This week's highlights on Screenbase

Stephan Schesch’s production company Schesch Filmkreation joins forces with France’s Le Pacte and Ireland’s Cartoon Saloon for animated feature Der Mondmann (Moon Man), based on Tomi Ungerer’s children’s book of the same name. Schesch wrote the script and will also direct and produce the film. Ulrich Noethen, Katharina Thalbach and Ulrich Tukur have been confirmed as the voice cast for the German market. The film will go into production in August with a provisional release date set for November 28, 2011 in celebration of Ungerer’s 80th birthday. Le Pacte handles worldwide sales and will release in France, while Falcom will distribute in Germany.

Tahar Rahim will star in Ismaël Ferroukhi’s latest film, Free Men, as a young North African worker who lives in Paris and joins the Resistance movement during the German occupation. Ferroukhi co-wrote the script with Alain-Michel Blanc. The drama is produced by Pyramide’s production arm with international sales and French distribution also handled by Pyramide. Free Men received funding from France’s CNC and Région Ile-de-France among others. Shooting is scheduled to start on July 19 and will continue until the end of September.

Julien Lacombe and Pascal Sid currently direct Laetitia Casta, Anne Benoit, Thierry Neuvic, Roger Dumas, Jacques Bonnaffé, Anne Loiret and Emma Ninucci in the fantasy thriller Behind the Walls, France’s first 3-D live action feature. Set in 1922, the film centres on a young novelist who retreats to the countryside to write a book, but is haunted by terrifying hallucinations and nightmares. Shooting started on June 1 and will last approximately 35 days. Sombrero Films produces the $4.2m production, which Bac Film will release in France next year. International sales are handled by Roissy Films.

For more of the latest production information about these films and many others visit Screenbase, our up-to-the minute, online production listings database with special focus on the European market.