Sundance Rights RoundUp - More Activity Internationally Than Domestically

At Sundance this year, more than usual activity immediately kicked in among the international buyers and the international sales agents bulking up in preparation for the Berlinale's EFM even as the US distributors were slow to show much energy in acquisitions.  First out of the gate for the Americans was Lionsgate's acquisition of Buried .  Next came extended discussions with CAA and Apparition and its ancillary distributor partner Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquistions for Splice for what is rumored $2.5 million while an independent source supplies $20 million P & A.  Next came Newmarket's $1 million acquisition of Hesher.  The Oprah Winfrey Network acquired Family Affair.  OWN's documentary film club is being done in partnership with doc film distributor Ro*co Films International.  OWN, a co-venture between Winfrey's Harpo Prods. and Discovery Communications slated for a January 2011 launch, is planning to create communities nationwide that can screen the films together and participate in a live, moderated panel discussion. Closing the festival, IFC took US rights to Wild Bunch's The Killer Inside Me, and North American rights to Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work. Phase 4 acquired North American rights to The Freebie in a mid six figure deal.  And somewhere along the way, Roadside Attractions picked up US rights to Winter's Bones.  Focus acquired The Kids are All Right.  And finally The Weinstein Company, back in the fray to such a degree that rumor has it they have been approached by 2 hedge funds about buying back their Miramax name, has acquired two films in Sundance, Blue Valentine and The Tillman Story for North America and all English language territories from A&E IndieFilms (via Submarine and CAA). Catfish went finally to Rogue for US.  First Independent acquired Holy Rollers for US February 21.

Other US buyers spotted in Anne Thompson's blog thusly:
"...despite reports of pulling back on production at Overture Films, execs Chris McGurk and Danny Rosett are trawling Sundance for good titles to buy. So are SPC, Apparition, Harvey Weinstein, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, Fox Searchlight, Magnolia and IFC. And also in town checking out movies that will inevitably not land big theatrical sales are so-called 'self-service' distribs Russell Schwartz’s Pandemic Marketing, Mark Urman’s Paladin" whose platform also helps connect producers with ancillary deals. Urman said he can even help a film transition from a service deal to a traditional rights sale to a bigger distributor as it starts attracting attention in the marketplace, Richard Abramowitz's Area23a  whose goal "is to acquire social issue and music films and the idea is to combine event and screening and you can target those subjects’ fans. We create this army who proselytize to an audience and it spreads the word.” per Abramowiz, Larry Greenberg's Phase 4, Andy Reimer's Inception Media Group and Susan Margolin and Steve Savage's New Video which has begun to acquire narrative features beginning with Gil Holland's Bass Ackwards. and Tom Ortenberg's One Way Out Media just contracted for by Hannover House to release Twelve.  Nolan Gallagher, founder and CEO of Gravitas Ventures, said his company now releases about 300 films a year on-demand at 40 cable TV operators, and the industry already is at a point where a producer can realize a profit via an on-demand deal. For a more complete list of US distributors, see my blog from Toronto.

The Rights RoundUp with its preponderence of international rather than US activity follows here:

Arte's film Fix Me was acquired by Other Angle for France.

CAA licensed Catfish to Relativity for US, Canada and UK. Rogue will release it through Universal in US.

Cat & Docs licensed The Last Train Home to Zeitgeist for U.S.

Cinetic licensed worldwide rights for Holy Rollers to Pyramide International.

Fortissimo acquired worldwide rights, excluding North America, to the Miramax documentary Jean-Micheal Basquiat: The Radiant Child.  Life During Wartime (not a Sundance title) went to IFC for US.  Head of now extinct Miramax, Daniel Battsek has moved on to head National Geographic replacing Adam Leipzig who is moving into production.

Gaumont licensed Twelve to Hannover House for a rumored $2m for North American rights. CAA and Gaumont negotiated the deal. Hannover has hired Tom Ortenberg’s One Way Out Media to oversee domestic distribution sometime in 2010.

Hanway has licensed Nowhere Boy to Alta for Spain.

Hyde Park 's Blue Valentine went to The Weinstein Co. for North America and pan-Asian TV rights for approximately $1m.  Deal was brokered by William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment.

Inferno Entertainment's The Kids Are All Right went to Focus Features for U.S., the U.K., Germany and South Africa.  Bart Walker and John Sloss of Cinetic Media negotiated the North American rights deal on behalf of the filmmakers and collaborated with Inferno Entertainment on the international aspects of the pact.  The deal is said to have been made for between $4,500,000.  It has also gone to Hopscotch in Australia and New Zealand, Swen in Latin America, and Seven Films in Greece.

Kimmel 's Hesher was picked up via WME by Newmarket for North America for what is rumored to be around $1,000,000. Per Screen Daily, Newmarket's high seven-figure p&a commitment will kick off  the theatrical release in select cities later this year, expanding into at least half of the top 75 markets within three weeks of release. Newmarket distributor came in aggressively for Hesher at the eleventh hour after several buyers had been talking to CAA and WME Global, among them Lionsgate.  Kimmel is also selling the Sundance film Sympathy for Delicious starring Orlando Bloom.

Kinology's Buried repped for North America by UTA's Independent Film Group, went to Lionsgate for North America for for what is rumored to be between $3M and $4M.

LevelK, Tine Klint's (former head of sales at Nordisk Film and TrustNordisk) new sales company has picked up Estonian director Veiko Öunpuu’s The Temptation Of St Tony (Püha Tonu Kiusamine). The film is the first Estonian feature to screen at Sundance and is also competing in this year’s VPRO Tiger Awards at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, which opens on January 27). It will has also been selected to close the Göteborg Film Festival (Jan 29-Feb 8). Öunpuu picked up the MEDIA European Talent Award in Cannes for the script.  LevelK has also taken rights to Öunpuu’s 2007 feature debut, Autumn Ball (Sügisball), which won the Horizons Award in Venice, and screened at many international festivals, among them Tallinn’s Black Nights, Thessaloniki, Marrakech, Valencia, Brussels and Bratislava.

Myriad Pictures acquired international rights to happythankyoumoreplease.

The Coproduction Office, with Cactus Three has licensed Women Without Men to IndiePix for North America.  Indiepix also has worldwide rights to All My Friends are Funeral Singers.

The Match Factory picked up worldwide rights to Howl Sundance's opening film in the narrative section.

Shoreline acquired worldwide rights to its second Latino film Contracorriente (Undertow) for a low six figure amount. Wolfe acquired North American rights to it.  Shoreline had acquired Zona Sur (Southern District) which is also showing in Sundance at Ventana Sur in November and last year acquired La Nana (The Maid) at Sundance.

Paramount Vantage acquired Davis Guggenheim's new documentary about the crisis in public education in the U.S. Waiting for Superman which was developed, financed and executive produced by Participant Media who backed Guggenheim's previous doc An Inconvenient Truth.

Submarine and CAA licensed Amir Bar-Lev’s documentary I’m Pat Tillman to The Weinstein Company for North America and all English language territories. Submarine licensed The Freebie to Phase 4 for North America, Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work to IFC for No. America.

Summit and Bill Pohlad's River Road have licensed The Runaways to E1 for Canada  It has also sold to Long Shong for Taiwan and Planis for South Korea.  Summit and River Road also licensed Terence Malick's The Tree of Life to E1.  Apparition has US rights to both films.

