English language

Horror/Thriller

Book Of Blood (US) Dir: John Harrison

Harrison adapts Clive Barker's Book Of Blood, about a paranormal investigator who discovers a highway along which souls are transported. UK effects house Artem is providing the scares and the film is shooting in Edinburgh.

Int'l sales: Essential Ent't, (1) 310 550 9100

Cry Of The Owl (US) Dir: Jamie Thraves

This Patricia Highsmith adaptation stars Paddy Considine as a troubled man who escapes the city and his ex-wife for life in a small town. But he strikes up an affair with disastrous consequences. Julia Stiles also stars.

Int'l sales: Myriad Pictures, (1) 310 200 5352

Drag Me To Hell (US) Dir: Sam Raimi

Hot on the heels of the multibillion dollar Spider-Man franchise, Raimi returns to his low-budget roots with this supernatural horror based on a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother Ivan about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse (see People, p12).

Int'l sales: Mandate International, (1) 65 638 28128

The Gift (working title) (US) Dir: Greg Marcks

A Dark Castle Entertainment action-thriller starring Ving Rhames, Ed Burns, Martin Sheen and Shane West, who plays a man on the run from government agents after he receives a mysterious mobile phone. Currently in production.

Int'l sales: Hyde Park International, (1) 818 516 474

Knowing (US) Dir: Alex Proyas

Nicolas Cage is set to star in Proyas' thriller about a man who opens a time capsule and becomes convinced it portends a global disaster. Proyas' credits include I, Robot and the upcoming Silver Surfer. In pre-production.

Int'l sales: Summit Entertainment, (1) 310 309 8435

Not Forgotten (US) Dir: Dror Soref

A supernatural thriller starring Simon Baker and Paz Vega, about a man in a US border town who enlists the help of a Mexican witch to find his kidnapped daughter.

Int'l sales: Myriad Pictures, (1) 310 200 5352

A Perfect Getaway (US) Dir: David Twohy

Twohy will direct this Relativity Media production from his original screenplay about a honeymooning couple in Hawaii who fall foul of a pair of vicious killers. Timothy Olyphant (Hitman) stars. MGM is handling the US release.

Int'l sales: QED International, (1) 310 273 3004

Documentary

Shot In Bombay (UK) Dir: Liz Mermin

Mermin follows her documentaries The Beauty Academy Of Kabul and Office Tigers with this feature doc which goes behind the scenes of Bollywood film Shootout At Lokhandwala and follows the trial of screen legend Sanjay Dutt. UK-based Little Bird produced, with backing from BBC Storyville and The Sundance Channel. UK rights are already taken.

Int'l sales: Moviehouse Entertainment, (44) 20 7 380 3999

Horror/Thriller

Shelter (US) Dirs: Mans Marlind, Bjorn Stein

A supernatural thriller starring Julianne Moore as a sceptical psychiatrist who encounters a possessed patient.

Int'l sales: IM Global, (1) 310 777 3591

Comedy/romance

Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger (Aus)

Dir: Cathy Randall

An impressive performance by newcomer Danielle Catanzariti as Esther underpins writer/director Cathy Randall's drama about an awkward and amusing Jewish teenager who does not fit the mould. The supporting cast includes Oscar nominees Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) and Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine). BVI plans a March release in Australia.

Int'l sales: Lightning Entertainment, (1) 310 255 7999

Not Our Class Dear (US)

Dir: Colleen McGuinness

Superbad's Michael Cera takes on his first lead as the rebellious scion of a powerful Manhattan clan who discovers his inner stand-up comedian. Sigourney Weaver also stars.

Int'l sales: IM Global, (1) 310 777 3591

Zack And Miri Make A Porno (US)

Dir: Kevin Smith

Smith's romantic comedy went into production in Pittsburgh last month and stars Knocked Up lead Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as old friends who make a porn film to pay off their debts.

Int'l sales: The Weinstein Company, (1) 646 862 3477

Drama

Goal 3 (US)

Dir: Andrew Morahan

Milkshake Films' final episode in the football trilogy sees the protagonist fulfil his dream of playing at the World Cup. Kuno Becker stars alongside Anna Friel and Alessandro Nivola. In post-production.

