Farsi's Corniche Pictures which will see the latter make an equity investment in the new French company. The London-based Corniche is a member of the Corniche Group and is currently co-producing the next film from Elia Suleiman. Le Pacte's upcoming titles include competition titles Waltz With Bashir and

  • New Stephane Brize film joins official selections on Rezo slate

    15-May-2008

    Rezo Films is handling international sales on three official selection titles at Cannes while also Stephane Brize's latest effort, among others.

  • Gilles Marchand finds Black Heaven with Celluloid Dreams

    15-May-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has acquired worldwide rights to Gilles Marchand's Black Heaven . This is the director's second feature following Who Killed Bambi' , a 2003 Cannes official selection which Celluloid also handled.

  • Arnaud Desplechin's A Christmas Tale is first competition sale to US

    14-May-2008

    In the first US sale of a Competition title at Cannes, Wild Bunch has sold Arnaud Desplechin's A Christmas Tale to IFC.

  • Wild Bunch slate includes new work from Loach, Noe, Lou Ye, Mihaileanu, Makhmalbaf, Allen and Miyazaki.

    14-May-2008

    Wild Bunch has unveiled a wide ranging slate which includes work from Ken Loach, Gaspar Noe, Lou Ye, Radu Mihaileanu, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Woody Allen and Hayao Miyazaki.

  • Dream team' Loach, the Dardennes and Cantona

    14-May-2008

    An intriguing team, led by Ken Loach, is working on a project that Screen sources say was originated by football legend Eric Cantona.

  • Olivier Dahan back on song for StudioCanal slate

    13-May-2008

    StudioCanal and Alain Goldman's Legende are currently developing the next film from La Vie En Rose director Olivier Dahan entitled My Very Own Love Song .Forest Whitaker and Renee Zellweger are attached to the English-language project, StudioCanal confirmed.

  • Films Distribution picks up Salamandra

    12-May-2008

    Films Distribution has picked up Directors' Fortnight selection Salamandra by director Pablo Aguero heading into the Cannes Film Festival.

  • Wild Bunch takes on sales for James Toback's Tyson

    9-May-2008

    Wild Bunch will handle international sales on James Toback's Tyson. The documentary, which looks at the prize fighter's life in and out of the ring, is running in competition in the Un Certain Regard sidebar.

  • Elle Driver adds Anna, Painless, Changing Sides to slate

    6-May-2008

    Gearing up for its first Cannes, Elle Driver has added a series of new films to its slate. For its debut Cannes outing, the company boasts 4 Nights With Anna; a story of obsessive love from director Jerzy Skolimowski which will open Directors' Fortnight.

  • Final names of Un Certain Regard jury announced

    5-May-2008

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced the completion of the jury for the Un Certain Regard sidebar.As previously announced, director Fatih Akin will preside over the jury.Joining him are journalists Anupama Chopra and Catherine Mtsitouridze from India and Russia, respectively; film critic Yasser Moheb from Egypt and director of Spain's Filmoteca, Jose Maria Prado.Additions remain to be made to the main competition jury.

  • Wendy And Lucy added to Memento slate

    4-May-2008

    Memento Films International has added Un Certain Regard title Wendy And Lucy to its sales slate.

  • Coach 14 Cannes slate includes Critics Week entry La Sangre Brota

    4-May-2008

    French sales company Coach 14 has announced its line-up heading into the Cannes Film Festival.

  • Critics Week adds special screening of Swiss Home

    29-Apr-2008

    Paris-based Memento Films has confirmed that its Swiss black comedy, Home, has been added as a special screening in Critics Week.Directed by Ursula Meier and starring Isabelle Huppert and Olivier Gourmet, the film has been scheduled into the prestigious Sunday night slot which was reserved for Juan Antonio Bayona's The Orphanage last year.Home ...

  • Blindness to open Cannes Film Festival

    29-Apr-2008

    Fernando Meirelles' Blindness is to open the Cannes Film Festival and will join the Competition line-up, it has been confirmed.

  • Pyramide's Cannes line-up calls for Snow

    29-Apr-2008

    Pyramide International has announced the addition of Critics Week title Snow to its line-up for the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. The film is directed by Aida Bejic and focuses on residents of a small village whose lives are disrupted by visiting businessmen just before a storm hits. Also on the slate of films in selection are Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Three Monkeys in official competition and

  • Coach 14 and Orly join forces on films from Resnais, Huster and Miller

    29-Apr-2008

    French sales companies Coach 14 and Orly Films are teaming upto handle three films from producer Jean-Louis Livi going into the Cannes Market.

  • Icelandic comedy among new titles on Bac Films Cannes slate

    28-Apr-2008

    Bac Films will bring three new projects to the Cannes market this year and also unveil the market premiere screening of Back Soon by Solveig Anspach.

  • Francemay openup tax breaks to international productions

    25-Apr-2008

    The French government is considering relaxing its tax breaks to include foreign films. French daily Le Figaro reported Friday that the culture and finance ministries are considering opening up what is known as the credit d'impot system in order to attract international productions.

  • Strong showing for France and Latin America in Directors Fortnight

    25-Apr-2008

    Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte in Paris

  • Interview: Thierry Fremaux

    25-Apr-2008

    Cannes' general manager Thierry Fremaux has become a respected trendsetter, carving his mark on the festival by welcoming feature documentaries and animations into the competition and embracing US film-makers.

  • Cannes Critics' Week unveils selection

    24-Apr-2008

    The line-up for the 47th running of Critics Week was announced at Paris Cinematheque Francaise on Thursday morning. In his opening remarks, the section's artistic director Jean-Christophe Berjon noted that submissions this year had come from 69 countries, with 850 feature films being screened by the selection committee. Ultimately, with only ...

  • EuropaCorp hires Montironi, Degove on international sales staff

    23-Apr-2008

    EuropaCorp has restructured its sales team and brought in two new international sales directors, the company said in a statement Wednesday evening. Marie-Laure Montironi joined Europa this month while Pascal Degove will take up his new post as of May.Montironi is an industry veteran who was instrumental in the development of M6's international arm before spending 7 years at Tele Images/Marathon as head of the international department. For his part, Degove has spent the last ...

  • Cannes unveils shorts competition, Cinefondation selections

    23-Apr-2008

    Short Films in Competition Jerrycan, dir: Julius Avery (Australia)El Deseo, dir: Marie Benito (Mexico)Megatron, dir: Marian Crisan (Romania)411-Z, dir: Daniel Erdelyi (Hungary)De Moins En Moins, dir: Melanie Laurent (France)My Rabbit Hoppy, dir: Anthony Lucas (Australia)Buen Viaje, dir: Javier Palleiro, Guillermo Rocamora (Uruguay)Smafuglar, dir: Runar ...

  • Cannes line-up includes last-minute surprises including Che and Eastwood's Changeling

    23-Apr-2008

    Cannes Film Festival president Gilles Jacob and general manager Thierry Fremaux announced the official line up for the 61st edition this morning in Paris.

  • Cannes Un Certain Regard line-up includes Tokyo! triptych

    23-Apr-2008

    The 2008 Cannes Un Certain Regard line up includes films from such directors as Michel Gondry, James Toback and Abel Ferrara. It also includes a film by American indie director Kelly Reichardt, who previously made Old Joy, which made its way to Cannes general manager Thierry Fremaux unsolicited and via regular post.

  • TF1's Patrick Binet in police custody, French press reports

    18-Apr-2008

    According to press reports, TF1 International chief Patrick Binet has been taken into custody by police following the discovery of a dead body in Binet's Parisian residence.

  • Isabelle Dubar takes distribution post at France's CTV

    17-Apr-2008

    France's CTV International has appointed Isabelle Dubar to the post of head of distribution.Dubar will handle acquisitions for the company as well as supervising theatrical releases. She will also create a new label specifically aimed at promoting independent film. The label will handle 6-8 films per year.

  • Roissy sells Caramel to Japan's Cetera

    15-Apr-2008

    Roissy Films has confirmed the sale of Nadine Labaki's Caramel to Japan's Cetera International.

  • France - Canal dreams

    11-Apr-2008

    In February, French pay-TV giant Canal Plus announced its long-time head of cinema, Evi Fullenbach, would step down, to be replaced by Manuel Alduy.

  • MipTV market concludes on note of media and telecoms

    10-Apr-2008

    A chilly, rainy MipTV market wound down Thursday following keynote speeches focusing on media and the telecom companies and social networking. France Telecom Group's chairman and CEO, Didier Lombard, on Wednesday told attendees he never expected to be addressing a group of content makers. But, he said, 'I do truly believe that telcos and the media were made for each other. My network can add value to your content but your content is the oxygen for our network.' Earlier in the ...

  • 'YouTube killer' Hulu.com outlines global ambitions

    8-Apr-2008

    Hulu.com CEO Jason Kilar made a stop at MipTV on Tuesday to talk up his company's ambition to bring global content to America and the rest of the world.

  • EFEA launches arbitration service for settling export disputes

    8-Apr-2008

    Jacques-Eric Strauss, president of the European Film Export Association (EFEA), has officially launched the body's international arbitration procedure.

  • Jarmusch to receive directing honour at Cannes

    7-Apr-2008

    Director Jim Jarmusch is set to receive this year's Carrosse d'Or statue from France's Societe des Realisateurs de Films (SRF).

  • Elisabeth Murdoch calls for 'creativity without borders' at MipTV

    7-Apr-2008

    Elisabeth Murdoch officially opened the MipTV market on Monday evening in a keynote address that sang the praises of 'creativity without borders.'

  • Orange to launch online and mobile film service

    7-Apr-2008

    As the MipTV market got underway in earnest on Monday, France Telecom's Orange announced the launch of the Orange Cinema Series set to be available by subscription to all Orange TV, Internet and mobile customers. The service will be launched in France in the fourth quarter of 2008.

  • Celluloid Dreams takes world rights to Kuras doc The Betrayal

    2-Apr-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has acquired worldwide rights excluding North America to award-winning film-maker Ellen Kuras' The Betrayal. The film, which ran in the documentary competition at Sundance, recently took the top prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival.

  • Glowinsky promoted to deputy MD at Pathe Production

    1-Apr-2008

    Pathe Production France has announced the appointment of Leonard Glowinski to the post of deputy managing director, business affairs.

  • CNC reports that investment in French films crosses $1.89bn

    28-Mar-2008

    France's national film board, the CNC, has concluded that 2007 was a globally healthy year for French cinema. In total 228 films were produced with the CNC's stamp of approval. The figure does not match 2005's historic 240 but is higher than the average 213 over the past six years. Of those films, 185 were initiated by the French.

  • Six win places in 16th Cannes Residence

    27-Mar-2008

    The 16th edition of the Cannes Residence is set to welcome six new candidates.

  • Unifrance's Menegoz defends bodyagainst damning report

    20-Mar-2008

    A report commissioned by the foreign affairs ministry has sent shockwaves through the French film industry since it was first leaked to French daily Le Figaro last week.

  • French production- Cinema Sans Frontieres

    14-Mar-2008

    France produces 200-plus films a year, more than any other country in Europe. Its output has long been dominated by light-hearted fare, targeted at the local market.

  • Production - The film-makers - Youth movement

    14-Mar-2008

    NABIL AYOUCH

  • Comedy Bienvenue sets record for opening weekend in France

    3-Mar-2008

    The Dany Boon-directed comedy Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'Tis has overtaken Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith with the all-time best opening weekend in Paris and its environs.

  • Bac picks up four for France including Wackness, Wave

    28-Feb-2008

    French distributor Bac Films has announced the acquisition of four titles scheduled for release in 2008 and 2009. The company has bought Ma Mec A Moi by director Jean-Jacques Zilbermann starring Antoine de Caunes and produced by Agat Films et Cie. The film is the sequel to 1998's romantic comedy L'Homme Est Une Femme Come Les Autres and will shoot this summer.Next on the list is

  • MK2 picks up Berlin doc With Gilbert & George

    25-Feb-2008

    France's MK2 has announced the acquisition of Julian Cole's documentary With Gilbert & George.

  • Ben Ammar promises to preserve French 'cinematic heritage'

    25-Feb-2008

    Quinta Communications boss Tarak Ben Ammar has moved to reassure the French industry that he recognises a 'cultural responsibility' in his takeover of the country's post-production sector.

  • Graine, Cotillard, Amalric win top Cesars

    23-Feb-2008

    As widely predicted, Abdellatif Kechiche's La Graine Et Le Mulet had a healthy showing at Friday's Cesar Awards taking the Best Picture and Best Director trophies. The film also scored a best newcomer award for actress Hafsia Herzi.Oscar nominee Marion Cotillard was honored with the Best Actress prize for La Vie En Rose while Mathieu Amalric took the Best Actor award for his role in Julian Schnabel's ...

  • Sony Classics picks up I've Loved You So Long for US

    22-Feb-2008

    UGC International has sold Philippe Claudel's I've Loved You So Long... (Il Y A Longtemps Que Je T'Aime...) to Sony Classics for the US. The film, starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Serge Hazanavicius and Laurent Grevill, ran in competition in the recently-wrapped Berlin Film Festival where it earned strong reviews.A family melodrama, it marks Claudel's feature directing debut. Other ...

  • Films Distribution picks up Happy Ever Afters

    21-Feb-2008

    Films Distribution has acquired Happy Ever Afters by newcomer Stephen Burke. The film is the story of two wedding parties taking place in the same hotel at the same time and the collision of the two in what is being referred to as an Irish My Big Fat Greek Wedding with a hint of What's Up Doc'Sally Hawkins will star in the screwball Irish comedy with shooting ...

  • Manuel Alduy named new head of cinema at Canal Plus

    19-Feb-2008

    Canal Plus has announced the departure of its head of cinema, Evi Fullenbach, and the appointment of Manuel Alduy as her replacement. In a press release, the company said Fullenbach was leaving for personal reasons but will continue to manage relationships between the US studios and Canal from her base in London.Until present, Alduy has acted as head of French film acquisitions for the Canal Plus group. He will now oversee both foreign and French acquisitions as well as managing ...

  • Coach 14 sells Shiver to MPI for US/Canada

    18-Feb-2008

    French sales outfit Coach 14 celebrated its first birthday at the European Film Market with healthy sales on Panorama selection Shiver. Directed by Isidro Ortiz, the horror was sold to MPI for the US and Canada, Legend in German-speaking territories, Cinetel for Eastern Europe, Cinevideo y TV for Mexico and Central America and Delta Films in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.