T & C Pictures International (David Jourdan's new international sales company) has acquired international rights from WME Global to Teenage Paparazzo.  WME Global still represents North American rights.

The Film Sales Company sold His & Hers to Madman in Australia and New Zealand. His roster also includes worldwide rights to The Imperialists Are Still Alive! as well as Night Catches Us.  The company also has English-speaking rights to The Man Next Door.

Visit acquired worlwide rights to The Taqwarcores before its Sundance premiere.

Voltage has licensed Tucker & Dale vs Evil to Wild Bunch for France and Germany and to Svensk for Scandinavia and Maple for Canada.  Negotiations are ongoing with Australia and Spain and there are offers from other territories as well as interest shown among North American buyers.

Wide Management picked up worldwide rights to All That I Love while it showed in Pusan.

Wild Bunch licensed U.S. rights to Gaspar Noe’s Sundance 2010 feature Enter the Void to IFC in the first pre-Sundance deal.  The Killer Inside Me also wentto IFC for US in the last Sundance deal before its closing night for $1,500,000.

Variety's Monday edition makes its set of predictions: (the titles stuck out have made deals since last Monday)
"Winter's Bone, one of the sleeper hits at this year's Sundance...At least four buyers are holding discussions with the film's reps, ..The Tillman Story is in play. ...Catfish is a favorite as well, with HBO said to be particularly interested...The Freebie had a promising premiere on Sunday...Splice... is also seeing interest from a number of domestic distributors...Blue Valentine...Distrib vet Mark Urman, as well as Oscilloscope's David Fenkel, were enthusiastic...with both expressing interest in distributing the film. Other buyers were more circumspect...Monday night's preem of Annette Bening-Julianne Moore drama The Kids Are All Right...heavily attended by buyers."

Screen International's list of films soon to sell includes Catfish, The Perfect Host, Winter’s Bone, The Company Men, Lovers Of Hate, The Pat Tillman Story, and 8: The Mormon Proposition, The Extra Man, Diego Luna’s Abel, and Kevin Asch’s Holy Rollers, and Cane Toads: The Conquest.

Toronto Rights RoundUp and Other Fall Festivals

The Toronto and Other Fall Festivals Rights RoundUp list looks quite sizeable for what is claimed to have been a quiet festival season. Though it's true business down, the large number of acquisitions has not been viewed as such and yet is the result of a new trend which has been sneaking up over the past few years and has now taken hold. Distributors and sales agents now acquire BEFORE the festivals rather than during. It developed out of Cannes' prescreenings which have mostly been discontinued, and it could go so far as to change the pre-Sundance adage NOT to show the film to anyone before Sundance.

This Rights RoundUp for acquisitions executives, distributors, international sales agents, investors and producers is different from my previous RR Reports. It is no longer a report based on data and FilmFinders is out of the equation. This listing of rights acquired BEFORE the actual festival, DURING the festival and for a couple of months AFTER can also be found on MDbPro who acquired FilmFinders in 2008 and where SydneysBuzz resides on the landing page and on IMDbPro's News Desk. Whenever possible, the list is alphabetical by international sales agent (linked to IMDbPro), and the ISA's titles are also linked to IMDbPro.

If you do not yet subscribe to IMDbPro, I would advise plunking down $100 for a year's subscription. You'll get more than your money's worth I promise. By going into Pro, you will be able to see all the territorial distributors for a particular title, and if you care to, you can see their entire lineups. You can do the same with the sales agents and the producers attached to the titles in IMDbPro.

Here is a link to IndieWire's list of 147 Films For Sale at Toronto. It is interesting and fun to see which of these get picked up, by whom, for where and when. -- Sydney

The recent post Toronto pickups are included below (Creation, Get Low, I Am Love, Lebanon, The Art of the Steal) Here are the Toronto , Venice and San Sebastian pick-ups:

Alain Vannier and Orly Films licensed Alain Resnais' Wild Grass (Les Herbes folles) to Sony Pictures Classics for U.S., Australian and New Zealand (Pre-Toronto pick-up).

Autlook licensed Nobody's Perfect to Lorber for North America. Ventura Film has German rights.

Bavaria International licensed The Anarchist's Wife to Alexander Film for Canada.

Beta Cinema licensed John Rabe to Strand for US 10 months after its premiere in Berlin. Other distributors include Majestic-Filmverleih for Germany, 01 Rai Cinema for Italy, DeA Planeta Home Entertainment and Antena 3 Televisión for Spain, Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) for Austrian TV, Cinemien and Homescreen for Benelux.

Bleiberg Entertainment's $3 million thriller Kirot directed by Danny Lerner and starring Bond girl Olga Kurylenko opening Toronto's City to City program, was sold to 14 territories before shooting began, in partnership with Israeli broadcaster Keshet Broadcasting and United King (the country's biggest distributor and French producer Edouard Douek (who controls all rights in France).

Celluloid Dreams (Pre-Toronto pick-ups) licensed Vincere to IFC for North America. Lebanon went to Metrodome Distribution for the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Metrodome partnered with Rialto Distribution for its release in Australia and New Zealand. Bim acquired Italian rights to Lebanon in Venice. Sony Pictures Classics picked up Lebanon for US after Toronto.

CJ Entertainment has licensed in a Pre-Toronto pick-up Bong Joon-Ho’s Cannes Un Certain Regard hit Mother as well as the director’s 2000 film Barking Dogs Never Bite to Magnolia for North America. Mother will screen in official selection at Toronto and the New York Film festival before Magnolia releases it in theatres in early 2010. The film is South Korea’s foreign language Oscar submission and stars Kim Hye-ja as a woman who dedicates her life to proving the innocence of her son whom she believes has been wrongly accused of murder. Magnolia’s senior vice-president Tom Quinn and head of business affairs Chris Matson brokered the deal with CJ Entertainment’s senior vice-president Kini S Kim and director of international sales Eric Kim. Magnolia and Bong previously collaborated on the 2007 release of The Host. Magnolia executives said they were “excited to be the American home for the film-maker, one of the most dynamic and exciting on the world stage today.” In November 2008 Mother went to Bitters End for Japan whose release was the biggest opening of the year, as it was in Korea. It s also Japan's submission for the Academy's Best Foreign Language Film Nomination for 2009.

ContentFilm licensed Fish Tank to IFC for North America (Pre-Toronto pick-up). ContentFilm International has acquired worldwide sales rights to Jason Lehel’s Gaia, which will have its world premiere in Toronto’s Visions section. CoProduction Office licensed Police, Adjective to IFC for No. America and A Town Called Panic to Zeitgeist Films for US(Pre-Toronto pick-ups). Lourdes, a critic and crowd pleasing Venice premiere has been picked up by Palisades Tartan for US, NFP Distribution in Germany, Alta Films in Spain, Gussi Films in Mexico and Greek distributor Nutopia . The film won the FIPRESCI international critics prize in Venice, two religious awards -- the Signis and the La Navicella -- and the Brian Award, given by the union of atheists and agnostics. It screens at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, and has now sold to 16 territories worldwide including Cinecittà (Italy), Filmmuseum Distributie (Netherlands), Lumière Productie (Belgium), MTU Otaku (Estonia), NetXenix(Switzerland), TFM Distribution (France). Shirin Neshat’s Venice Silver Lion winner Women Without Men, sold to 10 territories in Venice including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela (Gussi Films), Belgium (Lumiere), Brazil, Italy (BIM Distribuzione), Colombia, The Netherlands (Filmmuseum), Russia and Ukraine (Sota Cinema), Germany ( TV- ZDF/Arte ).

