Tartan Films and ArclightFilms have teamed up with New York-based Killer Films to co-produce andco-finance the $12m Savage Grace,the first film from director Tom Kalin since his 1992 indie classic Swoon, which will star Julianne Moore.

The film is currently inpre-production, and is scheduled to start shooting in July in the UK beforemoving to Spain and France.

Christine Vachon and PamKoffler are producing for Killer. Arclight is handling international sales atAFM; domestic rights are being handled by John Sloss' Cinetic Media with GaryHamilton and Nicolas Chartier of Arclight. Cinetic brokered the Arclight deal.

The film tells the truestory of the Baekeland family, the wealthy inventors of Bakelite, and theirdescent into sexual obsession and murder.

Tartan is co-financing thefilm and has bought the UK rights; Tartan chief Hamish McAlpine and CaroleSiller are producing for Tartan with Vachon and Koffler. John Wells, whofinances Killer Films, will executive produce the film.

The film is scripted byHoward A Rodman, based on the book of the same name by Natalie Robins andSteven ML Aronson.

"We are thrilled to be backin business with Tom, and, of course making our third film with Julianne," saidVachon in a statement. Vachon produced Swoon as well as Moore-starrers Safe and Far From Heaven, both directed by Todd Haynes. "I genuinely believethat this film will finally win Julianne Moore her long deserved AcademyAward," said Hamilton in a statement.

Both Killer Films andJulianne Moore are represented by CAA.

Arclight said that they arein multiple negotiations for the film in several key territories.