  • Memento strikes US, UK deals for Wonderful Town

    18-Feb-2008

    Memento Films International has announced strong sales on Aditya Assarat's award-winning Wonderful Town including a US and a UK deal. Kino picked up the film for the US with Soda Pictures in for the UK and Aztek taking Australian rights.

  • Patrice Leconte prepares for La Guerre

    14-Feb-2008

    Patrice Leconte is preparing to shoot his latest comedy, La Guerre Des Miss , which begins production on March 25, Gaumont announced today.

  • Francois Ozon's ambitious Ricky lands at Le Pacte

    9-Feb-2008

    Jean Labadie's newly formed distribution, sales and co-production company, Le Pacte, has acquired worldwide rights to Francois Ozon's next project, Ricky. Claudie Ossard and Chris Bolzi's Eurowide Film Production is producing in association with effects specialist Buf Compagnie.Alexandra Lamy and Sergi Lopez star in the film about an ordinary woman and an ordinary man who have an extraordinary child. Shooting is set to begin next month ...

  • UGC International loads up with Lucky Luke, Schroeder

    8-Feb-2008

    Along with competition feature Il y a Longtemps Que Je T'Aime directed by Philippe Claudel, UGC International is hitting Berlin with a strong line up including the latest from Andre Techine, Barbet Schroeder and James Huth.Huth, whose recent hits include Hell Phone and Brice De Nice, will re-team with his Brice star Jean Dujardin for a Euros 25m take on

  • Films Distribution expands lineup with four genre movies

    7-Feb-2008

    France's Films Distribution has unveiled a new slate of four genre movies heading into the EFM.In what the company calls a diversification of its line up, the new films are: Ruiflec: The Village Of Shadows directed by Fouad Benhammou and starring Sara Forestier about a group of young people trapped in a hostile and isolated village; Claus Drexl's 3 Monkeys, starring Andre ...

  • Rezo Films takes Sundance grand jury prize winner River

    7-Feb-2008

    France's Rezo Films has acquired international rights to Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Frozen River. Sony Pictures Classics is handling US distribution on Courtney Hunt's first feature.Set in a real-life smuggling zone on a Native American reservation between NY State and Quebec, the film is the story of two women who smuggle illegal immigrants across the St Lawrence River from Canada to the US. Although both women swear each trip ...

  • La Graine Et Le Mulet takes top prize from French Critics Union

    5-Feb-2008

    The French Critics Union has awarded Abdellatif Kechiche's La Graine Et Le Mulet with its top prize for best French film. The film took several prizes in Venice last year and was also honored with the prestigious Louis Delluc Prize in France in late 2007. It is nominated for three Cesar Awards including Best Film and Best Director.

  • Memento's EFM slate includes Laurent Cantet's The Class

    5-Feb-2008

    France's Memento Films has taken on international sales on Laurent Cantet's The Class. The film is currently in post-production and is scheduled for delivery in May.

  • TF1 International comes on board for Veber's L'Emmerdeur

    5-Feb-2008

    TF1 International has acquired the latest film from director Francis Veber, L'Emmerdeur, and will also serve as a co-producer.

  • Elle Driver adds four including new Skolimowski title

    4-Feb-2008

    Nascent sales company Elle Driver has added four titles to its line up for the upcoming EFM. First up is drama Stomach (Estomago) from Brazil 's Marcos Jorge. The Zencrane Filmes/Indiana Production effort is an adult fable on power, sex and cooking. It came in second place for the audience award at last week's International Film Festival Rotterdam and also picked up the best film, best actor, best director and special jury prize at the Rio Film Festival in 2007.

  • Wild Bunch's EFM offerings include James Gray's Two Lovers

    25-Jan-2008

    Wild Bunch has addednew films from James Gray, Darren Aronofsky, Marco Tullio Giordana and Rintaro, among others, to its slate ahead of Berlin's European Film Market.

  • La Vie En Rose leads Cesars with 11 nominations

    25-Jan-2008

    Olivier Dahan's La Vie En Rose has secured 11 Cesar nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress for Marion Cotillard's portrayal of French icon Edith Piaf.

  • Hot Rendez-Vous projects include Female Agents, Fear(s)

    18-Jan-2008

    The Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema, which wrapped in Paris earlier this week, was roundly lauded by participants for the opportunity it provides to sales companies and distributors to meet in a relaxed atmosphere.

  • StudioCanal completes acquisition of Germany's Kinowelt

    17-Jan-2008

    StudioCanal has announced the completion of its 100% acquisition of German distributor Kinowelt. Speculation on the move had reached fever pitch last week when a Leipzig-based daily reported that the long-rumoured deal was imminent.

  • Luc Besson partners on $17m environmental Boomerang project

    14-Jan-2008

    Luc Besson has partnered with photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and luxury brands group PPR for a $17m (Euros 11.5m) film project provisionally entitled Boomerang. The film is set to be released on June 5, 2009 to coincide with World Environment Day.

  • Gaumont completes acquisition of animation house

    11-Jan-2008

    French major Gaumont has concluded its acquisition of animation house Alphanim.

  • French films sustain solid overseas admissions

    11-Jan-2008

    French films scored a healthy 53.7 million admissionsoutside France for the year 2007 with revenues of $369m, export body Unifrance announced Thursday.

  • France - Festival king

    11-Jan-2008

    When he took over the organisation of the Marrakech International Film Festival four years ago, Bruno Barde and his 14-person team had just months to prepare.

  • Media speculation mounts that Canal Plus will buy Kinowelt

    10-Jan-2008

    France's Canal Plus is reportedly closer to sealing a deal to buy German distributor Kinowelt. According to Agence France Presse, a report set to be published in German daily Leipziger Volkszeitung on Thursday claims the long-rumored acquisition is near completion.'There only remain a few points to settle and the deal is done,' a 'well-informed' source told the Leipzig paper. Kinowelt is based in Leipzig. The sale is reportedly worth Euros 70m.Media reports in December ...

  • Coach 14 takes on Berlin Panorama title Shiver

    9-Jan-2008

    Coach 14 has announced the acquisition of Isidro Ortiz's Shiver. The Spanish horror film is produced by Fausto Producciones, Telecinco Cinema and ApuntoLapospo and stars Junio Valverde, Blanca Suarez.The action is set in a remote mountain village where a lonely teenager becomes a suspect in a series of odd events. The key to proving his innocence lies in disclosing a terrible secret hidden in the woods.Shiver is premiering in the Panorama section in Berlin.

  • Bac's three new projects include Amazonia, The Green Planet

    9-Jan-2008

    Bac Films will offer three new projects at the upcoming Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris as well as screening three films. New to Bac's slate is Commis D'Office starry Roschdy Zem and directed by Hannelore Cayre. The film is produced by Dolce Vita Films and follows the 'education' of a young idealistic lawyer.

  • Celluloid Dreams takes on Dennis Gansel's Sundance title The Wave

    9-Jan-2008

    Celluloid Dreams has announced the acquisition of Dennis Gansel's The Wave. The film is a world dramatic competition entry at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival.

  • TF1 debuts two new projects at Rendez-Vous

    8-Jan-2008

    TF1 International is debuting two new projects at this week's Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris as well as world premiering two anticipated films.

  • Wild Bunch strikes Magic! with four new projects at Rendez-Vous

    8-Jan-2008

    Wild Bunch is bringing four new projects to this week's Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris. The sales company will introduce a promo reel of Philippe Muyl's Magic!, a family film about a boy, his single mother and the healing power of the circus. Marie Gillain stars with Louis Dussol, Antoine Dulery and singer Cali. Paramount France is handing French distribution.

  • Veterans of TF1, UGC launch new sales outfit Elle Driver

    4-Jan-2008

    A new sales outfit will debut next week at the Unifrance Paris Rendez-Vous. Elle Driver, headed up by Eva Diederix and Adeline Fontan Tessaur has taken up residence at Stephane Celerier's Mars Distribution offices and, with help from an outside investment fund, will work 'with quality films that can travel,' according to Diederix.

  • France - Drivers follow positive signs

    4-Jan-2008

    Along with the crop of new films at this year's Unifrance Paris Rendez-Vous, there will also be a debut sales company in town.

  • Paris Screenings - Springboard to success

    4-Jan-2008

    French sales companies are often one of the first ports of call for an international buyer looking for veteran film-makers, cutting-edge work from genre masters such as Guillermo del Toro and arthouse experiments such as Todd Haynes' I'm Not There.

  • Paris Screenings - 'the grande fete of french cinema'

    4-Jan-2008

    The tenth anniversary of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in Paris will give international buyers the first chance of the year to see the French films on offer from the country's sales companies.

  • Films Distribution to premiere three new features at Rendez-Vous

    2-Jan-2008

    French sales outfit Films Distribution has announced the world premieres of three new titles at the upcoming Rendez-Vous with French cinema. The event, organized by French film export body Unifrance, runs Jan 10-14 in Paris.

  • France Televisions deal boosts feature films on French TV

    20-Dec-2007

    France's public television holding company, France Televisions, has signed an agreement with local film producers which increases the number of feature films airing on its channels as well as guaranteeing higher investment in film production.

  • Tarak Ben Ammar acquires French post house Eclair

    19-Dec-2007

    Continuing his acquisition spree, Tarak Ben Ammar has acquired the entirety of French post-production company Eclair. The entrepreneur, who in November acquired control of Italian distributor Eagle Pictures, announced Wednesday that he has bought the 57% stake in Eclair which he did not already own.

  • Rezo works on new Cebula and Laine projects

    13-Dec-2007

    At the upcoming Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris, Rezo Films will unveil two new films, one from director Idit Cebula and the other from Marion Laine. The former, Two Lives Plus One, is produced by Les Films du Kiosque and stars Emmanuelle Devos and Gerard Darmon in the story of a woman who tries to change her life.

  • La Graine Et Le Mulet wins France's Louis Delluc prize

    12-Dec-2007

    The 2007 Louis Delluc prize has been given to Abdellatif Kechiche's La Graine Et Le Mulet. Cannes Festival president Gilles Jacob, who also heads the Louis Delluc jury, presented the award to Kechiche in a ceremony in Paris on Wednesday - the same day that the film opens in French theatres.The film, handled internationally ...

  • Paramount signs French home entertainment deal with Gaumont

    10-Dec-2007

    Paramount Home Entertainment France and Gaumont Video have signed an accord which will see the former release the French major's films in the French DVD sector.

  • Sichler to leave StudioCanal as VP and managing director

    5-Dec-2007

    StudioCanal has announced the departure of board vice president and managing director in charge of international development Frederic Sichler. Sichler, who formerly ran StudioCanal's operations in Paris, has been shuttling between London and Paris since the company took over the UK's Optimum Releasing in May of 2006.

  • Gaumont starts shoot for Splice starring Adrien Brody

    4-Dec-2007

    Vincenzo Natali has started principal photography on Splice, which Gaumont is co-producing with Canada's Copperheart Entertainment. The film is set to shoot until February 29 in Toronto, with a 2009 release planned.

  • Marrakech to open with Elizabeth and close with The Neighbor

    28-Nov-2007

    The seventh edition of the Marrakech Film Festival will open with Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth: The Golden Age and close with Eddie O'Flaherty's The Neighbor, organisers have announced.

  • Labadie to kick start new distribution company with Le Cahier

    20-Nov-2007

    After being unexpectedly ousted last month from Bac Films, a company he founded 21 years ago, Jean Labadie is back with a new independent distribution company. Le Pacte will release its first film in February - Hana Makhmalbaf's Le Cahier - and carry on through the year with a total of sixfilms.

  • Gaumont eyes acquisition of animation house Alphanim

    19-Nov-2007

    French major Gaumont is currently negotiating to acquire French animation house Alphanim, the company said in a statement.

  • Dulluc prize shortlists films by Rohmer, Chabrol, and Honore

    14-Nov-2007

    Eight films have been short-listed for France's prestigious Louis Delluc prize. Half of the nominees hail from confirmed masters and half from younger talent.

  • Coach 14 strikes deals for Proyecto Dos and Lazo Rotos

    3-Nov-2007

    At the AFM, Paris-based sales company Coach 14 has sold new titles Proyecto Dos by Guillermo Groizard and Lazo Rotos from Miguel Garcia-Borda to Germany's Telepool. Dos and another new title, Galantuomini from director Edoardo Winspeare, have stirred interest from the US and the UK while the former is also hot with France and Spain.Meanwhile,

  • Kiarostami's first non-Iranian feature to be shot in French

    2-Nov-2007

    MK2 has announced a shift in its Abbas Kiarostami project which was initially announced in Cannes.

  • Six win places on Cannes Cinefondation Residence programme

    31-Oct-2007

    The Cannes Cinefondation Residence programme has announced its participants for the upcoming 15th session.

  • TF1 adds Spike Lee's Miracle and David Morey's Mutants

    26-Oct-2007

    TF1 International will be present at the upcoming AFM with two important new titles as well as a wolrd premiere and promo reels for several of its highly-anticipated projects.

  • StudioCanal adds new films from Jaoui, Lepage, Bruno and Nicolas

    25-Oct-2007

    StudioCanal has added several films to its line up heading into next week's American Film Market. Award-winning actor-director Agnes Jaoui returns to directing with relationship comedy Let It Rain starring Jamel Debbouze, Jean-Pierre Bacri and Jaoui herself. The film is currently in production with rights available worldwide.

  • Catherine Demier leaving Cannes administrative director post

    23-Oct-2007

    After two years of service, the Cannes Film Festival's Catherine Demier is in the process of leaving her position as administrative director. On Monday, Demier told ScreenDaily.com that her post 'no longer corresponds to the conditions under which I joined the festival.'

  • Wild Bunch takes a stake in Italian distributor Bim

    19-Oct-2007

    Confirming rumors that have been rumbling in industry circles for some time, French sales, distribution and financing outfit Wild Bunch has taken a stake in Italy 's Bim Distribuzione. Financial terms were not disclosed.