Glen Basner’s FilmNation sold out international territories on The Joneses that world premiered in Toronto. Rights have gone to Entertainment One in the UK, UGC Distribution in France, Wild Bunch in Germany, Svensk Filmindustri (SF) in Scandinavia, Luxor Entertainment in CIS, Sun Distribution in Latin America, Italia Films for the Middle East, Shani Films for Israel, Shark Specialist Group (SSG) for Taiwan, Multivision Multimedia India for Indonesia and Singapore, and Sahamongkol for Thailand and TVA in Canada. Further deals to conclude in the next few days are for Italy and Eastern Europe. There is strong interest from buyers in Spain, Australia and New Zealand. International Creative Management (ICM) is holding talks with several US buyers and has arranged screenings in Los Angeles. November 5, 2009 deal closedwit Roadside Attractions for US!

Fine Cut licensed Chaw to Optimum Releasing for the UK. It has already sold to Ascot Elite Home Entertainment for Austria, German speaking Switzerland and Germany, IOF Ent for India, J-Bics for Thailand, Visicom Surya for Singapore, to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Released in South Korea on July 15 by Lotte Entertainment, it grossed $9.3 million from 1.8 million admissions nationwide.

Fortissimo licensed Life During Wartime to Archibald Enterprise Film for Italy just a day before the film it won the Golden Osella for best screenplay at the Venice Film Festival. The film has previously sold to A-Film Distribution (Benelux), Lusomundo (Portugal), Tuck (former Yugoslavia), Monolith (Poland), Imagem Filmes (Brazil), HBO Latin America, Shani Films (Israel), D Productions (Turkey) and Budapest Film (Hungary). The film has its North American premiere Monday at the Toronto International Film Festival. Just before Toronto, Fortssimo acquired worldwide rights, excluding Japan, to live-action 3D thriller The Shock Labyrinth, international rights to Yonfan's Prince of Tears, Demme’s Neil Young Trunk Show, Road, Movie .

GK Films (Graham King) licensed Young Victoria to Apparition for North America (Pre-Toronto pick-up). Alliance will take Canada as a part of its new output deal with Apparition. Apparition also has an output relationship with Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) for all domestic ancillary rights. Other distributors include Audio Visual Enterprises (Greece), Metropolitan Filmexport (France), Nordisk Film (Norway), Paradiso Entertainment (Benelux), Shaw Organisation (Singapore), Aurum Producciones (Spain), Momentum Pictures (UK), Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (Scandinavia), Pinema (Turkey).

Hanway has licensed Creation to Newmarket Films for US, D Films for Canada. Canadian film distribution veterans Jim Sherry and Tony Cianciotta just launched their new boutique outfit, D Films. Sherry is president of the company and Cianciotta is the director of acquisitions. Triage has already been licensed to 01 Rai Cinema (Italy), Canal+ (France), Alta Films (Spain), FS Film Oy (Finland), Odeon (Greece), Odeon (Romania) (Pre-Toronto pick-ups).

IDG Media International of China's Ted Perkins licensed City of Life and Death to National Geographic for North America (Pre-Toronto pick-up).

IM Global has licensed A Single Man to The Weinstein Company for North America and Germany reportedly for an amount estimated between $1 million and $2 million. North American rights were repped by CAA and IM Global internationally. The pic will be released in the fall for an awards run. Focus and Miramax were bidding against Weinstein. Further deals are with Icon in the UK and Australia, Mars in France, Aurum Films in Spain, Scanbox Entertainment in Scandinavia, Alliance in Canada, Village Roadshow Greece S.A. in Greece, Multivision in Singapore, and Studio Solutions in Taiwan, Prisvídeo in Portugal, Nu Metro for South Africa, Forum Film for Israel, Gulf Film for the Middle East, and PVR Pictures for India. Further deals are expected to close deals with Japan, Italy and remaining territories after the second screening on Tuesday afternoon.

K5 International's Get Low went to SPC in a deal brokered by CAA.

Latido licensed The Secret of Her Eyes to Mexico (Gussi Films), Scandinavia (Sandrew Metronome), UK (Metrodome Distribution) , Australia (Rialto Entertainment)France (Pretty Pictures). As coproducers Distribution Company has Argentina rights and Alta Classics has Spain.

Les Films du Losange licensed Le Pere de mes enfants (The Father of My Children) to IFC for US (Pre-Toronto pick-up). In Venice New Wave Films, the company run by Robert Beeson and Pam Engel, picked up UK rights to 36 vues Du Pic Saint Loup (Around A Small Mountain). New Wave’s recent cinema releases have included Sleep Furiously, 35 Shots of Rum and Tricks. Beeson and Engel were among the very few British buyers in attendance at Venice last week.

Mandate Pictures licensed The Good Guy, the Tribeca premiering film to Roadside Attractions for US and will be released the theatrically in March 2010. Mandate will do international sales and Lionsgate will take North American rights to the Relativity Managment financed including P&A and produced feature Knockout, Steven Soderbergh's next film.

Media Asia Group has licensed Accident to ARP for France, Palisades Tartan for US, Dream Movies took Australian theatrical rights and Sky City Cinema took theatrical for New Zealand, and Rialto Entertainment for video and TV for both Australia and New Zealand. City of Life and Death (aka Nanking Nanking) went to Spain’s Karma Films and to Russia’s Carmen Films, and UK’s High Fliers Distribution during Cannes. Rialto also acquired Australia and New Zealand rights to Fire Of Conscience, while Dream Movies took Australia and New Zealand rights to Once A Gangster.

Menemsha Films will also handle worldwide representation and has picked up North American rights for Shameless from Czech producer Rudolf Biermann.

MK2 is selling To the Sea which will have its world premiere screening in Toronto's Visions sidebar on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Dogtooth went to Kino International for US. MK2 Diffusion has French rights.

Myriad Pictures and Cinetic Media have licensed Hampton's premiering film Uncertaintyto IFC for US. Maximum Film Distribution has Canadian rights. Myriad Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to SXSW film Women in Trouble.

Nu Image licensed Bad Lieutenant to First Look for North America (Pre-Toronto pick-up), to Latinameican Theatrical Group for Latin American TV, 01 Distribution (Italy), Distribution Company (Argentina), CatchPlay (Taiwan), IPA Asia Pacific (Thailand), Imagem Filmes (Brazil), Metropolitan Filmexport (France), Odeon (Greece), Prorom Media-Trade (Romania), VVS Films (Canada), Wide Pictures (Spain).

Odd Lot International has sold North American rights to B-Girl to Screen Media Films as well as to Anchor Bay Entertainment for the UK, Universum Film (UFA) for Germany, Icon Film Distribution for Australia, Coral Pictures for South Korea, Spentzos Films for Greece, and VC Multimedia for Portugal, Gulf Film for Middle East, Nu Metro Productions for South Africa, Mars Production for Turkey, Ad Matalon & Co. for Israel, Kino Swiat for Poland, AQS for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and Prorom Media Trade for Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and former Yugoslavia. Cinesky took airline rights.

