Ilann Girard of Paris-based Arsam International has boarded Pan Nalin’s Film Bazaar project, Beyond The Known World, as co-producer alongside New Zealand’s Reservoir Films.

Reservoir’s Matthew Horrocks and Kristian Eek are planning to structure the film as a New Zealand-India-France co-production. India has co-production treaties with both New Zealand and France, while France and New Zealand also have a treaty.

Girard previously produced Oscar-winning documentary March Of The Penguins (2005) and award-winning drama Lebanon, directed by Samuel Moaz. Horrocks and Eek are former executives at the New Zealand Film Commission.

“Nalin’s reputation as a visionary filmmaker along with a strong script has lead us to partner with a very experienced international producer. The interest in the project and the response to the script at Film Bazaar has been great,” Eek told Screen.

The film, about a New Zealand couple who travel to the Indian Himalayas in search of their missing daughter, is expected to start shooting in September 2013.