Mobius Pictures, the sales operation of Elie Samaha'sformer partner, David Bergstein, has partnered with Trudie Styler'sUK-based production company Xingu Films for three pictures.

Mobius is bankrolling A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints, theadaptation of model-singer Dito Montiel's autobiography starring Robert DowneyJr. Montiel, who will direct from his own script, is to start shooting nextmonth in New York on the story of how he survives his rough childhood in Astoria.

Downey Jr willstar as the adult Montiellooking back on his life - while his friends wind up dead,on drugs or in prison, he comes to believe that he has been saved by saints.

Mobius has also provided 50%of the financing for Xingu's Alpha Male, on which it is handling worldwide sales. Thegenerational-conflict drama wrapped this month and marks the feature debut ofpromising writer-director Dan Wilde.

The third title inStyler's Mobius deal is Cheeky, the directing debut of actor David Thewlis which Xingu produced back in2003. Mobius has bought the story of a widower whose life changes afterappearing on a game show, and is to arrange a North American release for nextFebruary.

For full story and Stylerinterview see the weekly edition of Screen International.