Paramount Vantage has licensed Ondine to Latinamerican Theatrical Group for Latin America, holding North American rights for itself, RCV Film Distribution for Benelux, and Wide Pictures for Spain. Park licensed Dead Man Running to Revolver for UK and Ireland. It will be released in late October and was originally picked up for UK distribution by Pathé but following its decision to scale back its theatrical arm, Revolver has taken over the project.

Point Media Group has acquired worldwide rights to The Be All and End All, scheduled to premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival and was one of the buzz titles in the London UK Film Focus Breakthrough section.

Pyramide International sold New Wave Films UK rights to Hadewijch in Venice. North American rights were picked up by IFC Films ahead of its US debut at the New York Film Festival, and after its screening at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Blue Beard went to Strand for US ahead of its NY Film Festival premiere.

RAI International licensed I Am Love to Magnolia Pictures for North America and the 2007 tv movie Caravaggio to Alexander Film for Canada.

SND has taken world sales on Giuseppe Capotondi’s La Doppia Ora (Pre-Toronto pick-up).

StudioCanal licensed Chloe for Canada to E1 Entertainment in a pre-Toronto pick-up. Canada. E1 plans to release the film at Christmas. US went to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG). StudioCanal will distribute the film directly in France, and in the UK and Germany, through its wholly owned affiliates Optimum Releasing and Kinowelt Filmverleih. Additionally, StudioCanal secured distributors in other territories around the world both prior to, during and after the film’s Toronto premiere. These include E1 in Canada, Eagle Pictures in Italy, Pony Canyon in Japan, Nordisk in Scandinavia, Mars Entertainment in Korea, SPI International in Eastern Europe, Gussi Films in Mexico, PlayArte Filmes in Brazil, NuMetro Distribution in South Africa, Odeon in Greece, Gulf Film in The Middle East, and
Filmes Lusomundo in Portugal. A distribution deal in Spain is also imminent.

Summit licensed Tree of Life to Apparition for North America. It also went to 01 Distribuzione for Italy, Belga Films for Benelux, EuropaCorp for France, Icon Film Distribution for Australia, NZ and UK, Odeon for Greece, Tripictures for Spain and Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) Worldwide Acquisitions Group for USA video (Pre-Toronto pick-ups).

TF1 licensed The Micmacs to Sony Pictures Classics for US, Canada and Latin America (Pre-Toronto pick-up). They will also be offering Jud Süß (The Jew Suss) about the rise and fall of actor Ferdinand Marian who takes the chance and stars in the anti-Semitic movie "Jud Süß" and Father's Guests in Toronto.

The Film Sales Company acquired worldwide rights to Cole (Pre-Toronto pick-up).

Little Film Company licensed The Last Station to Sony Pictures Classics for North and South America. Other distributors include Optimum Releasing for UK and Warner Bros. for Germany.

The Match Factory licensed Soul Kitchen to BIM Distribuzione [it] for Italy in Venice. Rights also belong to Monopole-Pathé (Switzerland), Cinéart(Benelux), Pyramide Distribution (France).

The Works International acquired I Am Love, one of the most talked about films at the Venice Film Festival, from James Atherton’s Quickfire Films. International Creative Management (ICM)’s Jeff Berg negotiated North American pickup with Magnolia for North America after its premiere at Toronto. Other distributors included Mikado Film and Rai Cinema for Italy,
Ad Vitam Distribution for France, Alta Classics for Spain, Rialto Distribution for New Zealand and Australia, Metrodome Distribution for UK and Ireland.

Trust Nordisk sold the Eva Green - Ewan McGregor project The Last Word (working title) to South Korea (Entermode), Benelux (Wild Bunch Benelux) and Greece (Seven Films). UK rights to Mammoth went to Soda Pictures and a pan-Latin American pay-TV deal on the film with CDC. Soda has also taken UK rights to Storm. Family film Timetrip: The Curse of the Viking Witch has gone to MFA Filmdistribution for Germany and Videx International for Latin America. Max Manus: Man of War has sold to Showgate for Japan and CTV for France. Max Manus scriptwriter Thomas Nordseth-Tiller dies aged 28 13-May-2009. UGC International licensed La fille du RER (Girl on the Train), based on a true story, the film recounts a 2004 incident in which a troubled young woman falsely claimed to have been the victim of an anti-Semitic attack on an urban Parisian train (or RER) to Strand Releasing for US (Pre-Toronto pick-up).

Visit Films has acquired international sales rights to Shirley Adams and Dear Lemon Lima. Suzi Yoonessi’s Dear Lemon Lima will premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Visit will also screen Carcasses in Toronto and introduce buyers to the fashion world documentary Picture Me: A Model's Diary.

Voltage Pictures licensed Survival of the Dead to Optimum Releasing (UK), Paradiso Entertainment (Benelux), Splendid Film (Germany), Presidio (Japan), Gulf Film (Middle East), Imagem Filmes (Brazil) and M Pictures (Thailand). Negotiations for France and Italy are ongoing, while Spanish and Australian rights are still up for grabs. E1 Entertainment has rights for Canada, a co-producing country on the picture. Cinetic Media will handle US sales. Cinetic also handled the domestic deal for Diary Of The Dead, which was picked up by The Weinstein Company.

Wild Bunch licensed Spring Fever to Strand Releasing for US (Pre-Toronto pick-up). IFC Films has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Valhalla Rising, marking the first pick-up by a major U.S. specialty distributor during the Toronto Film Festival. IFC Films won distribution rights following a bidding war. They plan to release Valhalla Rising in 2010 via its IFC In Theaters program. It is also licensed to Le Pacte for France), Scanbox Entertainment for Scandinvia. Cooking With Stella went to The Film Sales Company for North American representation. Mongrel Media has Canada.

WME assigned US rights to Sony Pictures Classics for Mother and Child in November 2009. Other sales made in Toronto by Endeavor's Graham Taylor include Smile Entertainment for Scandinavia, Seven Films for Greece, Hopscotch Entertainment for Australia/ NZ, Haut et Court for France, Front Row Distributors for the Middle East, Cinéart for Benelux, Bir Film for Turkey.

Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre has been picked up for UK by E1 Films from Film and Music Entertainment (Pre-Toronto pick-up) and may acquire other territories. Film And Music Entertainment is seeking to close a world sales deal at Toronto as well. Paramount Pictures has picked up Spanish theatrical and DVD rights to Basque painter drama La maquina de pintar nubes (The Cloud-Painting Machine).

Collapse will go out in theaters and VoD simultaneously two months after debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival. Cinetic has brokered a deal with Vitagraph Films to launch the film in theaters next month, putting the doc on Cinetic’s new FilmBuff cable VOD channel at the same time.

Defendor has picked up by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group for US and most international rights. Cinetic Media repped the U.S. rights to the film.

The Art of the Steal was picked up for North America by Rainbow Media (which owns IFC Films) for its new theatrical and video-on-demand label Sundance Selects.

The Good Soldier was picked up by Artistic License before its premiere at the Hamptons Film Festival.

Toxic Baby was picked up by Women Make Movies for US.

Wonderful World was picked up for North America by Magnolia. CAA negotiated the deal for the producers.