  • Celluloid adds Bobby Allen and welcomes back Menahem

    18-Oct-2007

    Celluloid Dreams has announced the appointment of Bobby Allen to the post of vice-president acquisitions, production and sales. Further, former Celluloid executive Pierre Menahem will rejoin the company as director of international sales.

  • StudioCanal taps van Lier as new head of international sales

    17-Oct-2007

    Former Intermedia and Summit executive Harold van Lier has been appointed head of international sales at StudioCanal. The company made the announcement Tuesday evening in Paris.

  • Wild Bunch adds thriller Pop Skull ahead of Rome

    17-Oct-2007

    In addition to the recently announced acquisition of Hayo Freitag's The Three Robbers, Wild Bunch has picked up Pop Skull heading into the Rome Film Festival.

  • As Europa acquires Roissy, market operations could merge in 2008

    17-Oct-2007

    As Luc Besson's EuropaCorp agreed to acquire sales company Roissy Films and its 500-title strong catalog, Roissy's president and owner Raphael Berdugo calls the deal 'a very logical' step,

  • Mipcom attendance up 10% as mobile content plays bigger role

    12-Oct-2007

    The annual Mipcom TV market drew to an official close Friday following a week that saw big increases in attendance.

  • Wagner offers upbeat vision of mutimedia, multicultural future

    9-Oct-2007

    Film has a great multimedia, multicultural future, United Artists CEO Paula Wagner told Mipcom in Cannes.

  • Content remains king in digital age, says CBS chief

    9-Oct-2007

    'We are striking back against the view that network TV is doomed in thedigital age.' That was the message from CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves at this year's Mipcom in Cannes, where he was named personality of the year.He told an audience at a packed Salle Lumiere that content remains the critical issue in a digital age.CBS 'drives the global engine .Wireless is useless ifyou're hitless,' he said.CBS is responsible for hit shows such ...

  • Bac founder Labadie plans to legally contest ousting from company

    2-Oct-2007

    Bac Films has announced the departure of its founder and managing director, Jean Labadie. The board of holding company Bac Majestic, of which Bac Films is a 100% subsidiary, revoked Labadie's mandate on September 12 and also put an end to his employee contract as of September 24.

  • Screenwriters selected for second French Autumn Stories season

    27-Sep-2007

    The second edition of Autumn Stories is set to kick off October 1 at the Abbaye de Royaumont, north of Paris. The scheme, created by the Franco-American Cultural Funds and the Ile de France Film Commission, invites four American screenwriters to finalise their feature projects over a six-week period.

  • France and German groups make joint declaration for digital cinema

    21-Sep-2007

    France's CNC and Germany's FFA have signed a joint declaration with regard to the evolution of digital projection and are calling on their European neighbours to join them in certain initiatives to aide in a coherent digital rollout.

  • Persepolis chosen to represent France in Oscar category

    17-Sep-2007

    Cannes Jury Prize winner Persepolis has been selected to represent France in its bid to snag a nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. France's CNC announced the selection of Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's animated work on Monday evening.Each year, the CNC chooses France's Oscar entry by committee. The CNC committee this year included Cannes general manager Thierry Fremaux, Unifrance president Margaret Menegoz and ...

  • Spyglass takes remake rights to 2004 French hit Narco

    14-Sep-2007

    TF1 International has announced the sale of remake rights for Tristan Aurouet and Gilles Lellouche's Narco to Spyglass Entertainment.

  • Films Distribution finds home for Ben X

    11-Sep-2007

    French sales outfit Films Distribution has acquired the debut feature from Nic Balthazar, Ben X.

  • Weinsteins strike US deal for El Rey De La Montana

    10-Sep-2007

    The Weinstein Company has picked up US and Latin American rights to El Rey De La Montana, a world premiere in Toronto's Discovery section.The film, sold by Paris-based sales house Coach14, also sold to Seville Pictures for Canada after having concluded deals with the UK's Optimum, Madman for Australia and New Zealand, Korea's Eureka Pictures and France's WildSide during Cannes.Produced by Telecinco Cinema, Juanma Arance, ...

  • Moncrieff's TheDead Girl takes Deauville Grand Prize

    9-Sep-2007

    Karen Moncrieff's The Dead Girl has taken the grand prize at The Deauville Festival of American Film.

  • Memento strikes Venice deals for Under The Bombs

    8-Sep-2007

    Since receiving an emotional standing ovation in Venice, Philippe Aractingi's Under The Bombs has sealed two distribution deals just as Toronto gets underway.Memento Films, which is handling world rights to the film, has sold it to the UK's Channel 4 and Italy's Fandango. Memento's Tanja Meissner says she is also in negotiations on several other territories.Bombs is Aractingi's second ...

  • TF1 takes on Suso's Tower and Mutum

    7-Sep-2007

    France's TF1 International has acquired Suso's Tower heading into festival season. The film is in selection at San Sebastian and is directed by Tom Fernandez with Javier Camara, Gonzalo De Castro, Cesar Vea and Jose Luis Alcobendas making up the cast. Produced by Mediapro, the film tells the story of Cundo who returns home following ten years' absence upon the death of his best friend. TF1 International is handling worldwide rights except ...

  • Charlotte Gainsbourg recovering from brain hemorrhage

    6-Sep-2007

    Actress Charlotte Gainsbourg underwent surgery overnightWednesday following a brain hemorrhage. News reports said the actress was 'doingvery well' on Thursday.

  • Deauville applauds Affleck's Gone Baby Gone

    6-Sep-2007

    Based on the novel by Mystic River author Dennis Lehane, Gone Baby Gone tells of two private detectives' attempt to find a young girl abducted in a rough part of Boston.Pre-screening, Casey Affleck joked that brother Ben was 'a pain in the ass' as a director while the director himself chose Deauville as a premiere point because the festival 'seems to really care about movies.' Ben Affleck thanked the festival and the public, saying audience ...

  • Wild Bunch announces equity boost and $150m joint venture

    4-Sep-2007

    French sales, distribution and financing outfit Wild Bunch has raised $34m (Euros 25m) in equity and announced a $150m co-production and acquisition venture with US investment group Continental Entertainment Capital (CEC).

  • Wild Bunch boosts strong Toronto slate with addition of $22m Terra

    3-Sep-2007

    Wild Bunch has acquired worldwide rights outside English-speaking territories to the $22 million animated project Terra, which will screen in a gala world premiere at Toronto. The film is directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas and has a voice cast including Luke Wilson, Evan Rachel Wood, Danny Glover, Dennis Quaid, Rosanna Arquette, Brian Cox and Chris Evans.The acquisition was handled by Agnes Mentre on behalf of Wild Bunch with CAA retaining ...

  • Festival Deauville - Opening French doors

    31-Aug-2007

    The 33rd edition of the Deauville Festival of American Film will showcase 124 films, including 11 in competition. And for the first time, the festival has added a sidebar entitled American Nights, which will screen 60 films back to back, 24 hours a day, in the French seaside town's Morny cinema.

  • Rezo boosts Toronto slate with Sayles' Honeydripper

    30-Aug-2007

    Following its success with Julie Delpy's 2 Days In Paris , France 's Rezo Films will handle international sales on another English-language film, John Sayles Honeydripper.

  • Sebastien Beffa now overseeing acquisitions at Films Distribution

    30-Aug-2007

    French sales outfit Films Distribution is restructuring its sales and acquisitions department and will launch an international TV sales arm.

  • Celluloidveteran Tanja Meissner joins Memento Films

    28-Aug-2007

    Former Celluloid Dreams sales executive Tanja Meissner has joined Paris-based producer/distributor Memento Films. Meissner will act as head of world sales and acquisitions for the company.

  • Fremaux gets new general manager title at Cannes

    27-Aug-2007

    Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremaux has been named general manager of the festival, organizers announced Monday. The appointment was made by the Cannes board of directors on July 19 based on a proposal by Cannes president Gilles Jacob.Fremaux officially took up his new functions on August 9, while continuing to oversee selection of films for the festival.In a statement, Jacob said, 'In its sixty year history, the Cannes festival has only had three general managers: ...

  • French box office celebrates summer bonanza

    19-Aug-2007

    The French box office in July saw a staggering 57.8% increase in ticket sales over the same month last year. The total box office for 2007 thus far, however, is down 2.5% compared to the same period in 2006.

  • France: sales drop is still cause for cheer

    13-Jul-2007

    After a record first half in 2006, the first six months of 2007 have seen a 12% drop in film attendance in France. However, the 90.5 million admissions racked up are an increase on the same period in 2005.

  • 4 Months stirs education controversy in France

    11-Jul-2007

    Cannes Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days has been at the heart of some controversy lately in France.

  • France sees 9m fewer tickets sold in first half of 2007

    9-Jul-2007

    After a record first half in 2006, the first six months of 2007 have seen a 12% drop in film attendance in France. However, the 90.5m admissions racked up are an increase over 2005. That figure comes from France's Film Federation (FNCF), which represents the nation's exhibitors, while the National Film Center (CNC) has a slightly different total with 93.1m tickets sold. The top ten films of the year through the end of June brought in 9m fewer moviegoers than the ...

  • EuropaCorp starts trading on Euronext after $95m IPO

    6-Jul-2007

    Luc Besson's EuropaCorp made a strong entry to the Euronext today having raised $95.1m (Euros 70m) in an initial public offering.

  • Catherine Breillat: blood and guts

    6-Jul-2007

    When she suffered a cerebral haemorrhage while making her latest film, French director Catherine Breillat convinced her producer she would be all right - as long as she sat down. Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte reports.

  • Lola Doillon: coming of age

    6-Jul-2007

    The latest member of the Doillon dynasty to join the family business tells Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte what she loves about film-making.

  • France's CNC creates fund to back experimental new media projects

    5-Jul-2007

    France 's film center the CNC has announced the creation of a new fund designed to aid in the development of experimental projects for new media.

  • Jean-Jacques Bernard takes over as president of Critics Syndicate

    4-Jul-2007

    France's Critics Syndicate, which notably runs the Critics Week sidebar at the Cannes Film Festival, has elected Jean-Jacques Bernard to the post of president. Bernard replaces Gerard Lenne who held the post for six years

  • European Producers Club elects new board of directors

    28-Jun-2007

    The European Producers Club (EPC) has announced the election of a new board of directors. In their posts for the next two years are: Jean Cazes (Initial Productions, France), Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre (MACT, France), Patrick Quniet (Artemis Productions, Belgium), Antonio Saura (Zebra Producciones, Spain) and Ruth Waldburger (Vega Film, Switzerland). The executive committee is comprised of Jean Cazes as president, Constantin's Martin Moszkowicz as vice president and UGC YM's Yves Marmion ...

  • France's Fete du Cinema ticket sales hold steady at 2.8m

    28-Jun-2007

    The 23rd Fete du Cinema wrapped Tuesday night in France to tie last year's results with 2.8m tickets sold. The reduced-price ticket scheme, organized by the National Cinema Federation (FNCF), offers free entry to all films over three days after a one-time $2.70 (Euros 2) ticket purchase.

  • Paris Cinema event announces premieres

    24-Jun-2007

    The fifth annual Paris Cinema event will take place from July 3-14.Less a festival than a happening which is open to the public, the event does include an international competition and has upped its profile over the past several years.

  • Cannes prizewinner Jellyfish finds sales

    24-Jun-2007

    Pyramide International has completed a sale of its Cannes Camera d'Or winner Jellyfish to Nanni Moretti's Sacher in Italy. The film was also recently acquired in the US by Zeitgeist.

  • French exhibition: Hollywood makes a play

    22-Jun-2007

    France's dominance of the local market looks set to be replaced by Hollywood this summer. Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte reports.

  • Wotling named cinema director of CNC

    21-Jun-2007

    Olivier Wotling has been named cinema director of France's national film organisation, the CNC.

  • Wild Bunch enjoys a strong Cannes Market

    7-Jun-2007

    Wild Bunch had a hearty Cannes Market with notable sales across its slate. Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days sold in 31 territories including to IFC in the US, France's Bac Films/Why Not, Germany's Concorde, Spain's Golem, Canada's Metropole, the UK's Artificial Eye, Brazil's Lumiere and China's Seasonal.

  • eQuinoxe sets up home in Evian and selects 8 projects

    31-May-2007

    The 29th eQuinoxe screenwriting workshop will run June 3-9 in Evian, France. After years of a nomadic existence, this marks the beginning of a partnership with the town of Evian. eQuinoxe president Noelle Deschamps says the aim is that the workshop will now be based in Evian for the foreseeable future.

  • European film commissions join forces in Brussels

    30-May-2007

    A new association, the European Film Commissions Network, met for the first time during the recent Cannes Film Festival.

  • Cannes Market attendees up 4% to 10,491

    30-May-2007

    The Cannes Film Market has announced strong results for its most recent edition. 10,491 participants were accredited from 92 countries with new territories from Africa and Asia taking part for the first time.

  • MK2 sells Van Sant's Paranoid Park to 72 territories

    30-May-2007

    MK2 has announced stellar sales on Gus Van Sant's Cannes competition film Paranoid Park.

  • Coach 14 books healthy sales during first Cannes

    29-May-2007

    At its first Cannes, Coach 14 steamed ahead with healthy sales on four of its titles.

  • Romanian drama wins Palme d'Or

    27-May-2007

    Cristian Mungiu's difficult-to-swallow but critically-acclaimed Romanian drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks, And 2 Days has won Cannes 60th anniversary Palme d'Or.But Stephen Frears' jury threw some curveballs in their prize-giving. There was no mention of the Coen brothers' lauded No Country For Old Men and another favourite, the heavily-praised The Edge Of Heaven director ...

  • Wide Management sells Shelter to US

    26-May-2007

    Wide Management has announced sales at the just-wrapped Cannes Market on Shelter from director Marco Puccione and starring jury member Maria de Medeiros. The film went to Wolfe for the US and Canada, France's Epicentre, Pride Films in Spain and Portugal and ex-Yugoslavia's MGF.

  • XXY takes Critics Week Grand Jury prize

    26-May-2007

    Lucia Puenzo's XXY has won the Grand Jury prize in Critics Week, the sidebar announced Friday. The film is an Argentine, Spanish, French co-production. The SACD award went to Les Meduses , a French-Israeli co-production from directors Etgar Keret and Shira Geffen. Both films, handled by Pyramide International, also won further prizes in Critics Week. The former took the Association of Independent Cinema Distribution ...

