Janus Films has acquired North American rights to Aki Kaurismaki’s Le Havre while Sundance Selects has taken the US on Nanni Moretti’s Habemus Papam.

Kaurismaki’s warm portrait of the eponymous French harbor town stars newcomer Blondin Miguel, Andre Wilms and Jean-Pierre Darroussin. It will open in the autumn.

“We are thrilled that Aki Kaurismaki has entrusted us with this jewel of a film,” Peter Becker, president of the Criterion Collection and a partner in Janus Films, said. “It is one of those rare movie experiences so filled with hope, love, compassion, and humour that it will leave audiences glowing.”

Le Havre is the second theatrical collaboration between Janus Films and sales company The Match Factory following Revanche. Films We Like will handle distribution for Canada.

Meanwhile Sundance Selects has taken Habemus Papam, in which Michel Piccoli plays the newly elected Pope whose advisors enlist the aid of an atheist psychoanalyst to coax him through his inaugural address to the faithful at St Peter’s Square. Moretti himself plays the counselor.

”Habemus Papam is masterfully directed by Nanni Moretti with equal measures of poignancy and comedy,” Sundance Selects/IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring said.

“The always fantastic Michel Piccoli gives one of his finest performances in this film. We couldn’t be happier to be working with not only Nanni Moretti but also to continue our relationship with Domenico Procacci and Janine Gold of Fandango Portobello after our release of Gomorrah, Quiet Chaos and the upcoming The Forgiveness Of Blood.”

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