EXCLUSIVE: Studio TF1 will launch EFM sales on Mounia Meddour’s biopic Malika based on the true story of French-Algerian soprano Malika Bellaribi, known as ‘the diva of the slums’.
Moroccan singer Lilya Adad plays the lead role in the 1980s-set drama. Elsa Zylberstein, Camille Razat and Luba Azabal co-star.
Bellaribi was raised in a poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Paris and spent years in rehab after a childhood accident. The film follows her as she is accepted into a prestigious musical academy where she is mentored by a vocal instructor who helps her break into the elitist opera world, battling class prejudice, financial hardship, and emotional wounds along the way.
Malika is produced by France’s Apaches Productions and co-produced by Solar Entertainment, Julien Seddiki, High Sea Production, Emmanuelle Oudea, and Meddour’s production outfit Jade Films.
Meddour’s debut Papicha opened in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2019 and won two prizes at the following Cesar awards including best first feature. Her next film was Houria in 2022 starring Lyna Khoudri.
Malika is now in post-production and Nour Films will release it in France later this year.
New comedies
Studio TF1 also heads to EFM with a star-powered comedy-driven slate, led by workplace comedy A Good Boss (Un Bon Patron) starring Didier Bourdon, Catherine Frot, Jean-François Cayrey and François Levantal.
The film is directed by Philippe de Chauveron, who is behind 2014 French box office hit Serial (Bad) Weddings and its two sequels. It is about a factory owner whose flawless reputation is threatened as he tries to win a ‘best small business of the year’ award. As an ex-employee stages a one-man strike outside the facility, production errors and his playboy son’s exploits threaten his chances of winning the prize. Romain Rojtman produces for UGC whose distribution arm will release the film in France on November 11.
Studio TF1 is also steering sales in Berlin for Ivan Calberac’s road trip comedy drama A Long Way Home (L’Adoption) that stars André Dussollier as a grumpy retiree who embarks on a trek across Colombia to bring home his son’s adopted daughter. When the girl is deported and his son is placed in custody, he meets a quirky Belgian searching for his own daughter, played by François Damiens, and the duo embark on a chaotic, comedic journey across Bogota and beyond. It is produced by Mandarin & Cie and Bamboo Films and is now in post-production. Apollo Films will release it in France later this year.
The Paris-based sales powerhouse will also launch ensemble comedies Family Quiz starring Kristin Scott Thomas and police comedy Gendarme Academy at the international market after teasing the titles at January’s Paris Rendez-vous.
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