One year after its launch at TIFF, Me And Orson Welles has found US distribution through Freestyle Releasing with a campaign by Russell Schwartz’ Pandemic Marketing and to open November 25. Hart-Lunsford Pictures of Louisville is funding the P&A costs and Warner Bros Home Video (WBHV) will handle the DVD release. Cinetic Media, who repped the film at TIFF 2008 brokered the deal with WBHV. An alliance assembled by UK finance and production company Cinemanx (NX), whose chairman is Steve Christian, set up the theatrical deal. NX recently formed a relationship with Vue Entertainment in the UK to produce and directly distribute titles including Me And Orson Welles.

Indie Film Distribution and International Sales Patterns In Flux

Speaking of P&A which is put up increasingly by the filmmaker in a DIY scenario, if the traditional distributors are offering neither advance, mg nor P&A (Prints and Advertising): A look at international representation for territories outside the US (or North America) shows international sales agents (aka ISAs) are also positioning themselves as no longer the source of advances or mgs and if they cannot foresee presales (which it seems, they cannot count on these days either), they are also floating balloons suggesting filmmakers pay the P&A costs...chew on that one for a while - international markets can contribute 50% to 90% of a film's revenues...Could this evolve into a new line item in film budgets for P&A allocations not only for US distribution but also for international representation? ISAs already recoup marketing costs first, so if the filmmakers pay their own, then at least they will (in principle) recoup in first position out of first sales.

Toronto Festival Challenges Indie Film to Evolve from The Wrap: "Cynthia Swartz, a longtime publicist and festival veteran, observed: 'People aren’t looking for big numbers in advances anymore. They’re looking for big numbers in prints and advertising. They’ve gotten past the question of big advances'."

According to The Wrap's Sharon Waxman, among the "market titles" in the festival (I consider every festival title a "market title" except those already spoken for) one of the most anticipated is IMGlobal's A Single Man, designer Tom Ford’s first filmmaking foray, a character study into the interior life of a gay man in LA, played by Colin Firth. Another, Dean Zanuck’s Get Low starring Duvall as a hermit who wants to stage his own funeral in which Bill Murray plays the funeral director, is being sold by K5 International a fairly new ISA who is also producing out of Munich and London whose first film was The Visitor and whose sales are being handled by FilmFour veteran and partner Bill Stephens and, btw, whose acquisitions are handled by industry favorite, veteran Kerry Boyle Rock. The two other partners and founders are Daniel Baur and Oliver Simon at K5 in Munich.

BBC and Jeremy Thomas's Creation, with Paul Bettany, is also for sale by Hanway and has already been picked up by A-Film Distribution for Benelux, D Films for Canada and Icon Film Distribution for UK and OZ. The Wrap also lists Contentfilm's Fishtank but IFC has taken that for US and many other distibutors are aleady attached (see link for companies), and Agora a Roman-era film by Alejadro Amenabar, being offered by Focus (why don't they take North America themselves? and distributed by 20th Century Fox and Canal+ in Spain (didn't they have first choice of other territories as well?)

The Wrap does not list the many films which thus far do not even have ISAs (International Sales Agents' representation) and which will be viewed by them as well as by worldwide distributors. See IndieWire's list of 147 Films For Sale .

Strictly For the Trade: European Film Promotion Holds New York Screenikng

Four films have been selected from four different European countries by the EFP strictly for the trade and by invitation only. The only reason I'm posting this is to see who is actually reading it...if you are, let me know. The screening schedule is as follows:

Monday, June 22nd

6:00pm: A TOWN CALLED PANIC directed by Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar (Belgium)
With Guest: International Sales Agent Fionnuala Jamison from the Coproduction Office

Sydney's comment: I saw this at the Cannes Film Festival and was astounded at how hilarious and completely absurd it was. No one left the screening room; we willingly suspended all disbelief in what was possible. It is an utterly enchanting Family Film par excellence. It's based on a popular European TV series. You won't even find this title in IMDb! But in Cannes Coproduction Office licensed it to Cineart for Benelux, Optimum for UK, Madman for Australia, JinJin for So.Korea, La Strada for Greece, Suraya for, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Media International for the Middle East and Frenetic for Switzerland...Talk about international appeal...

8:00 pm: WINTER IN WARTIME directed by Martin Koolhoven (The Netherlands)
With Guest: International Sales Agent Elisar Cabrera from Highpoint Films
Produced by San Fu's Fu Works, it already has Benelux distribution. In Cannes it was licensed to Kaleidoscope for U.K. and Ireland.

Tuesday, June 23rd

6:00 pm: WIDE OPEN SPACES directed by Tom Hall (Ireland)
With Guest: International Sales Agent Charlotte Mickie from E1 Entertainment
Premier screening 20 June 2009 at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

8:00 pm: OUR BELOVED MONTH OF AUGUST aka THIS DEAR MONTH OF AUGUST directed by Miguel Gomes (Portugal) With Guest: Luís Urbano from O Som e a Furia, Lisbon.
This was presold in Cannes by Abril Films and has distribution with O Som e A Furia for Portugal, Brazil and with Shellac for France.

Tracking Arab Industry Developments

To continue the tracking of developments in the Middle East's predominately Arab countries which I began in Cannes, once again, Dubai International Film Festival's Market is taking a lead position, now by posting sales made during its December event. Screen International's article says it all.

It is notable that in posting rights, Dubai takes a place among the markets such as Cannes, EFM and AFM. Posting rights creates a flurry of further deals by savvy buyers who are taking note of developments around them.

Making note of market developments the raison d'etre of Sydney's Buzz. By posting the deals which, in cooperation with IMDbPro.com and Cinando.com, are linked for access to future productions by producers or international sales agents, both distributors and ISAs can track competitors' sales and acquisitions. ISAs can track distributors' interests and everyone can track upcoming projects by favored producers, directors, writers and talent.

Development of market savvy is the creative part of buying and selling. And Dubai, once again, stands out among the Arab entities entering the festival world in taking the lead.

International Distribution Deals Done in Cannes 2009

To the readers: It helps if you have subscriptions to IMDbPro and Cinando as most of the links are to these two sites. Please let me know if you are not subscribers and I will try to vary the sources more broadly.

26 Films licensed "Keep It Together" to Splendid for German speaking territories.

Absurda - A David Lynch Company has licensed "My Son, My Son What Have Ye Done?" to Kinowelt for German speaking territories. Unified has U.S. and WS has Canada.

Alliance licensed its entire library to Talat Captaan for the Middle East including Iran. It will serve as the basis for Captaan's reentering the sales business.

American World Pictures licensed "Parasomnia" to Kmy Films for Cambodia.

Bavaria’s "Van Dieman’s Land" went to U.K. (High Fliers). "Bad Day To Go Fishing" went to Greece (PCV). "Everyone Else" aka "Alle Anderen" went to CIS (Russian Report). "Let The Right One In" went to Turkey(Bir), Hong Kong (Edko), Colombia (Cinecolombia). "Troubled Water" went to Taiwan (Khan).

Beta licensed "North Face" to Music Box Films for U.S.

Bleiberg licensed "Adam Resurrected" to Image for U.S. "Gene 2.0" went to Splendid for German speaking territories.

Celluloid Dreams licensed "Un Prophete" to Sony Pictures Classics for North America and Alta for Spain. Its other distributors include Cinemien for Netherlands, Bim for Italy, UGC for France.

