French production anddistribution company Haut Et Court will produce the next film from OlivierAssayas, The Pursuit Of Happiness.The film will be shot in English on a $15m budget and written by DouglasKennedy.

Based on Kennedy's own book,the film is set in post-World War II New York with McCarthyism as abackdrop. It's too early to cast, but Haut Et Court chief Carole Scotta, thethree principal roles -- two men and a woman in their 30s -- will beheld by top-drawer American stars.

The Pursuit Of Happiness should shoot in late 2007. Scotta is looking to set itup a co-production with the UK and Canada and possibly the US.

Also on Haut Et Court'sslate is the next film from Laurent Cantet, a $3.8m (Euros 3m) projectbased on the best-seller by Francois Begaudeau, Entre Les Murs. Set in a school in Paris, the film will shoot nextsummer.

When he's finished with Moliere, Laurent Tirard will move on to Voyage EnAmoureux. The romantic comedy is aheterosexual coming out.

With a $12.8m (Euros 10m)budget, the film is said to be a reversal of the norm with such touches as themain character's mother being devastated by the news her son is not gay.

Lea Fazer will shoot NotreUnivers Impitoyable on a $7.6m (Euros6m)budget in early 2007. The comedy is about a couple of married lawyers who are vyingfor the same job.

Marc Fitoussi's first film LaVie d'Artiste stars SandrineKiberlain, Denis Podalydes and Emilie Dequenne. The$4.5m (Euros 3.5m) film willshoot in August.

Haut et Court will alsopresent its first animated film Piccolo, Saxo Et Compagnie in a world premiereat Annecy. The film is a $9.6m (Euros 7.5m) project and will be released byHaut et Court on December 20.

Finally, hot screenwriterAbdel Raouf Dafri is currently writing Les Tuniques Bleus, a gritty look at a murder in a housing project.