Int'l sales: Peace Arch Entertainment, (1) 310 450 1711

Spread (US)

Dir: David Mackenzie

Shooting in Los Angeles later this month, Mackenzie, whose credits include Hallam Foe, directs Ashton Kutcher as a freeloading womaniser who falls for another freeloader.

Int'l sales: Voltage Pictures, (1) 323 464 8351

What We Do Is Secret (US)

Dir: Rodger Grossman

ER star Shane West heads the cast of this $3m biopic about the frontman of US punk band The Germs who died from a heroin overdose. West went on to tour with the real band last year.

Int'l sales: Vision Films, (1) 818 784 1702

The Other Man (UK)

Dir: Richard Eyre

Notes On A Scandal and Iris director Eyre is set to start principal photography February 14 on this drama starring Liam Neeson as a man who discovers his wife (Laura Linney) has been in contact with a mysterious man. Antonio Banderas co-stars. Eyre is producing for his Rainmark Films, alongside New York-based Gotham Films. He also wrote the script with his Iris co-writer Charles Wood, adapted from a story by Bernhard Schlink (author of The Reader).

Int'l sales: Ealing Studios International, (44) 20 8567 6655

foreign language

Drama

Best Wishes For Tomorrow (Jap)

Dir: Takashi Koizumi

Akira Kurosawa protege Koizumi (When The Rain Lifts) directs veteran actor Makoto Fujita as a war criminal who puts war itself on trial. Filmed in English and Japanese.

Int'l sales: Asmik Ace, (81) 3 5413 4353

Coco Before Chanel (Fr)

Dir: Anne Fontaine

This much-anticipated biopic is set to star Audrey Tautou, and caused a stir when it was announced to buyers at January's Unifrance Rendez-Vous. The film is produced by Philippe Carcassonne along with Haut et Court, and the script is being supervised by Atonement writer Christopher Hampton.

Int'l sales: Films Distribution, (33) 1 53 10 33 99

DO I KNOW YOU' (Sp)

Dir: Antonio Mercero

Manuel Alexandre and Cristina Brondo star in this drama about the relationship between an Alzheimer's Disease sufferer and his granddaughter.

Int'l sales: Filmax International, (34) 933 36 85 55

Falsa Loura (Braz)

Dir: Carlos Reichenbach

Young female textile workers try to live with dignity in the chauvinistic and violent suburbs of Sao Paulo. The cast of this Dezenove Filmes production is led by promising young actress Rosane Holland.

Contact: Katia Machado, kmachado@veredafilmes.com.br

Himalayas; Where the Wind Rests (working title) (S Kor)

Dir: Jeon Soo-il

Now in production, Jeon's latest project after his Venice award-winner With A Girl Of Black Soil stars Choi Min-sik, whose credits include Oldboy, as a Korean man who travels to Nepal to deliver the ashes of a migrant worker to his family.

Int'l sales: Showeast, (82) 2 3446 9590

Leo (Swe)

Dir: Josef Fares

Fares has moved from out-and-out comedies such as Jalla! Jalla! and Kops to dark dramas. His latest film, Leo, is about a man and his girlfriend whose lives are transformed by a violent episode on his 30th birthday. The film opened in Sweden where it has made $345,000.

Int'l sales: Trust Film Sales, (45) 36868788

Nimeun Muhn Gotsae (original title) (S Kor)

Dir: Lee Joon-ik

From the director of sleeper hit King And The Clown, this Vietnam war drama sees a young Korean woman search for her husband by joining a touring band. Stars Su-Ae (Once In A Summer) and Jung Jin-young (King And The Clown). Shooting in Thailand, the $7.5m film is set for summer delivery. Produced by Tiger Pictures and Achim Pictures.

Int'l sales: Showbox Mediaplex, (82) 2 3218 5636

Out Of Tune (Braz)

Dir: Walter Lima Jr

A group of friends form a band during the Brazilian Bossa Nova movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Rodrigo Santoro, whose credits include 300, leads the cast of this production, backed by Tambellini Filmes.

Contact: Vereda Filmes, kmachado@veredafilmes.com.br

The Sea Wall (Fr)

Dir: Rithy Panh

Isabelle Huppert stars in this adaptation of Marguerite Duras' novel about a woman who suffers depression when her children seek independence. Festival favourite Panh shot the film in south-east Asia.