Cinemavault has licensed “Trucker” to High Fliers for U.K., Falcon for Middle East, Village Roadshow for Greece, Lap TV for Latin America, HBO for Eastern Europe, DBS for Israel and ATP Insaat for Turkey. "Newsmakers" has gone to Showbox for the U.K., New Select for Japan, Beijing United for China, ECS for the Middle East, Horizon for Turkey, Cinema Without Frontiers and Kino Bez Granits for CIS.

CJ licensed "Thirst," to Lola Film for Spain, Paris Filmes for Brazil, Edko for Hong Kong, Avsar Film for Turkey and Discovery for the ex-Yugoslavia territories, MFA+ for Germany, Madman for Australia and New Zealand, Ecofilmes for Portugal. "Mother" went to Madman for Australia and New Zealand, Paris Films for Brazil. "Sophie’s Revenge" went to Nettai for Japan, Huayi Brothers for China. "Haeundai" went to VSG for Singapore and Malyasia, Optimum for U.K., Splendid for German speaking territories, Edko for Hong Kong. "Castaway on the Moon" went to Horizon for Turkey and Flash Forward for Taiwan. "Private Eye" went to Horizon for Turkey.

CMG licensed "Blood and Bone" to G2 for U.K. after fielding at least four other offers from UK buyers. It also went to Australia (Eagle Pictures), South Africa (Nu Metro), Eastern Europe (SPI), Brazil (California), Turkey (Horizon), India (PVR), and the Middle East (Front Row). "Khumba" went to Russia (Luxor), Portugal (VC Multimedia), the Middle East (Front Row), Turkey (Film Pop), Czech/Slovak Republics (Hollywood), and Poland (Vision). "American Violet" went to Australia (Eagle Pictures), Scandinavia (CCV), the Middle East (Front Row), Turkey (Horizon), and Poland (Vision). "Zambezia" went to Nu Metro in South Africa and Hollywood for the Czech/Slovak Republics. U.S. is with Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Coach 14's "Wild Grass" was coproduced and will be distributed in Italy by Bim. Imovision has Brazil and Studio Canal has France.

Contentfilm licensed "Fish Tank" to Cineart for Benelux, IFC for North America, Artificial Eye for U.K. and Alta for Spain, . MK2 has French rights.

Coproduction Office licensed "A Town Called Panic" to Cineart for Benelux, and to UK (Optimum), Australia (Madman), Korea (Jin Jin), Greece (La Strada), Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam (Suraya), Middle East (Media International),Switzerland (Frenetic)

E1 Entertainment licensed "Amreeka" to Cineart for Benelux.

Elle Driver licensed "Dead Snow" to Splendid for German speaking territories. IFC has No. America. Midget has Denmark and Euforia has Norway. "De l'autre cote du lit" went to Atlas for German speaking territories. "Hysteria" went to Bim for Italy.

Endeavor licensed "Picasso and Braque Go To The Movies" to Arthouse for U.S. who will also also distribute abroad through its output deals with Revolver Entertainment in the UK and Ireland, Mongrel Media in Canada, Madman Entertainment in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and digitally via Apple iTunes.

Enlightenment licensed "I Can't Think Straight" and "The World Unseen" to Optimale for French speaking territories, PRO-FUN media Filmverleih for Germany, Homescreen for Benelux. Regent has U.S.

Entertainment 7 licensed "Baby on Board" to Telepool for German speaking territories, Free Dolphin for France, WEG for India, IDG for China. New Horizon has Australia and New Zealand. Mares has Brazil, Film Depot has CIS, Leda has Latin America and Five Star has Israel. Entertainment 1 has U.S. and Canada.

Epic licensed "Pig Hunt" to Splendid for German speaking territories.

Europacorp licensed "D13 - Ultimatum" to Magnolia Pictures genre arm Magnet Releasing for U.S. "The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec" sold every territory except U.K. and U.S. "I Love You Phillip Morris" went to Consolidated Pictures Group for North America.

Films Distribution licensed “Happy Ever After” to Hopscotch for Australia and New Zealand, Telepool for Germany. Negotiations are underway for U.S."Eyes Wide Open” went to Haut et Court for France. “Yuki & Nina” and "It’s Not Me, I Swear!” went to JinJin for South Korea. “Tomorrow at Dawn” and "Private Lessons” went to Word of Mouth for Greece. "Cell 211” went to Senator for Germany, “L’Amour Fou” went to Frenetic for Switzerland. "Tomorrow At Dawn" went to Metropole for Canada, Russian Report for Central Europe. "YSL" went to ABC for Benelux, Hopscotch for Australia and New Zealand, Midas for Portugal. "Stella" went to Primer Plano for Argentina. "The Horde" went to California Filmes for Brazil, Hopscotch for Australia and New Zealand. "Salamandra' went to Jaguar for the Middle East. "Karl Lagerfeld" went to ABC for Benelux.

Finecut licensed "Like You Know It All" to CTV for French speaking territories. "Chaw" went to Ascot Elite for Switzerland and Germany, to Visicom Suraya for Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Vietnam. "Go Go 70s" went to Fine Films for Japan and to Thailand’s KR Contents Group.

Focus Features licensed "Sin Nombre" to Metrodome for U.K. "The Eagle Of The Ninth" sold out in all territories including BIM Distribuzione for Italy, Metropolitan Filmexport for France, Entertainment/ Universal and UPI for U.K., Nordisk for Scandinavia, RCV for Benelux, Ssamzie for So. Korea, Odeon for Greece, Shani for Israel, Castello Lopes for Portugal, Italia for the Middle East, PVR for India, Queen for Indonesia, Shaw for Singapore, Prorom for Bulgaria, Hungry and Romania, Hollywood Classics for Czech Republic and Slovaiak, Monlith for Poland, Concorde Telemuenchen for German speaking territories. Deal are about to close for South Afreica, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Turkey. Focus itself has North America and Universal Pictures has rights for Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Spain, "Greenberg" went to Bim for Italy.

Fortissimo has licensed "Prince of Tears" by Yonfan to Ocean Films for France and Intercontinental Film Distribution for Hong Kong. "Basquiat", "Magic Bus", and "Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, The Mistress And The Tangerine" to Pretty Pictures for France and Benelux and to Zeitgeist for U.S. "Air Doll" went to Golem for Spain, Ocean for France. Asmik Ace has Japanese rights.

HanWay Films has presold "Black Death" to 12 distributors including Revolver/ Sony for U.K., Odeon for Romania and Greece, Lusomundo for Portugal, Soyuz for CIS and the Baltics, Hollywood Classics for Czech Repulic and Slovakia, Polsat for Poland, First Productions for Ex-Yugoslavia, Front Row for Middle East, Queen Imperial Films for Indonesia, Avsar for Turkey, PA Pictures for Brazil and En Pantalla for Mexico. "Sunshine Cleaning" went to Anchor Bay for U.K.

High Point licensed "Winter in Wartime" to Kaleidoscope for U.K. and Ireland.

Hyde Park licensed "Unbound Captives" to UK (Entertainment),Spain (Aurum), Benelux (RCV), Scandinavia (Scanbox), Turkey (Aqua Pinema), Portugal (Lusomundo), Middle East (Phars).

Icon licensed “Oranges and Sunshine” to Diaphana for France, Odeon for Greece and Lusomundo for Portugal.

