France's TF1 is to extendits relationship with Italian producer Cattleya by handling the next twoprojects from the thrusting talent shop.

It will handle the next filmby The Best Of Youth director Marco Tullio Giordano and the next film byveteran actor-director Michele Placido. Already on TF1's bulging autumn AFMslate is Cattleya's Eyes Of Crystal, a Euros2.5m horror-thriller byLuigi Puglielli which screens on Friday.

Tullio Giordano's QuandoSei Nato is a drama about a 13 year-old boy who has a boating accident andis rescued by a group of illegal immigrants. Produced by Cattleya, Rai Cinema,Babe Films and Once You Were Born Films UK the film will be delivered forSpring 2005. It stars Matteo Gadola, Alessio Boni and Michela Cescon.

Placido is working on CrimeNovel (Romanzo Criminale), a film based on the true story of a Rome gangwhich strikes deals with both the Sicilian Mafia and the national government.The film is co-produced with Warner Bros, Aquarius and Babe and stars StefanoAccorsi, Anna Mouglalis, Claudio Santamaria, Pierfrancesco Favino, Kim RossiStuart and Jasmine Trinca.

TF1's senior vice presidentof international sales, Nicolas Eschbach said: "I am delighted to be workingwith one of the most ambitious Italian production company and I'm convincedthat the three movies have a strong internationally potential". Marco Chimenz,one of Cattleya's three co-chiefs, said "We are very happy to continue tocultivate the relationship we initiated with such a prestigious sales company."

The company was founded in 1999 by former Medusaproducers Chimenz, Riccardo Tozzi and Giovanni Stabilini.