  • California Dreamin' (Endless) wins Un Certain Regard

    26-May-2007

    The Un Certain Regard sidebar has awarded its top honour to Cristian Nemescu's California Dreamin' (Endless).The Romanian title stars Armand Assante and Jamie Elman and is handled by Mediapro Distribution. The Jury Prize went to Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi's second feature, Actresses, starring Mathieu Amalric, Jean-Hughes Anglade and the director. The film hails from the Wild Bunch stable. The Coup de ...

  • Gonzalo Tobal takes top prize in Cannes Cinefondation

    26-May-2007

    The Cannes Cinefondation, which promotes the discovery of new filmmakers, has awarded prizes for this year's edition to Now Everybody Seems To Be Happy from Argentina's Gonzalo Tobal (first prize), Way Out from Chen Tao of China (second prize) and a joint third prize to A Reunion from South Korea's Hong Sung-Hoon and Pavle Vuckovic of Serbia for Minus .

  • Co-Production Office closes deals on Anderson film

    24-May-2007

    The Co-Production Office has closed multiple deals on new Roy Anderson You, The Living. Territories include Japan (Stylejam), France (Les Films Du Losange), Belgium (Lumiere), Germany (Neue Vision), Netherlands (Filmmuseum), Finland (Cinema Mondo), Poland (Gutek), Greece (Ama), and Korea (Sponge).Ulrich Seidl's Import/Export has gone to Belgium (Lumiere) Netherlands ...

  • Days of Darkness shines for Studio Canal

    24-May-2007

    StudioCanal has sold Denys Arcand's closing night film Days Of Darkness to Bim in Italy, Golem in Spain and other territories including Greece, Portugal, Brazil, Israel, Iceland, Turkey, Belgium and Switzerland. Emir Kusturica's Promise Me This has gone to Badriti in Spain, Kinowelt in Germmany, Crystal in Canada, and about 10 other territories. Erick Zonca's

  • Wide racks up Cannes sales for titles including Counterparts

    21-May-2007

    Wide Management has started strong at the Cannes Market. Wide has already completed sales on Fortnight title Counterparts by director Jan Bonny, A Casa De Alice by Chico Teixeira, Philippe Aractingi's Bosta, Ballerina from Bertrand Normand and two new Edith Piaf documentaries: Le Concert Ideal and ...

  • France's new culture minister Albanel pays tribute to Cannes

    21-May-2007

    Although it was widely rumored that France's newly elected president, Nicolas Sarkozy, would make a red carpet appearance in Cannes, he instead sent a note along with the country's new culture minister, Christine Albanel.

  • Crook steals his way into Third World People

    21-May-2007

    Paris-based Chic Films has added Mackenzie Crook to the cast of its Kristin Scott Thomas romantic comedy Third World People.

  • Memento to produce Glatzer and Westmoreland's Sunland

    20-May-2007

    Quinceanara directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland will explore the dark side of the American dream in their next project, Sunland to be produced by France's Memento Films Production.The Sundance Grand Jury Prize winning duo will shoot the film in autumn 2007 in California. The film is slated to be ready for Cannes next year. The story surrounds a wealthy American man in his ...

  • Davis and Keener travel to Winterbottom's Genova

    19-May-2007

    Hope Davis and Catherine Keener have been confirmed to join Colin Firth in Michael Winterbottom's next effort, Genova.Shooting will begin at the end of June in Genoa, Italy and Boston. Post-production will be done in the UK.

  • Funny Balloons bats for Blue Eyelids

    19-May-2007

    Paris-based sales agent Funny Balloons has announced the acquisition of Critics' Week title Parpados Azules (Blue Eyelids).The film, by Mexico's Ernesto Contreras, will be handled by Funny Balloons in all territories excluding Mexico.Eyelids has secured French distribution with Colifilms Diffusion. It was a top winner at the Guadalajara festival.

  • Telepool books deals on Way To The Stars and Arn

    19-May-2007

    Germany's Telepool has announced sales on several titles including the 3D feature animation Way To The Stars.That film, directed by Michael Hegner and Kari Juusonen, went to Turkey (Tiglon), while epic adventure Arn The Knight Templar by Peter Flinth went to Russia (Barnhill). Finally, Telepool has also sold the comedy Where Is Fred' by Anno ...

  • Olivier Assayas springs Binoche for $6m drama

    18-May-2007

    MK2 will produce the next effort from French director Olivier Assayas, Springtime Past. The $6m (Euros 4.5m) drama will star Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling and Jeremie Renier and will be ready for Berlin. Assayas is in competition at Cannes this year with Boarding Gate. Presales on Springtime Past will start at Cannes while the shoot will begin ...

  • 'Without the auteurs there wouldn't be a festival'

    18-May-2007

    Festival president Gilles Jacob (pictured right) and artistic director Thierry Fremaux talk about stars and auteurs, resisting pressure and staying relevant in the digital age.

  • Palme d'Or winner: Claude Lelouch

    17-May-2007

    When A Man And A Woman scooped the Palme d'Or in 1966, its French director Claude Lelouch had already been hailed at festivals for such works as In The Affirmative and To Be A Crook. But the romance, starring Anouk Aimee, catapulted him to international fame and landed him not only the Palme d'Or but also two Oscars (for best foreign-language film and best original screenplay). Lelouch, also a producer, has gone on to make over 40 more films and shows no signs of slowing ...

  • Wild Bunch continues Woody Allen relationship

    17-May-2007

    Continuing a relationship begun last year with Cassandra's Dream, Wild Bunch is once again teaming up with Woody Allen.The Paris-based outfit will handle international sales on Allen's upcoming as-yet untitled project which is set to shoot in Barcelona and Oviedo, Spain beginning in July.The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and Rebecca Hall in a romantic drama in which a pair of Americans visiting ...

  • Films Distribution Cannes slate includes competitor Tehilim

    17-May-2007

    In a nice twist of timing, Films Distribution comes to Cannes this year with a pair of past masterpieces and a companion piece from a current master.

  • Pyramide lands US deal on hot-selling Irina Palm

    17-May-2007

    Pyramide International has concluded a US sale on Berlin competitor Irina Palm. Sam Gabarski's Marianne Faithfull vehicle has gone to Strand Releasing as well as having sold to nearly 40 other territories.

  • Frears doesn't expect any 'brutality' as he leads Cannes jury

    16-May-2007

    Stephen Frears and his Cannes competition jury made their first public appearance in Cannes on Wednesday at the festival's opening day press conference.

  • Wide takes on sales for Bonnaire's Her Name Is Sabine

    16-May-2007

    France's Wide Management will handle sales on actress Sandrine Bonnaire's directorial debut Her Name Is Sabine.The film is running in Directors Fortnight alongside another recently acquired Wide title, Counterparts by Jan Bonny.

  • Memento to handle sales on Assayas' competitor Boarding Gate

    11-May-2007

    France 's Memento Films has acquired Olivier Assayas' Cannes competition entry Boarding Gate starring Asia Argento and Michael Madsen. The company will handle international sales on the thriller which is being released in France by ARP Selection on Aug 22.

  • Pilger's Bush-probing documentary rides with Coach 14

    11-May-2007

    Nascent sales outfit Coach 14 has taken on international sales on a new hot button documentary from John Pilger entitled The War On Democracy. The film,which is sure to spark controversy, examines the 'brutal reality of theBush notion of 'spreading democracy'' and the idea that the USpresident is actually conducting a war on democracy.An exclusive on the road interview with Hugo Chavez and anexclusive chat with Duane Clarridge, ...

  • Films from Reygadas and Aguilera top Bac's Cannes slate

    9-May-2007

    Continuing its move into international sales, Bac Films is coming to Cannes this year with Silent Light in competition, La Influencia in the Fortnight and a stream of new offerings.

  • Wild Bunch's new titles include $47m Mr. Nobody with Sarah Polley

    9-May-2007

    With six films spread throughout the official selection, Critics Week and Un Certain Regard, Wild Bunch is also presenting a packed line-up at the Cannes Market.

  • Walter Salles to serve as patron for Cannes Europe Day

    8-May-2007

    Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles will act as patron for the 2007 edition of Europe Day at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

  • Wild Bunch strikes exclusive Benelux partnership with A-Film

    4-May-2007

    France's Wild Bunch and Benelux's A-Film have announced a distribution, acquisition and co-production partnership for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

  • Digital Rights - Territory report - France

    4-May-2007

    France's union system differs greatly from the US. While there are lobby groups and associations, there are no guilds per se which resemble the Hollywood heavies such as the WGA, DGA and SAG. The closest thing to those organisations is the Societe des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (Sacd) which represents all of France's writers - who are often directors as well.

  • Cannes Directors Fortnight bookended by debuts from Corbijn, Kogut

    3-May-2007

    This year's Directors Fortnight will open at Cannes with Anton Corbijn's Control, a biopic of late Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. The closing film is also a first film, Mutum, from Brazilian director Sandra Kogut.In total 23 films round out the main selection with nine first time features which are also eligible for the Camera d'Or prize. The selection is heavy on French films whereas other sections appear to favour foreigners: the official competition boasts ...

  • Cannes Classics to include Wajda's presentation of Kanal

    2-May-2007

    The Cannes Film Festival today announced its program for the Cannes Classics sidebar which aids in the rediscovery of great works via restored prints and theatrical or DVD releases.This year, the section is presented under the patronage of Andrzej Wajda who will introduce a restored copy of Kanal, winner of the Special Jury Award at Cannes in 1957. Jane Fonda will also be on hand to pay homage to her late father Henry Fonda at a screening ...

  • TF1 International unveils Cannes slate

    30-Apr-2007

    TF1 International has unveiled its slate for the upcoming Cannes Film Market. Among the official selections, TF1 is handling Directors Fortnight closer Mutum by Sandra Kogut.The company has also announced three new films.- Ca$h, directed by Babylon A.D. screenwriter Eric Besnard, stars Jean Reno, Jean Dujardin and Alice Taglioni. Produced by Patrice Ledoux, the film ...

  • TFI International acquires Tavernier's In The Electric Mist

    30-Apr-2007

    TFI International has acquired In The Electric Mist, the new English-language film from director Bertrand Tavernier.

  • TFI International acquires Tavernier's In The Electric Mist

    27-Apr-2007

    TFI International has acquired In The Electric Mist, the new English-language film from director Bertrand Tavernier.

  • Foreign productions jump 7% in France

    27-Apr-2007

    The number of foreign shoots in France increased 7% last year on 2005, according to figures from the French national film commission, Film France.

  • Cannes Critics Week to close with Miniucchi's Expired

    26-Apr-2007

    The 46th Cannes Critics Week will kick off with Bruno Merle's Heros, starring Michael Youn, Patrick Chesnais and Elodie Bouchez and close with Expired from Cecilia Miniucchi and starring Samantha Morton and Jason Patric.The Critics Week line up was announced Thursday morning in Paris with seven titles in the main selection and a decidedly Latin feel. Of those, only one, Brazil's

  • Cannes announces three additions to Un Certain Regard

    25-Apr-2007

    A week after unveiling its official line up, the Cannes Film Festival has added three films to the Un Certain Regard sidebar, organizers announced today.Hou ...

  • 'A rich year' for Cannes 60th anniversary. promise organisers

    19-Apr-2007

    The Cannes Film Festival announced this year's line-up at a press conference in Par with, as expected, Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights set to open the 60th edition.

  • Polley, Bellocchio, Sissako recruited for main Cannes jury

    19-Apr-2007

    Cannes 2007 Main jury Stephen Frears (president) Maggie Cheung Toni Collette Maria De Medeiros Sarah Polley Marco Bellocchio Orhan Pamuk Michel Piccoli Abderrahmane Sissako

  • Cannes: midnight, special screenings, tributes, classics, cinefondation

    19-Apr-2007

    Cannes 2007 line-ups

  • Cannes: Un Certain Regard programme

    19-Apr-2007

    Films selected for Un Certain Regard:

  • Cannes to open with Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights

    19-Apr-2007

    The 60th Cannes Film Festival will open May 16 with Wong Kar-wai's first English-language project, My Blueberry Nights, which will play in competition. Singer Norah Jones makes her big-screen debut as a lovelorn woman on a soul-searching journey across America.

  • Films Distribution takes on Lamorisse's Crin Blanc and Ballon Rouge

    18-Apr-2007

    France 's Films Distribution has acquired world rights to Albert Lamorisse's Crin Blanc and its heralded companion piece Ballon Rouge. The first film won the short film grand prize in 1952 at Cannes and was followed by Ballon Rouge which won the short film Palme d'Or in 1956 and the screenwriting Oscar the following year.

  • Directors Fortnight to include Morel's Apres Lui

    17-Apr-2007

    Although the official selection will not be unveiled for a few days, Cannes Directors Fortnight has announced that Gael Morel's Apres Lui has secured a berth.

  • Bruno Merle film to open Cannes Critics Week

    17-Apr-2007

    Bruno Merle's Heros will be the opening film for this year's Critics Week.The French film stars Michael Youn, Patrick Chesnais, Elodie Bouchez and Jackie Berroyer.

  • MK2 gets deep with Jacques Cousteau catalogue

    16-Apr-2007

    France's MK2 has acquired the rights to the Jacques Cousteau catalogue for a period of ten years, the company has announced.

  • Gael Garcia Bernal to serve as Cannes Critics Week ambassador

    13-Apr-2007

    Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal will act as ambassador to Critics Week in Cannes this year. Organizers announced the news on Thursday and said that the Babel star will unveil his first directorial effort, Deficit, during the fortnight.

  • French first-quarter box office drops 3% compared to strong 2006

    11-Apr-2007

    France's box office took a 3% hit in the first three months of 2007 compared with last year. The total number of admissions came to 51.2m versus 52.8m in 2006 for the period of January through March, according to figures announced Wednesday by France's National Cinema Federation (FNCF).

  • Milos Forman joins festivities for Monaco cinema & literature forum

    5-Apr-2007

    The sixth edition of the International Cinema & Literature Forum will take place April 12-14 in Monaco.

  • Martin Scorsese to give May 24 masterclass at Cannes

    4-Apr-2007

    Martin Scorsese, who just took home his first Oscar for The Departed, will be continuing his banner year as a guest of honor at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

  • Marchal starts shooting thriller MR 73 for Gaumont and LGM

    3-Apr-2007

    French director Olivier Marchal has begun shooting thriller MR 73 in Marseilles with Daniel Auteuil and Olivia Bonamy in the lead roles.