IM Global licensed Bitch Slap to Momentum in the U.K., Splendid in Germany, IPA Asia Pacific for Thailand, Tripictures for Spain, Euro TV for France, AMG for Japan.

Imagina licensed "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo" to Alta for Spain.

Independent sold out on "Moon" Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group, which had already taken the rights to all English speaking territories, took all Asian territories excluding South Korea as well as Italy, Spain, Latin America. Sony Pictures Classics has U.S. and further deals were for France (Swift Distribution), Scandinavia (Nonstop Entertainment), Benelux (A – Film Distribution), Middle East (Shooting Stars), CIS (CP Digital), Poland (Monolith Films), Greece (Seven Films), Turkey (Mars Production), South Korea (Daisy Entertainment) and German speaking Europe (Telepool).

InTandem licensed "Your Perfect Angel" to Splendid for German speaking territories, Lusomundo for Portugal and Falcon for the Middle East.

ITV Global Entertainment licensed "The Red Shoes" in its newly restored digital format to more than 20 international territories.

Jinga Films licensed "Salvage" to MIG for Germany, Italia for the Middle East and has also sold Japan. "The Disappeared" went to Moonlight for Benelux, Savoy for Germany. "Summer Scars" went to Wise for Spain, Sahamongkol for Thailand. "Love me Still" went to Italia for the Middle East. "Gnaw" sold to Japan. "The Disappeared" and "Summer Scars" U.K. distributor is ICA's New British Cinema.

Kimmel’s "Trust" went to Mexico (Gussi), Benelux (A Film), Greece (Village Roadshow), Portugal (Lusomundo), Turkey (Aqua Pimena), IPA Asia Pacific for Thailand. "Sympathy For Delicious" went to Italy (CDI), Thailand (IPA), Indonesia (PT Amero). "The Greatest" went to U.K. (High Fliers), Italy (Mediaset), Russia (Soyuz) and previously (Berlin) to Senator Distribution for U.S., E1 Entertainment for Canada, Pinema for Turkey. "An Invisible Sign Of My Own" went to Italy (Mediafilm),Hong Kong (Edko).

Kinology licensed "Gainsbourg" to Prokino for Germany. Focus has North America.

Latido licensed "Bejart: The Show Must Go On" to Cetera for Japan. "Paper Castles" has gone to Only Hearts for Japan who has also acquired "The One I Love". "Ander" went to Look Now for Switzerland. "The Chicken, The Fish and The King Crab" went to Media Factory for Japan. An eleven title package deal closed with TVR in Romania which includes "Seven Minutes" and "La Buena Vida". "Sex, Party & Lies" has sold to 20 territories inlcuding G2 for U.K. and Picture This for U.S. A four picture deal with Suraya for Malaysia includes "Seven Minutes", "Paper Castles", "Animal Crisis" and "Sex Party and Lies".

Le Pacte licensed "Ricky" to IFC for North America. Other rights holders are California Filmes for Brazil, Central Partnership for Russia, Cinéart for Benelux, Concorde Filmverleih for German speaking territories, Hollywood Classic Entertainment for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Le Pacte has France.

Les Films Du Losange licensed "The White Ribbon" to Sony Pictures Classics for North America, Golem for Spain and to Cineart for Benelux. XFilme has Germany, Filmladen has Austria, Lucky Red has Italy. "The Father of My Children" went to Teodora for Italy

Magnolia licensed "The Eclipse" to Jump Street for Australia and New Zealand. Mangolia will release in North America.

Mandarin licensed "Ip Man" to Splendid for German speaking territories.

Mandate licensed "Saw 6" and "Five Killers" to Kinowelt for German speaking territories for which Lions Gate has U.S. and A-Film has Benelux. "Men Who Stare At Goats" went to Kinowelt for German speaking territories, Overture for U.S. and was produced by BBC in U.K.

Media 8 licensed "The Horseman" to U.K.’s Kaleidoscope Entertainment.

Media Asia licensed "Warlords" to Magnolia's genre arm Magnet Releasing for North America, Minerva for Italy, Mario Pimentel for Spain. "City of Life and Death" aka "Nanking Nanking" went to Lark for Hong Kong, Applause for Taiwan, Golden Screen for Malaysia, Rose Media for Thailand, and High Fliers for U.K.

Meridiana licensed "Altiplano" to Imagine Films for Belgium, Farbfilm for Germany and Austria, Cineworx for Switzerland, Contact Cinematheque for The Netherlands.

MK2 licensed "El Nino Pez", "Zion and His Brother" and "Fish Child" to Regent Here! for North America.

Moving Pictures Film and Television has sold 30-50 catalog titles to Polyphony for Australia, Septieme Factory for France and Cinema Novo CRL for Portugal.

MPower licensed "Snowmen" to Italia for the Middle East and NuMetro for South Africa. "The Stoning of Soraya" went to Scanbox for Scandinavia, Nu Metro for South Africa and Independent Distributors for Israel. Front Row has it for the Middle East.

Myriad licensed "Serious Moonlight" to Bim for Italy, Swen for Latin America, Les Films De L'Elysee for Benelux, SPI for Eastern Europe, Eagle for the Middle East, Spentzos for Greece, ECM for Portugal and D Productions for Turkey.

New Films has licensed a seven title packed to Falcon for the Middle East including "Witch Hunt", "P.V.C.-1", "Mysterious Hearts", "Peter and Vandy", "Camp Hope", "Circle" and "Keepsake". A 10 title deal was set with BBI for Benelux which includes "Americano", "Broken" "Undermind", "El Rey", "Don't Fade Away" and "Dark Moon Rising". Strand also licensed "Peter and Vandy" for U.S.

NonStop licensed "Magic Silver" to Rich for So. Korea. "The Forest" went to Suraya for Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Middle East. "Leningrad" went to New View for China.

Nu Image licensed "Solitary Man" and "Ninja" to Splendid for German speaking territories. Thai rights to "Ninja are with IPA Asia Pacific. "The Expendables" went to California Filmes for Brazil, CatchPlay for Taiwan, Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) for Benelux, Eagle Film for the Middle East, Lionsgate for U.K. and U.S., Metropolitan Filmexport for France, Midget Entertainment for Denmark, Noble Entertainment for Sweden, Odeon for Greece and Pony Canyon for Japan and Blu Cinematografica for Italy. "The Mechanic" went to Blu Cinematografica for Italy.

Other Angle licensed "La premiere etoile" and "Les Beaux Gosses" to Kool for Germany. Mars has France. "Les

Parkland licensed "The Heavy" to EuroVideo for Germany, Kaliedoscope for U.K., New Select for Japan, Vendetta Films for Australia and New Zealand and Falcon Films for the Middle East.

