Running alongside the Cannes Film Festival (and taking advantage of the influx of international media and buyers), the Marche du Film marketplace offers the rights to more than 4,000 films. Here are the deals announced during the festival:
Also see:
Most recent Cannes Announcements
Cannes Film Festival Official Selections
Marche du Film Project Announcements
"Goodbye First Love"– Sundance Selects has pre-bought rights to writer-director Mia Hansen Love's romantic drama, which follows a love affair that begins in adolescence. The company previously distributed the director's "Father of My Children."
"Romantics Anonymous"– Tribeca Films has acquired U.S. rights to writer-director Jean-Pierre Ameris' love story, which premiered at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival and has been a hit in France. The tale of two shy chocolate makers who come together, the film stars Isabelle Carré and Benoît Poelvoorde.
"Quartet" — The U.K. rights to Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut have been purchased by Momentum. The film is expected to begin shooting in the fall, with Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Maggie Smith playing members of a quartet who come together for a reunion concert.
"In the Land of Blood and Honey" — FilmDistrict has picked up the rights to the Bosnian-set war drama directed by Angelina Jolie. The company, a subsidiary of GK Films, plans a December release. More info.
"Looper" — FilmDistrict has also acquired rights to the time-travel science fiction film "Looper," with a cast that includes Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt. The film was written and directed by Rian Johnson, and will be released by FilmDistrict through Sony's Tri Star label. More info.
"The Hunters"— Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment have acquired rights to the thriller, which is directed by Chris Briant and written by Michael Lehmann. Steven Waddington and Dianna Agron star in the film, which is currently screening at the Marche du Film.
"The Weather Station"– Vertigo and 18-24 Productions have purchased English-language remake rights to Johnny O'Reilly's Russian-language thriller set at an Arctic meteorological station. Hannover House will give the original version a limited U.S. release in the fall.
"The Iron Lady"– The Weinstein Company has beat out several other bidders for U.S. rights to the Phyllida Law drama in which Meryl Streep plays British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant also star in the film, which is current in production.
"Something in the Air"– IFC has landed North American rights to the next film from "Carlos" director (and current Cannes juror) Olivier Assayas. The film is set in Paris in the 1970s, and is scheduled to begin shooting in June. IFC made the deal with the film's French sales agent, MK2.
"Amour"– Artificial Eye has picked up the British rights to the drama about two retired music teachers from "The White Ribbon" director Michael Haneke. The project is still in the script stage, but actors Isabelle Hupert, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva are attached.
"Foxfire"– Artificial Eye has acquired British rights to the first English language film from French director Laurent Cantet, who won the Palme d'Or for "The Class." The drama, currently in post-production, is based on Joyce Carol Oates' novel about a group of schoolgirls in upstate New York.
"Beneath the Darkness" — The Little Film Company has pre-sold the Latin American rights to the thriller starring Dennis Quaid to California Films. The film, currently in post-production, is directed by Martin Guigui and features Quaid as a small-town mortician with secrets that the local teens are trying to uncover.
"Playing the Field"– FilmDistrict, a new distributor headed by Bob Berney and Peter Schlessel, has acquired U.S. rights to the romantic comedy directed by Gabriele Muccino. The film stars Gerard Butler as a former soccer player reduced to coaching his son's team, and Jessica Biel as his ex-wife. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman, Judy Greer and Dennis Quaid also appear in the film, which FilmDistrict plans to release next spring.
"Pete Smalls Is Dead"– The Los Angeles and Vancouver-based W2 Media has acquired North American distribution rights to the comedy with Peter Dinklage, Tim Roth, Seymour Casssell, Rosie Perez and Steve Buscemi. The film was directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, and the release announcing the acquisition says that W2 "is eyeing" a theatrical release in October.
"Little Birds": Millenium Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the drama about two teenage girls, written and directed by gang-member turned-filmmaker Elgin James. More details.
"The Killer Elite" – Open Road Pictures has bought U.S. rights to the action film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Yvonne Strahovski and Robert De Niro. More details.
"The Wolf of Wall Street" – Red Granite Pictures has acquired rights to the drama, which Leonardo DiCaprio will produce and in which he is expected to star as out-of-control Wall Street entrepreneur Jordan Belfort. Appian Way and EMJAG Productions are also involved in the project, which has yet to name a director but which has a script from "Boardwalk Empire" producer Terence Winter.
"Here" – Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the road movie about the relationship between an American engineer (Ben Foster) and an Armenian photographer (Lubna Azabal). The film, directed by Braden King, screened at Sundance and won the CICAE Award at this year's Berlin Film Festival.
"Sacrifice" – Samuel Goldwyn Films has secured U.S. rights to the Chinese action film from director Chen Kaige about a baby who grows up plotting revenge against the warlord who wiped out his entire family. The film was a hit in China and also screened in Berlin.