  • Pascale Ferran to head jury for Cannes Un Certain Regard

    28-Mar-2007

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced that director Pascale Ferran will head up the jury for the Un Certain Regard sidebar at this year's event, which runs May 16-27.

  • French cinema promotion boasts 2.6 million ticket sales

    22-Mar-2007

    France's eighth annual springtime cinema promotion, the Printemps du Cinema, this week boasted 2.6 million tickets sold over three days. The figures match those for 2006's event which was a record year.

  • Deauville Asian film fest line-up announced

    22-Mar-2007

    The Deauville Asian Film Festival has unveiled its line-up for the ninth edition, to be held March 2-April 1. Benoit Jacquot will head up the jury with Bruno Coulais, Marina De Van, Mylene Jampanoi, Laure Marsac, Dominique Pinon, Gilles Taurand and Gaspard Ulliel.

  • Cannes reveals Atelier programme

    19-Mar-2007

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced its selection for this year's Atelier de la Cinefondation. The programme, created in 2005, aims to help young film-makers bring their projects to fruition.This third edition of the Atelier has chosen 15 directorial projects from 15 different countries. During this year's Cannes Festival, the selected directors will endeavour to finalise the financing of their respective films via meetings with industry professionals ...

  • France - Rose-tinted history

    9-Mar-2007

    Tackling the story of one of France's most beloved personalities is a daunting task, especially in a country which does not revere the biopic. But a few years ago, as Olivier Dahan rummaged through some photos in a book store, he was bitten by the Edith Piaf bug.

  • European - Case study: Max & Co - Puppet masters pull the strings

    2-Mar-2007

    On paper, Max & Co looks like a big risk. Budgeted at $25m (EUR19m), the animated first-time feature from director brothers Fred and Sam Guillaume started out as a short. But as it evolved, and with input from producer Robert Boner, it became clear it would be better served as a full-length production.

  • European - Territory Overview: France - Highly visible success

    2-Mar-2007

    French animation is enjoying a revival, with Luc Besson's Arthur And The Invisibles raking it in at the local and foreign box office and many other high-profile projects underway. But, just as in the US where an overstretched market is starting to buckle, France may not be able to sustain the pace forever.

  • Lady Chatterley takes best picture Cesar

    25-Feb-2007

    Lady Chatterley was crowned best picture Saturday night at France's Cesar Awards. The film, directed by Pascale Ferran also took the best actress honour for Marina Hands among five awards.Best actor went to Francois Cluzet for his role in Guillaume Canet's Tell No One. Guillaume Canet was also named best director.Best foreign film went to Oscar contender

  • Gaumont strikes US deal for Fidel with Koch Lorber and Red Envelope

    22-Feb-2007

    France 's Gaumont has announced the sale of Prix Michel d'Ornano winner and Sundance entry Blame It On Fidel to Koch Lorber in the US. The film, directed by Julie Gavras, will go out in the second quarter of 2007 in NY and LA followed by a wider release. Koch Lorber teamed with Netflix's Red Envelope on the buy.

  • Directors sign up for Cannes' 60th-anniversary shorts

    20-Feb-2007

    The Cannes Film Festival has officially announced the names of the directors taking part in Chacun Son Cinema, a feature which will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the event this May.

  • French critics hail Private Fears In Public Places

    20-Feb-2007

    The French Critics union has awarded Alain Resnais' Private Fears In Public Places with its top honor for 2006. The awards were announced Monday night in Paris where Pedro Almodovar's Volver took the best foreign film prize.

  • European stars: France

    16-Feb-2007

    In France, movie-goers will eagerly line up for the latest from revered auteurs or even more mainstream directors - think Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Luc Besson or Francis Veber. But the old-guard of French actors like Gerard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve are no longer guarantees of box office.

  • La Vie En Rose woos the box office

    15-Feb-2007

    Following its lauded opening at the Berlin Film Festival last week, Olivier Dahan's La Vie En Rose debuted in Paris on Wednesday February 14. The Valentine's Day release was met with much local love as the film took 230,370 admissions on 675 screens on its first day.

  • Unifrance opens NY event with La Vie En Rose

    15-Feb-2007

    The 12th edition of the Unifrance Rendez-Vous with French Cinema will open in New York on February 28 with recent Berlin opener La Vie En Rose by Olivier Dahan. The event runs through March 11 and takes place at Lincoln Center, where 16 recent French films will have their US premieres. Among the selected films are Les Ambitieux by Catherine Corsini, Chacun Sa ...

  • Wild Bunch continues a prosperous Berlin with TWC, SPC

    14-Feb-2007

    The Wild Bunch selling spree continued in Berlin Tuesday with sales of Michel Ocelot's Azur And Asmar to The Weinstein Company and Laurent Tirard's Moliere to Sony Pictures Classics in the US. Azur And Asmar also sold to Japan's Studio Ghibli.Further sales were also completed on Morgan Spurlock's hunt-for-Bin-Laden documentary with Spain's Alta, Brazil's Europa and Mexico's Quality all taking the film.Quality also picked up D. Jud Jones'

  • Kruger named MC at 60th Cannes

    9-Feb-2007

    Diane Kruger will act as Mistress of Ceremonies for the 60th Cannes Film Festival.Kruger, who has made France her adopted home, will oversee the opening and closing ceremonies this coming May. The actress is best known to international audiences for her roles in Troy, National Treasure and 2005's Cannes selection and Oscar nominee Merry Christmas. Cannes runs this year from May 16-27. Previous actors to hold the position include ...

  • Gaumont previews Leclerq sci-fi feature in Berlin

    9-Feb-2007

    Gaumont has announced a $12 million first feature from director Julien Leclercq.

  • Wild Bunch declares war on Dieter Kosslick

    8-Feb-2007

    After a slow burn of increasing upset with Berlin festival director Dieter Kosslick, French sales, financing and distribution outfit Wild Bunch has declared that it is boycotting the EFM and declaring a 'period of sanction' on its films in future Berlin competitions.The company has cancelled its market stand and, in its inimitable style, has made its own home - a purpose-built cabana on a piece of land strategically located between Potsdamer Platz and Martin Gropius Bau which ...

  • Wild Bunch takes on sales for new Morgan Spurlock documentary

    7-Feb-2007

    While continuing brisk sales on Laurent Tirard's Moliere, which has been acquired by Spain 's Golem, Pathe in the UK, Bim in Italy and Australia 's Hopscotch; Wild Bunch has unveiled its line up for the upcoming Berlin festival with several new projects in the pipeline.

  • Chic gears up to shoot Laffargue's Dakar-set Black

    6-Feb-2007

    French production outfit Chic Films has given a green light to a new film from director Pierre Laffargue set in present day Dakar and starring French rapper MC Jean Gab'1, Carole Karemera, Francois Levantal and Anton Yakovlev.

  • StudioCanal picks up three new projects, including new Klapisch film

    1-Feb-2007

    StudioCanal has announced three new films set to debut on its Berlin slate. The first is from director Cedric Klapisch who will re-team with his Auberge Espagnole star Romain Duris. Few details are currently available apart from cast with Juliette Binoche, Fabrice Luchini, Francois Cluzet, Karin Viard and Albert Dupontel joining Duris. The film, entitled Paris , is in production and is budgeted at $17.6m (Euros 13.5m).

  • Rezo takes on Berlin competitor Desert Dream

    31-Jan-2007

    Rezo Films International has acquired worldwide rights to Berlin competition film Desert Dream. The South Korean-Mongol co-production is from Chinese director Zhang Lu and is set in a small village on the border of China and Mongolia. As the village becomes more and more desolate, the film tells the story of a remaining trio who become unlikely friends.

  • Wide Management picks up five projects at European Film Market

    31-Jan-2007

    With five new acquisitions, Wide Management is gearing up for a busy EFM. First up was Panorama selection Shelter from director Marco Simon Puccioni, starring Maria De Medeiros, Antonia Liskova and Mounir Ouadi. The film traces the story of an Italian couple who return from vacation to find that a Moroccan stowaway has hidden in their car.

  • Coach 14 takes Heros and Shotgun to Berlin

    30-Jan-2007

    New French sales house Coach 14 has acquired two films heading into Berlin. The first, Heros, is a $2.6m (Euros 2m) psycho drama in the styleof Fabrice du Welz's Calvairesays Coach 14 co-founder Pape Boye.Directedby first-timer Bruno Merle, the film ...

  • BackUp bonanza

    26-Jan-2007

    French financing specialist BackUp Films is celebrating its fifth anniversary in style at Sundance, where its first English-language film, Zoe Cassavetes' Broken English, is playing in dramatic competition.

  • Gaumont co-CEO Franck Chorot steps down

    25-Jan-2007

    Gaumont co-CEO Franck Chorot will step down from his post as of February 1, the French major has announced.Chorot will continue to work with the world's oldest film company as an in-house producer as well as working on co-productions set up with other companies in France and abroad.Following a stint as the head of UIP France, Chorot returned to the Gaumont fold in 2000 to replace Pierre-Ange Le Pogam as deputy general manager of worldwide marketing and distribution ...

  • French DVD sales saw 2006 slide

    21-Jan-2007

    France's video publishers union (SEV) says piracy played a big role in the fall in sales of DVDs last year.

  • French production falls in 2006 after 2005 boom

    18-Jan-2007

    France's CNC has released initial production figures for the year 2006. In total, 203 films received the stamp of approval from the CNC - which is equal to 2004, though down from last year's exceptional crop of 240 films. Production investment stood at $1.49bn (Euros 1.15bn) compared to $1.66bn (Euros 1.28bn) in 2005, though up on 20004. 2005 saw an increase in international co-productions with 114 total, or almost one out of every two approved films.

  • French films take $390m at world's box offices in 2006

    14-Jan-2007

    French export body Unifrance announced its global figures Friday at the annual Rendez Vous event held in Paris. For 2006, French films sold 55.8 million tickets at the world box-office. Those sales brought in just over $390m (Euros 300m.)The score represents a drop of 23% off of 2005 which saw an exceptional 73.6 million admissions worldwide for a take of $475m (Euros 369m). Still, 2006 ranks as one of the best years in the past decade - only 2002 and ...

  • Gaumont unveils Warnier's Seeds Of Death at Rendez-Vous

    12-Jan-2007

    Gaumont will premiere Regis Warnier's latest film, Seeds Of Death, on Friday night at Paris' Unifrance Rendez-Vous of French film. The thriller stars Jose Garcia, Marie Gillain, Michel Serrault and Olivier Gourmet and is a sure to be a hot item amongst buyers at the weekend market.

  • Memento partners with ID and acquires Angosto

    11-Jan-2007

    France 's Memento Films has joined with ID Distribution to create a partnership which will see the two companies work together on acquisitions, international sales, production and French distribution.

  • Gaumont hires Cecile Gaget for international division

    10-Jan-2007

    French major Gaumont has announced the arrival of Cecile Gaget who will join the International division as executive vice-president international sales.

  • Festivals feel the city heat

    10-Jan-2007

    The great city film festivals exist of course as important events in their own terms. Without the pressure of a major market and often of competitions, they often succeed in their core mission to public celebration of film and film-makers.

  • TF1 to launch Female Agents and Shall We Kiss'

    10-Jan-2007

    TF1 International will bring two brand new films to the Unifrance Rendez-Vous which gets underway this weekend in Paris.

  • 'Retired' Besson plans two Arthur sequels

    9-Jan-2007

    Despite his recent comments to the contrary, Luc Besson will direct two sequels to his current hit Arthur And The Minimoys.

  • StudioCanal sets slate for Unifrance Rendez Vous

    9-Jan-2007

    As French sales companies get ready for the annual Unifrance Rendez Vous this coming weekend, StudioCanal has announced its line up for the industry screenings event.

  • French admissions jump 7.5% in 2006 after strong start

    8-Jan-2007

    France's 2006 box-office tally of 189m admissions represents a 7.5% jump on 2005 and marks the second-best score since 1992. 2004 was a record year with 196m tickets sold.

  • Vivendi and Canal Plus launch new pay-TV venture

    6-Jan-2007

    Vivendi and Canal Plus Group have announced the creation of Canal Plus France following their take over of rival platform TPS.

  • Wild Bunch reveals French Film Rendez-Vous slate

    5-Jan-2007

    Wild Bunch is heading into the annual French Film Rendez-Vous with a host of new films as well as screeningfour premieres for international buyers. And, in a bid to energiseforeign distributors to open Luc Jacquet's The FoxAnd The Child as a day-and-date release nextDecember, Wild Bunch will show 45 minutes of the film to distributors. Alreadysold pretty much throughout the world, Jacquet's MarchOf The Penguins follow-up ...

  • Danielle Arbid starts shoot for A Lost Man

    2-Jan-2007

    France's MK2 has announced the start of production on Danielle Arbid's second feature A Lost Man. The UK's Alexander Siddig and France's Melvil Poupaud star in the road movie set in the Middle East.Filming ...

  • Cannes Residence selects participants for 14th edition

    21-Dec-2006

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced the names of the latest group of participants for the 14th session of the Cannes Residence.

  • Coach 14 arrives on international sales scene

    18-Dec-2006

    Former Funny Balloons partner Pape Boye has left the company to team up with Spain's Iris Star in the creation of a new sales entity, Coach 14.

  • Lady Chatterley takes the Prix Louis Delluc

    18-Dec-2006

    Pascale Ferran's Lady Chatterley was awarded the 64th Prix Louis Delluc on Monday in Paris.

  • French film admissions up 10% over last year

    14-Dec-2006

  • France's Elia Films gets $13,200 production prize

    14-Dec-2006

  • Vivendi won't sell its 20% stake in NBC Universal

    14-Dec-2006

    Vivendi has announced thatit will not exercise a right to unload its 20% share of NBC Universal inJanuary.Under a 2004 deal whichsaw Vivendi sell Universal to GE, the former retained a 20% stake in the newlyformed NBC Universal and was given the option to begin selling in 2006 althoughthat option ...