Int'l sales: Films Distribution, (33) 1 53 10 33 99

Tokyo Sonata (Jap)

Dir: Kiyoshi Kurosawa

Kurosawa depicts the breakdown of communications in an average Japanese family in this drama starring Teruyuki Kagawa, Kyoko Koizumi and Koji Yakusho. Kurosawa'sBright Future competed for the Palme d'Or in 2003 and he is hoping to return to the Croisette with this film.

Int'l sales: Fortissimo Films, (31) 20 627 3215

Action

Dachimawa Lee (original title) (S Kor)

Dir: Ryoo Seung-wan

Ryoo's action comedy follows Korean resistance spy Dachimawa Lee to Switzerland where he recovers a golden Buddha. The $2.9m film stars Lim Won-hee and Kong Hyo-jin, and is produced by Filmmakers R&K.

Int'l sales: Showbox Mediaplex, (82) 2 3218 5636

Open City (S Kor)

Dir: Lee Sang-gi

Son Ye-jin (April Snow) leads a pickpocket ring with ties to the yakuza. Kim Myung-min (Wide Awake) co-stars. The film debuted at number two in the Korean box office in early January.

Int'l sales: CJ Entertainment, (82) 2 2017 1192

Wushu (Chi-HK)

Dir: Antony Szeto

Starring Sammo Hung, this $6m martial-arts drama follows children training at a Chinese wushu school. Dadi Century Film is financing and Jackie Chan is on board as executive producer.

Int'l sales: Golden Network Asia, (852) 2751 1886

Comedy

Chega De Saudade (Braz-Arg)

Dir: Lais Bodanzky

Bodanzky's film explores the lives of elderly people at a ballroom dancing club in Sao Paulo, and the cast includes iconic Brazilian actress Betty Faria. Bodanzky's previous film, Brainstorm (2001), won several awards including the Golden Sun in Biarritz. This co-production between Brazil (Gullane Filmes/Buriti Filmes) and Argentina (Miravista) will be distributed by Buena Vista in all Latin America countries.

Contact: Manuela Mandler, manuela@gullanefilmes.com.br

A Man Who Was Superman (S Kor)

Dir: Chung Yoon-chul

Chung's A Man Who Was Superman stars Gianna Jun - aka Jun Ji-hyun (My Sassy Girl) - as a television producer out to get a scoop, and Hwang Jung-min (Black House), a do-gooder she encounters who believes he is the superhero. Chung's poignant debut Marathon, about an autistic boy who takes up running, was South Korea's second biggest hit in 2005.

Int'l sales: CJ Entertainment, (82) 2 2017 1192

Messy Christmas (Ger)

Dir: Vanessa Jopp

Adapted from a Swedish box-office hit by Kjell Sundvall, Jopp's comedy about a family Christmas get-together with a difference is a departure from her previous dramas. Lead actor Heino Ferch - usually cast in tough guy or dramatic roles - shows his comic side opposite Martina Gedeck, whose credits include The Lives Of Others and Mostly Martha. The film took more than $2m at the German box office.

Int'l sales: Beta Cinema, (49) 89 67 34 69 80

Drama

Slumdog Millionaire (UK)

Dir: Danny Boyle

Boyle's latest film is due to wrap in early February after shooting mostly in Mumbai. The project boasts a UK dream team including the Trainspotting director, The Descent producer Christian Colson, writer Simon Beaufoy and Film4. The $15m project tells the story of a former slum child (Dev Patel) who appears on India's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' in an attempt to contact a long lost sweetheart.

Int'l sales: Pathe International, (44) 20 7462 4435

Drama

Buddenbrooks - The Decline Of A Family (Ger)

Dir: Heinrich Breloer

No expense has been spared for this period adaptation of Thomas Mann's novel about the downfall of a mercantile family over four generations. Armin Mueller-Stahl heads the stellar German cast. Warner Bros plans to release in Germany on December 25.

Int'l sales: Bavaria Film International, (49) 89 64 99 26 87.

Profiles by Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte, Elaine Guerini, Denis Seguin, Sen-lun Yu, Jacob Wendt Jensen, Martin Blaney, Chris Evans, Theodore Schwinke, Sheri Jennings, Jason Grey, Jean Noh, Chiara Arroyo, Silvia Wong, Stephen Cremin, Liz Shackleton, Wendy Mitchell, Jeremy Kay and Sandy George.