By Liza Foreman
Amid the somewhat muted Red Carpet activity affected by the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, sales companies have been ratcheting in deals on smaller as well as bigger titles.
Most companies contacted by The Film Verdict were keeping mum on further news but apparently enjoying dealmaking in the sunshine.
“We have absolutely had a blast with Stolen and The Theory and are sure the same will go for Infested this Friday,” said Yohann Comte from sales shingle Charades.
Amongst key news:
Film Constellation closed numerous distribution agreements for Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus which portrays the last performance of the late Oscar-winning composer Sakamoto (The Last Emperor and Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence). The film has sold to Spain (Filmin), Germany and Austria (Rapid Eye), Scandinavia (NjutaFilms), South Korea (Media Castle), China (JL Vision Films), Hong Kong and Macau (Edko Films), Taiwan (Cai Chang) and Singapore (Anticipate Pictures). Bitters End is releasing the film in Japan in 2024. The film premiered out of competition.
Neon picked up rights to Ava DuVernay’s Origin. The racial drama stars Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Jon Bernthal. The company plans a nationwide roll-out later this year. The film marks the first competition entry on the Lido from an African-American woman. The title journeys on to a gala screening at TIFF on September 11.
Bertrand Bonello’s The Beast pre- sold, ahead of its festival premiere, to Italy (iWonder); Latin America (Soubert S.A./Impacto Cine), Middle East (Front Row Entertainment), Benelux (Imagine Film Distribution), Russia, CIS and Baltics (Solarpearl/Capella), Greece (Videorama/Weirdwave), Bulgaria (Cinelibri); and India (Superfine Films). Paris-based Ad Vitam will release the film in France.
Goran Stolevski’s Housekeeping for Beginners, playing in Horizons, sold to Focus Features in August. Focus will distribute in the U.S., with Universal Pictures handling international, excluding Eastern Europe.
Spider horror film Infested sold prior to the festival to Shudder. Sébastien Vanicek directed and co-wrote this French debut about a venomous spider that escapes and multiplies. Shudder will release Infested on its streaming service in 2024.
Gábor Reisz’s Explanation for Everything, (Horizons) sold to I Wonder Pictures for Italy and Filmtett for Romania. The film is Reisz’s third feature.
Meanwhile, Venice sales company picks ups include:
The Venice Days title Casablanca, by filmmaker Adriano Valerio, was acquired by Salaud Morisset for world sales.
Title follows an undocumented Moroccan living in Italy, who forms a relationship with a former drug-addict from an upper-class family.
France’s UFO Distribution acquired French rights to Venice Horizons entry An Endless Sunday, by first-time Italian director Alain Parroni. Fandango Sales brokered that deal.
Set on the outskirts of contemporary Rome, the film is a coming-of-age drama.
Charades took on international sales for the only Indian feature selected for the festival, Stolen. Playing in Horizons Extra, the film tells the story of two young men who help a poor mother reunite with her child.
First Hand Films acquired international sales rights to the Critics Week title, Life Is Not a Competition, But I Am Winning. The documentary looks into gender in athletics.
Deals aren’t always signed during a festival at the best of times, and the strikes are impacting on the number of deals happening.
Fewer films are coming to film festivals with distribution in place because studios reign in films, and fewer actors in attendance means films are harder to sell.