  • Penguins DP seeks shared director's credit

    12-Dec-2006

    Controversy is brewing overdirector credit on 2005 French blockbuster March Of The Penguins. Director of photography Laurent Chalet has filed acomplaint in a Paris court demanding shared director's credit on the Oscar-winningnature documentary.

  • Chesneau appointed Rezo's head of world sales

    8-Dec-2006

    Sebastien Chesneau has joined Rezo Films International, the sales arm of Paris-based producer/distributor Rezo Films as head of world sales.

  • Bergeron starts Un Monstre A Paris

    5-Dec-2006

    Shark Tale directorEric "Bibo" Bergeron has begun work on animated feature Un Monstre A Paris,in his new 3-D animation studio in Nice.

  • Delluc prize shortlist includes Flanders and Coeurs

    5-Dec-2006

    Rather than being whittled down, the short list forthe Louis Delluc prize has been augmented to six candidates, it was announcedtoday. Along with the previously nominated Bled Number One by RabahAmeur-Zaïmeche, Cannes Palme d'Or winner Flanders by Bruno Dumont, OtarIosseliani's Jardins En Automne, Pascale Ferran's Lady Chatterleyand Xavier Giannoli's Cannes competitor Quand J'Etais Chanteur, AlainResnais' Coeurs has been added to the mix.

  • ACE seminars to look at 17 European projects

    4-Dec-2006

    TheEuropean Cinema Workshops (ACE) will be held this year from Dec 6-12 inRoubaix/Tourcoing in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region of France.Theworkshops are an opportunity for European producers to gather with European andUS professionals in order to examine financing, co-production and distributionpotential for, in this ...

  • Gaumont goes digital with XDC France

    4-Dec-2006

    French major Gaumont hassigned a deal with digital developer XDC to offer its upcoming features in adigital format for cinemas equipped with the necessary projection systems. Themove makes Gaumont the first French producer/distributor to make its filmsavailable digitally. The newly created XDCFrance, a subsidiary of XDC International, proposes technical and financialsolutions for the French market. 'At XDC, we work each ...

  • Court throws out most family claims over Etre Et Avoir

    24-Nov-2006

    The Paris High Court has dismissed most of the complaintslodged by a group of families seeking damages for their children's roles inNicolas Philibert's award-winning 2002 documentary Etre Et Avoir .

  • Gaumont and Columbia dissolve joint venture

    24-Nov-2006

    French and US majors Gaumont and Columbia TriStar Films havedecided not to renew a joint distribution venture they created in 2004. GaumontColumbia TriStar Film France was launched in July of 2004 for a period of threeyears and, according to a Gaumont press release Thursday, the partners havedecided ...

  • Marrakech to open with The Departed

    20-Nov-2006

    The sixth Marrakech Film Festival will kick off on Dec1 in the Moroccan town with a screening of Martin Scorsese's The Departed. The festival will close with Mon Meilleur Ami by Patrice Leconte. Roman Polanski will head upthe jury alongside Sandrine Bonnaire, Jamel Debbouze, Maria De Medeiros, PanNalin, Yousry Nasrallah, Ludivine Sagnier, David Wenham and Paz Vega.

  • Besson gets permissions for Cinema City project

    19-Nov-2006

    The mayor of Saint-Denis has signed the construction permit for Luc Besson's Cinema City project, it was announced Friday. Didier Paillard, mayor of the Parisian suburb, gave the go-ahead for the long-gestating project which will see soundstages, workshops, offices and other amenities built on a 65,000 square metre site.In a press release, the town hall of Saint-Denis noted, "The signature of the construction permit is an important step in the advancement of this dossier. On this occasion, ...

  • Five films make Louis Delluc shortlist

    11-Nov-2006

    Five films have been shortlisted for France's pretigious Louis Delluc prize.

  • The Red Cockatoo takes top prize at Marrakech

    10-Nov-2006

    Germany's Dominik Graf picked up the top prize at the 6th Marrakech International Film Festival for his The Red Cockatoo this weekend. Max Riemelt also took the Best Actor prize for the same film.

  • Onoma closes US deal on White Palms

    9-Nov-2006

    Paris-based sales outfit Onoma Films has closed a US deal for sports drama White Palms.

  • France Telecom to open cinema investment arm

    7-Nov-2006

    France Telecom is to open a film rights arm with plans to co-produce 10 to 15 French and European films a year.

  • Wild Bunch takes on Maverick's Stanford Prison Experiment

    6-Nov-2006

    Paris-based Wild Bunch hasboarded Maverick Films' upcoming The Stanford Prison Experiment.

  • Wide takes on sales for Kavaite's Ecoute Le Temps

    3-Nov-2006

  • Pyramide's AFM slate includes hot-selling doc Let's Say

    2-Nov-2006

  • MK2 starts shoot for Gus Van Sant's Paranoid Park

    1-Nov-2006

  • TF1 AFM slate includes Paquet-Brenner double

    31-Oct-2006

    Heading into the AmericanFilm Market, French sales outfit TF1 International will be featuring an eclecticslate of new films including a one-two punch in very different styles fromdirector Gilles Paquet-Brenner. The first, a follow up to2003's successful action-comedy Gomez&Tavares, is Payoff 2, directed byPaquet-Brenner and ...

  • Small screen trends go even smaller at 2006 Mipcom

    15-Oct-2006

    The buzzwords at this year's Mipcom television market (Oct8-12 in Cannes) were clearly heard in every conference, at every cocktail andaround every corner in the Palais: multi-platform, content and digital.

  • Buena Vista strikes Spanish VOD deal

    12-Oct-2006

    Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) has announced several newdeals as the Mipcom TV market continues.The company is teaming with Spain's Telefonica in aVOD deal which will include films from Walt DisneyPictures, Touchstone and Miramax. Titles available will include recent hit PiratesOf The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest as ...

  • BVI and Sony announce deals at MIPCOM

    10-Oct-2006

  • Besson reconsiders directing 'retirement'

    8-Oct-2006

    Luc Besson says he will reconsider returning behind the camera if he finds, "a good script" - despite a recent interview announcing his retirement from directing.

  • Days Of Glory star Debbouze barred from Algerian screening

    8-Oct-2006

    Days Of Glory star, and Palme d'Or winner, Jamel Debbouze has been refused a visa to enter Algeria for a screening of the film.

  • Canal Plus signs French VOD agreement with Fox

    2-Oct-2006

    France's Canal+ Active has signed a VOD agreement with Fox, it was announced Friday.

  • On Set With French Cinema 2006 directors announced

    2-Oct-2006

    French export body Unifrance has announced the fourth edition of On Set With French Cinema, to take place in the US from Oct 2006 - Jan 2007.

  • France submits Fauteuils d'Orchestre for Oscar race

    14-Sep-2006

    Daniele Thompson's ensemble dramedy Fauteuils d'Orchestre has been selected to represent France in the race for this year's foreign language Academy Award nomination.

  • Luc Besson says he will stop directing after Arthur

    11-Sep-2006

  • Sunshine reigns over Deauville

    10-Sep-2006

    JonathanDayton and Valerie Faris' Little Miss Sunshine won the grand prize at the 32ndDeauville Festival of American Film last night in Deauville, France. The film,a huge box office success in North America, opened in France on Wednesdaythrough 20th Century Fox.Meanwhilethe jury prize went ...

  • TF1 kicks off sales on Calderon's wildlife tale White Tuft

    10-Sep-2006

    TF1International is launching sales here on wildlife feature White Tuft, TheLittle Beaver.Thefilm ...

  • French TV sales up 2.7% to $192.5m in 2005

    7-Sep-2006

  • Pretty Pictures gets French rights to The Old Garden

    1-Sep-2006

    Paris-based distributor Pretty Pictures has announced the acquisition ofa new work by Korean director Im Sang-soo along with three titles from Alejandro Jodorowsky.

  • Films Distribution on board for new Hou Hsiao-Hsien film

    1-Sep-2006

    Heading into the autumn festival season, French sales house FilmsDistribution has acquired three new projects at script level.

  • TPS and Canal Plus cleared for merger

    31-Aug-2006

  • Pan Europeenne Edition renamed Wild Bunch Distribution

    30-Aug-2006

    The distribution arm of French sales and financing outfit Wild Bunch,Pan Europeenne Edition, has been re-baptized Wild BunchDistribution the company announced.

  • Rush Hour 3 starts six week shoot in Paris

    24-Aug-2006

  • Wide notches up sales on Locarno doc Carla's List

    21-Aug-2006

    France's Wide Management has announced sales on its Locarno presentation Carla's List.

  • Gaumont to start Bensalah's Big City

    11-Aug-2006

    French major Gaumont has announced the start of shooting on Djamel Bensalah's Big City,a western starring a cast of children ages 8 to 14.Principal photography willcommence on Aug 14 in Alberta, Canada before movingto Bulgaria. ...

  • Valentina Merli joins Pyramide International

    3-Aug-2006

  • Deauville to open with Burger's The Illusionist

    1-Aug-2006

  • French distributor Bac posts strong revenues

    24-Jul-2006

    Bac Majestic has announced a marked increase in revenues for the first half of 2006. With $15.1m (Euros 12m) in income, the French distributor saw a 56.6% rise over the same period last year.

  • Cannes Residence names next six directors

    11-Jul-2006

  • Unifrance renews Menegoz as president

    10-Jul-2006

  • Telema has to pay damages over Tanguy

    6-Jul-2006

  • Veronique Tan gets on board with Wild Side

    4-Jul-2006

    Wild Bunch label Wild Side Films has hired formerCelestial Pictures executive Veronique Tan to acquire Asian films for thecompany.

  • Gaumont to shoot thriller Avatar in September

    27-Jun-2006

    Frenchstudio Gaumont has announced that it is inpreparation on Avatar, a first film by Julien Leclercq. The film is scheduled to begin shooting onSeptember 12 for ten weeks in Paris.Avataris a $10.9m (Euros 8.7m) production starring Albert Dupontel,Marie Guillard, Melanie Thierry, MartheKeller, Estelle Lefebure and ...

  • Deauville festival to welcome Lumet and Pollack

    27-Jun-2006

    The 32nd annual Deauville Festival of American Film will run September 1 to 10 in the Normandy seaside town.Actress/director Nicole Garcia is set to head the jury with the rest of themembers to be announced in late July.

  • F For Film closes deals for Alicia Scherson's Play

    20-Jun-2006

  • French court says no plagiarism in Syriana

    19-Jun-2006

  • EuropaCorp's Le Pogam adds post at FAEM

    15-Jun-2006

    EuropaCorp. principal Pierre-Ange Le Pogam has been named to the post of president of theCommission of Funds in aid of Multimedia Publishing (FAEM). France'sNational Cinema Center (CNC) announced the news Thursday morning in Paris.

  • French cinema admissions up 22% so far in 2006

    12-Jun-2006

  • Rampling takes charge of Paris festival

    11-Jun-2006

    Actress Charlotte Rampling will take over fromdirector Costa-Gavras as president of the next Paris Cinema festival which runsfrom June 27 - July 11 in the capital city.Inaugurated four years ago, the event issponsored by the city and includes a feature competition, retrospectives,tributes and has added a new short film competition this year.

  • F For Film on board for Fresh Air

    8-Jun-2006

  • Vigne starts shooting Jean De La Fontaine

    7-Jun-2006

    Cesar-award winning director Daniel Vigne hasbegun shooting Jean De La Fontaine in Paris and France's Sarthoise region.

  • Wild Bunch racks up $16m-$18m of Cannes sales

    7-Jun-2006

    With 11 films scattered throughout the Cannes officialselection, France's Wild Bunchwracked up between $16m and $18m worth of sales during the recently closedmarket.

  • Cannes Market attendance up 6% over 2005

    30-May-2006

  • Projects set to shoot from strong Cannes Atelier

    30-May-2006

  • Sales rack up for 12 :08 East Of Bucharest

    30-May-2006

    Sales agent The CoproductionOffice has announced strong sales on its Camera d'Orwinner 12:08 East Of Bucharest by Romanian director Corneliu Porumbiou.

  • Ken Loach shakes the favourites to win the Palme D'Or

    28-May-2006

    In aceremony full of surprises, Ken Loach's TheWind That Shakes The Barley won the Palme d'Or 2006.

  • Wild Bunch taps into Im Kwon-taek's 100th film

    24-May-2006

  • Caetano film cleans up in first competition stampede

    23-May-2006

    In the first buying stamped for a competitiontitle at the Cannes market this year, Wild Bunch has concluded a raft of dealson Adrian Caetano's Buenos Aires 1977(Cronica De Una Fuga).The Weinstein Company took North American, NewZealand and Australian ...

  • Comme T'Y Es Belle strong at French box office

    22-May-2006

    In its first week out, LisaAzuelos' sleeper comedy that could, Comme T'Y Es Belle, has sold nearly 350,000 tickets in France. Theticket tally was roughly on par with that of Mission: Impossible :III.

  • Dueling Napoleon projects race to the screen

    22-May-2006

  • Pyramide on board for Breillat's love triangle

    22-May-2006

  • Haut Et Court pursues Assayas $15m Happiness

    21-May-2006

    French production and distribution company HautEt Court will produce the next film from Olivier Assayas, The Pursuit Of Happiness. The film will be shot inEnglish on a $15m budget and written by Douglas Kennedy.Based on Kennedy's own book, the ...

  • Haut Et Court slate includes next film from Assayas

    21-May-2006

  • Celluloid Dreams on the Ball

    19-May-2006

    Celluloid Dreams will handle internationalsales on an upcoming project from Alan Ball the company announced Thursday.Ball is best known as thescreenwriter of American Beauty for which he won an Oscar in 2000 and as the creator of TV series Six Feet ...

  • Garcia, Cassel to star in Annaud's His Majesty Minor

    19-May-2006

    Veteran directorJean-Jacques Annaud has announced plans for his next film, HisMajesty Minor, to begin shooting inSeptember.

  • Rezo signs up for Sokurov's Alexandra

    18-May-2006

  • Schroeder prepares Inju for SBS

    18-May-2006

    Director Barbet Schroeder is set tostart work on Inju in September forFrench producers SBS Films and La Fabrique de Films.SBS is run by Said Ben Said of UGCInternational which will start sales on the project at Cannes this year.

