Koen Mortier's controversial Ex-Drummer, the Flemish film about an abrasive
rock band formed by disabled musicians, has been snapped up by Mongrel Media for Canada. The film is sold by Loic Magneron's Paris-based Wide Management.

Wide Management arrives in Santa Monica with a bulging slate headlined by
Volker Schlondörff's Gigola, starring Asia Argento. Gigola has been pre-sold in Russia (Maywin) and Benelux (Cooperative Du Nouveau Cinema).

Wide has also just acquired Orpailleur the first film of Guyanese director Marc Barrat based on the illegal exploitation of goldfields. It is produced by Mat Films and Richard Magnien with Canal + and France 3 Cinema.

New on Wide's slate is Ah! The Libido directed by Michèle Rosier (Embrasse Moi), the story of four women in Paris of different ages who decide to spend a night with a gigolo.

Meanwhile, Wide has also taken all worldwide rights to Firaaq, the debut feature Indian actress Nandita Das, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in Sept.

Alongside its new pick-ups, Wide has also closed multiple deals on projects already on its slate.

Action/horror/karate movie Unfailing has gone to Japan (New Select), Singapore (Musictronic), Brazil (Flashtar Filmes), Thailand (J-Bics) and Turkey (D Productions).

Pierre Laffargue's Black has sold to SPI (eastern Europe), Evocative Films (Canada) and Cinemax (Russia).

Christian Poveda's La Vida Loca has gone to Australia (Siren Visual), Bulgaria (Vadi Van Kris) and Romania (CloroFilms).

Souad El Bouhati's Francaise has been just sold to Ripley in Italy.

Un Autre Homme aka Another Man directed by Lionel Baier has gone to Epicentre Films (France), to Armand Lafond's Axia Films (Canada), Filmladen (Austria) and Eurocine Contraplano (Spain.)

Mare, Another Love Story, a Romeo and Juliet-style drama set in the
Brazilian favelas, has gone to SPI (eastern Europe.)

Wide has also recently sold Mika Kaurismaki's Three Wise Men to Epicentre in France.