Nearing its first birthday, French sales company Elle Driver will head to its first Venice and Toronto Festivals with a handful of films across the various sections including some new titles.

In Venice, Elle boasts the previously announced The Sky Crawlers by Mamoru Oshii which Warners released in Japan on August 2 to much fanfare. The Sky Crawlers is screening in competition in Venice and in Visions in Toronto.

Also in Venice competition is new pick up Paper Soldier by Alexey German Jr. The film stars Merab Ninidze, Chulpan Khamatova and Anastasya Sheveleva in a story set against the backdrop of the preparation of the first manned space flight. The film follows a doctor working with the first group of Soviet cosmonauts who is caught in a personal and professional struggle that could cost him everything.

In official selection out of competition in Venice, Elle Driver is handling Claire Denis' 35 Shots Of Rum. The film will also have a special presentation in Toronto.

Voy A Explotar from Gerardo Naranjo will screen in Venice Horizons and in the Vanguard sidebar in Toronto. And, Jerzy Skolimowski's 4 Nights With Anna gets a Master Selection screening in Toronto. The film opened Directors' Fortnight in Cannes earlier this year.

Finally, Elle Driver has acquired X-Plicit Films, a series of short films from directors Caroline Loeb, Lola Doillon, Arielle Dombasle, Laetitia Masson, Helena Noguerra and Melanie Laurent. The project gave the directors each an opportunity to shoot a sex scene striving to pose legitimate questions about female sexuality. It has been selected at the Venice International Short Film Festival, Circuito Off.

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