  • TFI takes on family film Duke & Claire

    18-May-2006

  • Memento adds two Cannes titles to slate

    17-May-2006

  • Woody Allen signs McGregor and Farrell for UK film

    17-May-2006

    French sales, distribution and financehouse Wild Bunch has confirmed casting on Woody Allen's upcoming Summer 2006 Project. Colin Farrell and EwanMcGregor will co-star alongside Tom Wilkinson and an as-yet unannounced female.The film, budgeted at $20.7m ...

  • French sales house looks for rich seam from the Pit

    15-May-2006

    RisingFrench sales house Funny Balloons has acquired worldwide rights to Juan CarlosRulfo's award-winning In The Pit.Thefilm, ...

  • Hassid named director of foreign film acquisitions for Canal Plus

    15-May-2006

    The Canal Plus Group announced Friday the appointment of Laurent Hassidto the post of director of foreign film acquisitions.

  • Hassid heads foreign film buying for Canal Plus

    14-May-2006

    The CanalPlus Group has appointed Laurent Hassid to the post ofdirector of foreign film acquisitions.Hassidwill ...

  • Cannes announces final juries for Un Certain Regard and Camera d'Or

    12-May-2006

    Cannes festivalorganizers have announced the final compositions of the juries for the UnCertain Regard and Camera d'Or juries.

  • Wild Bunch takes on sales for The First Cry

    11-May-2006

    Following the global success of March Of ThePenguins, French sales house Wild Bunch is re-teaming with France's Disney Naturefor The First Cry, a documentary from director Gilles De Maistre.

  • Cannes 2006 line-up

    9-May-2006

    CANNES 2006

  • StudioCanal slate includes two from Wong Kar-wai

    8-May-2006

    StudioCanal is heading to the CannesMarket with a line up that includes two films from Cannes jury president WongKar-wai along with the latest from Mathieu Kassovitz, Emir Kusturica andDavid Lynch and a sentimental documentary about a year in the lives of newbornbabies.

  • Cannes Classics to present restored Platoon

    3-May-2006

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced the lineup for this year'sedition of Cannes Classics. The initiative is a specially programmed sectionwhich screens new and restored copies of old films.

  • Rezo Films takes on sales for Uro

    3-May-2006

    Heading into Cannes, France'sRezo Films International has boarded Un CertainRegard title Uro by Norway'sStefan Faldbakken.

  • Tim Burton joines Cannes Cinefondation jury

    2-May-2006

    Director Tim Burton has been added to the jury for the Cinefondation, Cannes Film Festival organizers announcedTuesday morning.Burton joins jurypresident Andrei Konchalovsky along with Sandrine Bonnaire, Souleymane Cisse, Daniel Bruhl and Zbigniew Preisner.The Cinefondation will hand out three prizeson May 26 during the festival and will also award the short film Palme d'Or at the festival'sclosing ceremony on Sunday, May 28.

  • Cannes announces Directors Fortnight lineup

    2-May-2006

    Europe once again comes on strong amongst Cannes competitors with the Directors Fortnight sidebar boasting 11 films from the continent. In total, 22 titles were announced Tuesday morning in Paris with six films from France alone, not including co-productions in which the country is involved.

  • Asia, Latin America boost involvement in Cannes Market

    28-Apr-2006

    Despite the lack of Asian films in official selection this year, producers,distributors and sales agents from the region are upping their participation atthe Cannes Market.

  • Cronica De Una Fuga moves into Cannes competition

    27-Apr-2006

    As Cannes Festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux predicted, there has been an addition to theofficial competition for this year's festival.

  • Princess, The Host are early picks for Directors Fortnight

    27-Apr-2006

    The Cannes Directors Fortnight sidebar will open with Danishanimated/live-action film Princess. This is the first time in 29 years that a Danishfilm has made the Fortnight cut.

  • Cannes police threaten symbolic strike on festival's opening day

    27-Apr-2006

    Municipal police in Cannes have threatened to strike for less than one houron the opening day of the Cannes Film Festival, May 17.

  • Cannes Europe Day takes global distribution theme

    27-Apr-2006

    The CannesFilm Festival has announced plans for its fourth annual Europe Day to take placeon May 23.

  • Cannes Europe Day takes global distribution theme

    27-Apr-2006

  • Cannes festival line-up

    26-Apr-2006

    Opening filmThe Da Vinci Code (dir:Ron Howard)

  • Cannes Competition yields surprises

    20-Apr-2006

    CannesFestival organisers have announced the official lineup for this year's edition, with 19 films competing for the Palmed'Or - one less than 2005.

  • Cannes line-up: Un Certain Regard

    20-Apr-2006

    Un Certain Regard

  • Monaco's Film and Literature Forum honours OSS 117

    10-Apr-2006

    The fifth International Film and Literature Forum wrapped in Monaco on Sunday withMichel Hazanavicius' OSS 117 taking the topprize for best cinematic adaptation.

  • MIP TV's new buzzword: convergence

    6-Apr-2006

    The MIP TV market began to wind down Thursday after four days thatfocused more on convergence than traditional television.

  • Cannes selects Vincent Cassel as master of ceremonies

    5-Apr-2006

    French actorVincent Cassel will handle master of ceremoniesduties for the 59th Cannes Film Festival, organisers announced Wednesday.

  • Buena Vista kicks off MIP with France Telecom VOD deal

    4-Apr-2006

    Highlighting the buzzwords of this year's MIP TV market - content, convergence and multiple distribution channels - Buena Vista Television International (BVITV) and France Telecom have announced a multi-year video-on-demand deal set to provide a selection of BVITV's film catalogue to subscribers of France Telecom's Wanadoo broadband and MaLigne IPTV services.

  • French government appoints Maistre as film mediator

    4-Apr-2006

    France's Ministries of Culture and Communication and Finance and Economy have announced the appointment of Roch-Olivier Maistre to the position of film mediator. Maistre replaces Francis Lamy in the post.

  • French screenwriter files Syriana plagiarism suit

    4-Apr-2006

    A French screenwriter has filed a plagiarism complaint againstWarner Bros and Section Eight, the producers of Stephen Gaghan's Oscar winning Syriana.

  • Pretty Pictures acquires three new features

    22-Mar-2006

    Paris-based distributorPretty Pictures has announced the acquisition of three new films following theBerlin EFM.

  • Puiu, Weerasethakul among film-makers in Cannes Atelier

    17-Mar-2006

    The Cannes Film Festivalhas selected 18 filmmakers to participate in the second annual Atelier duFestival.Under the aegis of theCannes Cinefondation, the workshop began last year in an effort to aide youngfilmmakers with their projects. During the festival, May 17 28, the selectgroup will meet with ...

  • France produces a record number of films for 2005

    16-Mar-2006

    France produced a record number of films in 2005 accordingto national film body the CNC. In total, 240films were given a green light by the film board including 187 which wereinitiated by the French.

  • Woody Allen to shoot his next film in Paris

    8-Mar-2006

    Woody Allenwill begin production on his latest film in Paris this summer. Titled The Woody Allen Summer Project 2006, the film marks the thirdconsecutive time the director has chosen to shoot in Europe following his two latest outings inLondon, Match Point and Scoop. Continuing his love affair with Europe, in 2007 Woody Allen is planning to shoot in Spain.

  • Parisian shorts to open Un Certain Regard at Cannes

    7-Mar-2006

    TheCannes Film Festival has announced it will open the Un Certain Regard sidebar with the collection of shorts entitled ParisJe T'Aime.

  • Wild Bunch enjoys brisk business for its Berlin slate

    6-Mar-2006

    Following the recent EFM at the Berlin Film Festival, French sales, finance and distribution outfit Wild Bunch has announced a slew of sales on its varied slate.

  • French Supreme Court rules against private DVD copies

    2-Mar-2006

    France's Supreme Court has ruled that it is illegal to make a copy of a shop-bought DVD even for personal use.

  • Audiard's Beat wins hearts at Cesars

    26-Feb-2006

    JacquesAudiard's The Beat That My Heart Skippedhas claimed eight Cesars, France's most prestigious film awards.Nominatedfor ...

  • Audiard's film wins top prize at Lumiere Awards

    22-Feb-2006

    Jacques Audiard's The Beat That My HeartSkipped took home the Best Picture prize at France's Lumiere Awards Tuesday. The awards are the local equivalentof the Golden Globes, voted on by members of the foreign press working in France.

  • Gerard Depardieu still the best paid actor in France

    20-Feb-2006

    GerardDepardieu, Jean Reno and Christian Clavier were France's highest paid actors for 2005according to a report in Monday's LeFigaro newspaper.

  • Lagardere set to take a 20% stake in French pay-TV group

    20-Feb-2006

    Frenchmedia group Lagardere is set to acquire a 20% stake in pay-TV group Canal PlusFrance in exchange for Lagardere's 34% stake in Canal Plus satellite platformCanalSat and a cash payment of $626m (Euros 525m) in cash.

  • Wild Bunch picks up French rights to James Gray feature

    17-Feb-2006

    In a sevenfigure deal, Wild Bunch distribution arm Pan Europeennehas acquired all French rights to James Gray's upcoming We Own The Night.

  • John Kochman to head Unifrance in USA

    14-Feb-2006

    French film export body Unifrancehas named John Kochman as Director of Unifrance USAin New York. Kochmanwill be joined by a new deputy director, Aurelie Godet.

  • Chic and Why Not team for Audiard's crime saga

    11-Feb-2006

    Marco Cherqui's Paris-basedproduction house Chic Films is teaming up with Why Not Productions on the nextproject from director Jacques Audiard, whose The Beat That MyHeart Skipped was the hit of Berlinlast year.

  • Memento Films announces sales on Tavernier's Aurore

    10-Feb-2006

    Parisian production, sales and distribution house MementoFilms has announced sales of Nils Tavernier's Aurore to Japan's Gaga and Agora in Switzerland.

  • Hugh Grant to receive honorary Cesar on Feb 25

    10-Feb-2006

    British actor Hugh Grant is set to receive an honorary Cesar from theAcademie des Arts et Techniques du Cinema. The Cesars, France's equivalent tothe Oscar, will be handed out at the upcoming ceremony on February 25.French actress Carole Bouquet, who will preside over the ceremony, willpresent Grant ...

  • National Geographic and Paramount Classics pick up sales to The White Planet

    8-Feb-2006

    In what could be the nexttrue indicator in confirming Bac FilmsInternational's The White Planet (La Planete Blanche) as this year's documentary to watchthe French company has announced its North American sale to National Geographicand Paramount Classics.

  • TF1 International heads for EFM at Berlin

    7-Feb-2006

    TF1International is heading into the Berlin market with a slate of new films thatincludes the latest from Ma Vie En Rose director Alain Berliner, GoneFor A Dance and Philippe Calderon's wildlifeaction work The Besieged Fortress.

  • Bronzes takes gold at French box-office

    7-Feb-2006

    France has seen its all-time openingadmissions record fall to comedy Les Bronzes 3: AmisPour La Vie.

  • Films Distribution heads to Berlin with strong sales slate

    7-Feb-2006

    French sales house Films Distribution will debut promo reelsof some of its latest projects at the upcoming EFM in Berlin.

  • Luc Besson to attend Cinema and Literature Forum

    1-Feb-2006

    The fifth annual International Cinema and Literature Forumis set to welcome Luc Besson this year for a roundtable on adapting works for young adults. Besson iscurrently adapting his own children's book to the big screen in the big-budget Arthur And The Minimoys.

  • Wild Bunch finalises Berlin slate

    30-Jan-2006

    At the upcoming EFM in Berlin,French sales and finance outfit Wild Bunch will commence sales on the latestfilm from director Emir Kusturica about the life offootball legend Diego Maradona.

  • Wild Bunch finalises Berlin Slate

    30-Jan-2006

    At the upcoming EFM in Berlin,French sales and finance outfit Wild Bunch will commence sales on the latestfilm from director Emir Kusturica about the life of football legend DiegoMaradona.

  • French Critics' Syndicate selects the best films for 2005

    24-Jan-2006

    The French Critics' Syndicate has named Jacques Audiard's The BeatThat My Heart Skipped as best film of 2005. The lauded film, a remake ofJames Toback's 1978 Fingers, is currently up for a BAFTA award as best foreign film.

  • Foreign shoots brought $243m to France in 2005

    23-Jan-2006

    Foreignfilm production in France for 2005 brought in $243m (Euros 200m) last year, accordingto Film France. RonHoward's ...

  • Global growth cheers French cinema at Rendez-Vous

    22-Jan-2006

    Audiences for French films around the world grew 49% year-on-year in 2005, led by March Of The Penguins in the US, according to figures revealed at the 8th annual French FilmRendez-Vous in Paris.Themarket, which closed yesterday, heard that French films had been seen by 73.6 million ...

  • Da Vinci Code to open Cannes

    22-Jan-2006

    RonHoward's The Da Vinci Code has been selected to open the 59th Cannes Film Festivalthis May, where it will be presented out of competition. Organisersannounced the news on Saturday in Paris, where some of the film's crucialscenes were shot.StarringTom Hanks as a Harvard professor who ...

  • Gerardmer Film Festival confirms its line up

    16-Jan-2006

    The Gerardmer Fantastic FilmFestival has announced its line up for the 13th annual edition to be heldJanuary 25-29.

  • France produced a record 240 films in 2005

    13-Jan-2006

    France's CNC has announced a record 240 filmsproduced in 2005. All of the films received the cinema body's approval with 187films initiated by the French. The figures represent a jump from 203 films in2003 and 212 in 2004. Investments in cinema were also up by 22.6% to $1.54bn (1.28bnEuros).

  • LDM Productions to commence shooting project 8

    11-Jan-2006

    Paris-based production house LDMProductions has announced the commencement of shooting on a new projectentitled 8.A series of short films by renowneddirectors, the project will highlight the fight against poverty and otherhumanitarian issues facing the world today.On a total budget of $4.2m (3.5m Euros)directors such ...

  • Wild Bunch signs financing, distribution deal with Fidelite

    11-Jan-2006

    French sales and financingoutfit Wild Bunch has added another feather to its cap in signing a financingand distribution deal with France's Fidelite Productions.Wild Bunch, which tookover Pan Europeenne Distribution in 2004 and which recently signed a $145mjoint-venture dedicated to acquiring and co-producing ...

