Founded in 2008, m-appeal is a dynamic world sales company well-
established on the international market. With a carefully curated selection of about 8 films per year, and a focus on original international art-house and genre cinema.
They take a particular interest in queer cinema. Working hand in hand with filmmakers, they aim to nurture new talent and advance distinguished artists. They are persistent and thorough, exploring all possibilities to leverage their films through their extensive network of customers around the globe, targeting first the theatrical/all rights market, followed by home entertainment and television channels.
m-appeal works on a highly transparent basis using a particualarly producer friendly shared income model, with the aim of building long-lasting and honest relationships with it’s directors and producers.
Cannes titles include Power Alley (Brazil, France, Uruguay), which screened in Critics Choice Week. The debut fllm, directed by Lillah Halla won a Fipresci Award.
“Combined with compelling performances, vibrant editing, engaging music and a thrilling narrative, this film is making the point that abortion rights are human rights” –Jury Statement
Let Me Go screened as part of the parallel section, Cannes ACID (Association du cinéma indépen-dant pour sa diffusion). It is the first feature film by Geneva-based Maxime Rappaz.
Additionally m-appeal closed deals for 2 films on their current gay slate, another strong aspect of their editorial line.
Power Alley (Original Title Levante)
Cannes Deals:
UK & IE
AX1 Entertainment – All rights DK
Øst for Paradis – All rights
synopsis: On the eve of a future-defining championship, promising volleyball player, 17 year old Sophia, is faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Seeking an illegal termination, she becomes the target of a fundamentalist group determined to stop her at any cost – but neither Sofia nor those who love her are willing to surrender to the blind fervor of the swarm.
Director Lillah Halla is a Brazilian filmmaker graduated from EICTV, Cuba. Power Alley is her debut feature film.
Let Me Go (Original Title Laissez-Moi)
Cannes Deals:
DE – Alamode – All rights
BR – Imovision – All rights
TW – Andrews Film – All rights
JP – Mimosa Film, Inc –
All rights
KR – Scene & Sound
(PoongKyung SoRi) – All rights
synopsis: Every Tuesday, a neighbor takes care of Claudine’s son while she goes to a mountain hotel to meet men passing through. When one of them decides to extend his stay for her, Claudine is confused and finds herself dreaming of another life.
Born in 1986 in Geneva, Maxime Rappaz worked in the fashion world before turning to cinema. In 2016, he obtained a master’s degree in cinema and screenwriting (HEAD/ ECAL) Let Me Go, starring Jeanne Balibar, will be released in 2023. Rappaz is currently writing his second feature film.
Liuben (Original Title ?????)
Cannes Deals:
TLA Entertainment – North America, UK & Ireland, and France (released by Optimale in France, part of the TLA group)
CINEMIEN – Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Israel, Italy and Sweden – all rights
synopsis: Victor, age 27, has a nice life in Madrid with his
partner, Jose. He returns to his childhood home in Bulgaria for his grandfather’s funeral, and decides to stay for the summer. While re-connecting with his father and the village way of life, he unexpectedly finds love in the form of Liuben, an 18-year-old Roma boy. Despite their differenc-es, and the conflicts around them, Victor and Liuben find refuge in each other.
Venci Kostov is a film director whose shorts are actively played on the Festival circuit. He directs TV series, documentaries, and also directed theatre.Venci holds a BA in Media Studies from Mala-ga University and has trained with Anne Bogart at the SITI Company of New York.
In Bed (Original Title Ke’elu En Machar)
Cannes Deals:
CINEMIEN – Germany, Austria, German-speaking Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy and Sweden – all rights
synopsis: Guy and his best friend Joy are enjoying the gay pride parade to the fullest, when their bliss is abruptly put to an end by a
deadly shooting. Fleeing the scene into the safety of Guy’s home, they take in a fellow pride parader, Dan, who seems in shock. With the shooter still on the run, they enter a night full of sex, drugs and paranoia.
In Bed had its International Premiere as part of the Rebels with a Cause Competition at Tallinn Black Night Film Festival.
www.m-appeal.com
sales: films@m-appeal.com acquisitions: kenza@m-appeal.com festivals: films@m-appeal.com materials: info@m-appeal.com office: berlinoffice@m-appeal.com