  • French box-office admissions down by 10%

    10-Jan-2006

    French boxoffice admissions plummeted 10% in 2005 as compared with the previous year. Atotal 176 million tickets were sold in 2005 down from 196 million in 2004.

  • VOD release dates agreed by French film, TV and Internet providers

    21-Dec-2005

    Evokinga move towards "the responsible spreading of film," French culture minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres announced Tuesday the signing of a new accordbetween French film and television groups and Internet providers.

  • French pay-TV operators agree merger plans

    18-Dec-2005

    France's biggest pay-TV operations, Canal Plus Group and TPS have announced merger plans. The deal will create a new group, in which Canal owner Vivendi Universal will take an 85% share. TPS owners TF1 and M6 will take 9.9% and 5.1% respectively.

  • Garrel's Amants charm Prix Louis Delluc jury

    16-Dec-2005

    The Prix Louis Delluc for 2005 has been awarded to Philippe Garrel's Les Amants Reguliers.

  • Gerardmer elects Hideo Nakata as President

    15-Dec-2005

    TheGerardmer Fantastic Film Festival (January 25-29 2006) has named director Hideo Nakata as president of the main jury for its13th edition. TheJapanese thrill master has previously been to Gerardmerwith Ring in 2000 and Dark Water in 2003 which took both thecritics and grand prizes that year.Frenchwriter, ...

  • TPS and Canal Plus back at the negotiating table

    15-Dec-2005

    FollowingSunday's announcement of merger negotiations between rival satellite platformsTPS and Canal Plus, France's writers, directors, producersassociation (ARP) has called for careful reflection by the government beforeallowing such a marriage.

  • Six directors are selected for the Cannes Film Festival bi-annual Residence program

    13-Dec-2005

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced thelatest group to make up its bi-annual Residence program. Director Bruno Dumontwas charged with heading up the jury to select the six directors who will takepart in the 12th Residence session beginning February 28, 2006.Over four months, filmmakers working on theirfirst or second feature will spend time ...

  • Prix Louis Delluc Finalists Announced

    2-Dec-2005

    Out of an original field ofsix, five finalists for France's Prix Louis Delluc have been chosen. Philippe Garel'sVenice selection Les Amants Reguliers, Cannes winner Cache by Michael ...

  • France increases threshold on Soficas finance schemes

    23-Nov-2005

    France's Soficasinvestment schemes will see their limit increase by $11.7m (Euros 10m) to $66m(Euros 56m) next year.

  • Post-Soviet comedy takes Etoile D'Or at Marrakech

    20-Nov-2005

    Aco-production from Kyrgyzstan and Germany has taken the top prize at the fifthannual Marrakech International Film Festival.ErnestAbdyshaparov's Saratan wasawarded the Etoile d'Or on Saturday night.

  • Bac is back with hugely improved results

    14-Nov-2005

    Revitalised French distributor Bac Films has reported third-quarterrevenues of $4.6m (Euros 3.9m), up sharply from $1.2m (Euros 1m) for the sameperiod last year.Overall, the company has seen revenue rise to $17m (Euros 14.5m) since thestart of the year, spurred in theatres by the release of Jim Jarmusch's Cannes favourite Broken Flowerswhich brought in roughly one million admissions.

  • Gaumont donates box-office takings to riot victims

    13-Nov-2005

    French studio Gaumont is todonate two days' of box-office takings from new release Il Etait Une FoisDans L'Oued to victims of the riots that have broken out across France inrecent weeks.Directed by Homeboys On TheBeach's Djamel Bensalah, the comedy has attracted nearly 700,000admissions since its release in late October. "At the initiative of ...

  • French step up anti-piracy measures

    10-Nov-2005

    The French government has announced a new campaign meant toboost awareness of the "misdeeds of counterfeiting and digital piracy."It forms part of a stronger line on copyright theft whichwill culminate in legal changes to protect film later this year.

  • French step up anti-piracy measures

    10-Nov-2005

    The French government has announced a new campaign meant toboost awareness of the "misdeeds of counterfeiting and digital piracy."It forms part of a stronger line on copyright theft whichwill culminate in legal changes to protect film later this year.French ...

  • French step up anti-piracy measures

    10-Nov-2005

    The French government has announced a new campaign meant toboost awareness of the "misdeeds of counterfeiting and digital piracy."It forms part of a stronger line on copyright theft whichwill culminate in legal changes to protect film later this year.

  • French step up anti-piracy measures

    10-Nov-2005

    The French government has announced a new campaign meant toboost awareness of the "misdeeds of counterfeiting and digital piracy."It forms part of a stronger line on copyright theft whichwill culminate in legal changes to protect film later this year.

  • Six films shortlisted for the Prix Louis-Delluc

    10-Nov-2005

    Six films have been shortlisted for the Prix Louis-Delluc,one of France's top cinematic awards.

  • New incentives reconnect French production

    9-Nov-2005

    Film shoots in Paris recovered strongly in 2004 with promise of further success this year, according to the Ile de France FilmCommission.

  • Six films shortlisted for the Prix Louis-Delluc

    9-Nov-2005

  • Six films shortlisted for the Prix Louis-Delluc

    9-Nov-2005

  • Ryna is runaway winner at Geneva festival

    6-Nov-2005

    RuxandraZenide's Ryna triumphed at the 11thannual Cinema Tout Ecran in Geneva.TheSwiss/Romanian co-production picked up the best film and Fipresci prizes.

  • Pan-Europeenne buys Outlander, Labyrinth

    4-Nov-2005

    Off to a running start atthe AFM, France's Pan Europeenne has acquired French rights to Howard McCain's Outlander and Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth.

  • Rezo scores Europa, Avex sales for Russian Countdown

    4-Nov-2005

    Headinginto the AFM, French outfit Rezo Films has drummed up an impressive list ofsales on its Russian action picture Countdown. LucBesson's ...

  • Middle East companies unite to acquire, finance films

    2-Nov-2005

    Anew strategic alliance has been created in the Middle East between Dubai'sFront Row Entertainment, Lebanon's Shooting Stars and the Kuwait NationalCinema Company (KNCC).

  • Wild Bunch: From Penguins To Polar Bears

    2-Nov-2005

    Hot off announcing a $145mnjoint-venture devoted to co-producing and acquiring big budget films, France'sWild Bunch enters the AFM with a new $7m nature documentary that echoes its USmega-success The March Of The Penguins.

  • Bac picks up French rights to Shortbus from Fortissimo

    1-Nov-2005

    Bac Films has acquired JohnCameron Mitchell's Shortbus forFrench distribution. The deal was announced this week by Fortissimo Films.

  • Celluloid adds Burman, To films to AFM slate

    26-Oct-2005

    Celluloid Dreams is preparing an impressive roster of films for theupcoming AFM and has released details of two additions to its burgeoning slate.

  • Wild Bunch unveils $145m pan-Euro joint venture

    25-Oct-2005

    French sales and financingoutfit Wild Bunch has unveiled a new $145m joint-venture dedicated to acquiringand co-producing feature films. The joint-venture will also release the films througha new pan-European distribution network that Wild Bunch is setting up.

  • Durupty named as CNC deputy chief

    20-Oct-2005

    Anne Durupty has been named to the post of deputygeneralmanager of France's film body the CNC.

  • France's TFI renews film deal with BVITV

    19-Oct-2005

  • Pathe boards Coppola's Youth Without Youth

    13-Oct-2005

    France's Pathe has boardedFrancis Ford Coppola's Youth Without Youth as French co-producer and international sales agent. Pathe PicturesInternational will start selling the American Zoetrope film to buyers at AFM.

  • Cannes festival to overhaul final weekend schedule

    12-Oct-2005

    The Cannes Film Festival (May 17-28) has said that its 2006 edition willsee a slight change in its second weekend programme.

  • Monte Carlo fest to launch Remake Film Market

    10-Oct-2005

    TheInternational Cinema and Literature Forum of Monte Carlo will launch theworld's first and only Remake Film Market during its fifth annual run in April.

  • France slows down runaway production trend

    4-Oct-2005

    According to a new study by France's National Film Commission, runawayproduction has been largely stemmed in France thanks to new initiatives put inplace by public bodies.The study notes that from 1998 to 2003, the number of shooting weeksspent outside France had practically doubled from 220 to 424. In 2004, however,that figure dropped back down to 288.

  • France's Xilam brings Lucky Luke to big screen

    29-Sep-2005

    LeadingFrench animation house Xilam has confirmed it will begin production on a Euros12m ($14.4m) big screen adaptation of hit TV cartoon series The New Adventures Of Lucky Luke.

  • French Oscar choice sparks Gallic rumblings

    23-Sep-2005

    The choice of Christian Carion's World War Idrama Merry Christmas as thecountry's submission to the foreign language category of the Oscars has sparkedintense debate in France.

  • Hot Venice doc Zapatero goes Wild

    13-Sep-2005

    French sales and financingoutfit Wild Bunch has taken world rights to Viva Zapatero!

  • Penguins march into US record books

    13-Sep-2005

    The MarchOf The Penguins has officially become the most successful Frenchfilm ever at the US box office with sales of $66.8m since its June release.

  • Crash lands the top prize at Deauville

    11-Sep-2005

    Paul Haggis took home thegrand prize Sunday night at the 31st Deauville Festival of American Film forhis directing debut, Crash.

  • Besson directed secret b/w feature over the summer

    22-Aug-2005

    Although details aresketchy, it would appear that French filmmaker Luc Besson has directed a filmin total secrecy this summer in Paris. Citing the upcoming issue of France'sPremiere magazine, Agence France Presse reports that Besson shot Angel A for seven weeks over the summer and will release thefilm in December.

  • Penguins march ahead at US box office

    16-Aug-2005

    Adding an extra $6.8 million thispast weekend, Luc Jacquet's documentary March Of The Penguins has becomethe second highest grossing French film in the history of the North Americanbox office. The film, whose run beganin June, has now taken in over $37m and is being handled in the US by boutiquedistributor Warner Independent Pictures.

  • Gaumont on the mend with healthy financial results

    28-Jul-2005

    French majorGaumont has announced its first half figures for 2005 with a healthy 25%increase in revenues compared to the same period last year.

  • Cannes festival names Residence directors

    13-Jul-2005

    The Cannes Film Festival has announced the names of the sixdirectors who will take part in the next Residence film-making workshop. The 11thsession of the Residence, a four-and-a-half month workshop during whichfilmmakers are given room and board while fine-tuning their first or secondprojects and the chance to meet with industry professionals and otherfilmmakers, will run from October 3 to February 12.

  • Bac Majestic reports OK first six months results

    12-Jul-2005

    Bac Majestic has announcedrevenues of Euros 8.9m for the first six months of 2005. Despite a drop inrevenues as compared with the same period in 2004, the figures are in line withthe company's objectives following last year's restructuring.

  • Six directors named for Cannes Residence

    12-Jul-2005

    The Cannes FilmFestival has announced the names of the six directors who will take part in thenext Residence.

  • Swimming documentary makes waves at Paris event

    11-Jul-2005

    Yaron Zilberman's documentary Watermarks was the publicchoice for the grand prize at the 11th edition of the RencontresInternationales de Cinema in Paris.

  • French admissions plunge 15% in first half of 2005

    11-Jul-2005

    French cinema admissions have dropped by 15% for the firstsix months of 2005 as compared to the same period in 2004.

  • Left wing groups in France slam Cruise, the

    11-Jul-2005

    Hemay have proposed to his girlfriend atop the city's most glorious monument andbeen welcomed last year by one of the capital's most influential politicians,but Tom Cruise will not be made an honorary citizen of Paris any time soon.

  • Garcia wins prestigious French prize for directing

    7-Jul-2005

    Actress and filmmaker Nicole Garcia has been awarded the Francois-VictorNoury prize for her work as a director.

  • Da Vinci Code kicks off in Paris

    30-Jun-2005

    Shooting hasbegun in Paris on Ron Howard'sadaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling novel The DaVinci Code.

  • Griffin Dunne signs on for Auster feature

    30-Jun-2005

    Griffin Dunne has joined the cast of Paul Auster's upcoming directorial effort The Inner Life Of Martin Frost while renownedcomposer Philip Glass has also signed on to score.

  • Paradiso renews output deal with Wild Bunch

    29-Jun-2005

    Netherlands-based distributor Paradiso Filmed Entertainment has announcedthe renewal of its output deal with French sales and finance outfit Wild Bunch.

  • Paris opens $17m fund to documentaries

    29-Jun-2005

    The Ile de France Commission,which encompasses Paris and its environs, has made its Euros 14m ($17m) purse available to documentary makers for the first time.

  • Corneau set to head up Deauville jury

    28-Jun-2005

    French directorAlain Corneau will preside over the jury for the main competition at theDeauville Festival of American Film, running from September 2-11.

  • Russian Dolls overpower Batman's beginning in France

    27-Jun-2005

    Batman Begins may have punched its way to impressive first-weekfigures Europe-wide, but in France it was beaten to the top spot by amulti-lingual sequel about soul-searching twentysomethings.

  • Moreau plans programme for budding filmmakers

    23-Jun-2005

    Frenchacting legend Jeanne Moreau has outlined plans for the Ateliers d'Angers, aresidency programme for budding filmmakers.

  • Cayla to head up French film body

    22-Jun-2005

    Cannes FilmFestival administrative director Veronique Cayla has been named to head Frenchfilm body the CNC it was announced today.

  • Recall signs sountrack deal with EuropaCorp

    22-Jun-2005

  • Gaspar Noe re-enters the Void

    24-May-2005

    Gaspar Noe's Les Cinemas DeLa Zone has joined forces with Wild Bunch and Fidelite to co-produce his latestfilm Enter The Void.The $13.5m English languagefilm about a drug-dealing brother and his sister is expected to shoot in Japanin September.Equity co-producers includeJapan's Comstock Org and Russia's Central Partnership.Cinetic will handle USrights. The project was originally announced at last year's Cannes with Pathe.

newsletter+promo

Job of the week

National Film And Television School

Curriculum Co-ordinator for Post Production

Competitive

Jobs

Studio Tech Admin Manager

Up to £40k + bonus

TV & Animation Consultant

Contract: £30,000 pa / 3 days per week

Senior Film Executives – Talent Development

£40,000 to £50,000 dependent on experience

Start your new career today

Search

Editorial Image

The Web Today

Film industry news from around the world