Pathe International licensed "Bright Star" to Bob Berney's unnamed company for U.S. and Canada, Vertigo for Spain, Atlantic Film for Scandinavia, SSG for Taiwan, Babilla for Colombia, Phars for the Middle East, PT Camila for Indonesia, Golden Village for Singapore and Myndform for Iceland. The film is now virtually sold out. Presales for"Centurion" closed with MediaFilm (Italian), Cinemax (the CIS), Showbox (South Korea), Monolith (Polan), SSG (Taiwan), Hollywood Classics (the Czech Republic), Mediapro (Romania), Ster-Kinekor (South Africa), Babilla (Colombia), Cathy (Singapore), Tiglon (Turkey), PT Camila (Indonesia) and IPA (Thailand and Vietnam). Deals concluded before Cannes including Constantin for Germany, Aurum for Spain, Hopscotch for Australia/New Zealand and Scanbox for Scandinavia make the film virtually sold out. "Le Herisson" (The Hedgehog)went to Madman for Australia/New Zealand, Europa for Brazil, Cathay for Singapore and Tiglon for Turkey. "Loup" (Wolf) was picked up for Germany and Austria by Square One, IPA for Thailand and Vietnam, Mediavizyon for Turkey and Babilla for Colombia. "Miral" was sold to Europa for Brazil and WEG for India. "Oceans" sold to Atlantic Film for Scandinavia and PT Camila for Indonesia. "Cheri" went to WEG for India, Golden Village for Singapore, IPA for Thailand and Vietnam and Bir Film for Turkey. "Five Minutes Of Heaven" went to Savor for Spain and Bir Film for Turkey and a German deal is imminent. "Lol", currently the biggest film at the French box-office with over 3.5 million admissions, was sold to Madman for Australia/New Zealand, Cinema Nueva for Mexico, Golden Village for Singapore and Mediavizyon for Turkey.

PorchLight’s "Passchendaele" went to U.K. (High Fliers), Japan (AMG), Australia (21st Century), Holland (DFW), Scandinavia (Atlantic).

Prime Entertainment licensed "The Elephant on the Bike" to Kmy Films for Cambodia.

Protagonist Pictures licensed U.K. and Irish rights to "Nativity" to E1 Entertainment. "Unmade Beds" went to Kool for Germany.

Pyramide licensed "Fais Moi Plaisir" to Golem for Spain.

Quantum Releasing licensed "Last of the Living" to Kmy Films for Cambodia.

Roissy licensed "Io, Don Giovanni" to Korea (Line Tree), Taiwan (Zeus International/Khan Entertainment), Hong Kong (Edko Films) and Lucky Red who coproduced with Istituto Luce for Italy. "Sister Smile" went to Korea (Mars Entertainment), Taiwan (Joint), Hong Kong (Edko), Canada (Seville), Switzerland (Xenix), KFD for Belgium, Océan Films for France, RCV Film Distribution for the Netherlands. "The Beaches of Agnes" went to Korea (JinJin). "Seraphine" went to Hong Kong (Edko).

Sahamongkolfilm International licensed "Chocolate" to Magnolia Pictures genre arm Magnet Releasing for U.S. North American rights to the film had been with The Weinstein Company (TWC), but Sahamongkolfilm took the rights back whenTWC returned "Ong Bak 2".

Scanbox's Joni Sighvatsson's remake of "The Killer Elite" sold to Splendid for German speaking territories.

Showbox licensed "The Murderer" to Wild Side for France. "Breathless" has been sold to Tadrart Film for France.

SPI International licensed "Broken Promises" to Picture This! for North America.

StudioCanal licensed "L'Armee du crime" to Cineart for Benelux. “The Red Riding Trilogy" went to IFC for U.S., Alliance for Canada. "Cotton" will be sold soon to Spain. "Change Of Plans " went to IFC for U.S. "Around the World in 50 Years 3D" and "Chloe" went to StudioCanal owned Kinowelt for German speaking territories and both virtually sold out including to Svensk for Scandinavia, TMC for Turkey. Universal Music Group acquired North American rights to "Around the World". "Baby(ies)" went to Focus for U.S. and some other international territories. "Quelque Choise A Te Dire" went to Golem for Spain. "A Thorn in the Heart" went to Oscilloscope for U.S.

Summit licensed "Red Cliff" to Magnolia Pictures genre arm Magnet Releasing for U.S. "Astro Boy" has gone to E1 for U.K. and DeaPlaneta for Spain. "Tree Of Life" and "Letters To Juliet" went to TriPictures for Spain. "Tree of Life" also went to EuropaCorp in France, Icon (UK and Australia), Concorde TeleMuenchen Group (Germany), Svensk (Scandinavia), O1 (Italy) and Belga (Benelux). "New Moon", the "Twilight Sequel" sold to Concorde Filmverleih for German speaking territories Austria, Germany and German speaking Switzerland, Eagle Pictures for Italy, Kadokawa Pictures for Japan, Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution for Scandinavia, Odeon for Greece and Cyprus, Of course Summit Entertainment has U.S. and Seville has Canada. "Remember Me" also sold exceedingly well.

The Match Factory licensed"Ajami" to the U.K. (Vertigo Films) and France (Ad Vitam). "Cloud 9" went to Music Box for U.S.

The Weintstein Co. licensed "The Fighter" to France, Spain and South Korea. Rights are already held by Paramount Pictures for North America and Universal Pictures International (UPI) for Benelux.

The Works International and Rena Ronson of WM Independent licensed "The Cove" to Europacorp for France.

Toie licensed "A Good Husband" to K&Entertainment for So. Korea.

Trust Nordisk has licensed "Antichrist" to IFC Films for U.S., Artificial Eye for U.K. and Golem Distribución for Spain. Other distributors include ACME for Lithuania, Budapest Film for Hungary, California Filmes for Brazil, Central Partnership for Russia, Discovery Film & Video Distribution for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estinfilm for Estonia, Gutek Film for Poland, Lucky Red for Italy , MFA Filmdistribution for Germany, Palador Pictures for India,Pars Film for Iran, Pro Film for Bulgaria, Prorom Media-Trade for Romania, Seven Films for Greece, Wild Bunch Benelux for Benelux and of course Nordisk Film Distribution for Scandinavia. "Mammoth" went to IFC for U.S., A-Film Distribution for Benelux, Budapest Film for Hungary, Filmcoopi Zürich for Switzerland, Filmladen for Austria, KinoVista for France, Seven Films for Greece, Svensk Filmindustri (SF) for Sweden. "Storm" went to Serendip for Brazil and Film Movement for U.S. "Love at First Hiccup" went to Kinomate for So. Korea and Suraya Film for Singapore and Indonesia. "Terribly Happy" went to Oscilioscope for the U.S, Syrena Films for Poland, European Film Partners (EFP) for Benelux, Cinema Art for Czech Republic and Slovakia."Quest for a Heart" went to Empire Film in Romania, "Cold Prey 2" to IPA for Japan and G2 for U.K. "The Green Butchers"Cirko Film for Hungary. was picked up by

Universe licensed "Storm Warriors" to Splendid for German speaking territories.

Upload Films licensed “Drool” to Strand Releasing for North America.

Visit Films licensed “The Missing Person” to Strand Releasing for U.S.

Voltage licensed "...Of the Dead" and "Game of Death" to Splendid for German speaking territories.

We Distribution/ Cinema Popular of Hong Kong has licensed "Bodyguards and Assassins" to Mediacorp Raintree Pictures and Festive Films for Singapore, RAM Entertainment for Malaysia, PT for Brunei, Teguh Bakti Mandiri for Indonesia, Parkit Films for Vietnam and Applause Entertainment for Taiwan.

Westend, the new international sales agency of Sharon Harel (founder of Capitol), licensed "Chatroom" to BIM Distribuzione for Italy, CMC Entertainment for Taiwan, Diaphana Films for France, ECS Film Distribution for Lebanon, Pathé for U.K., Seven Films for Greece, Universum Film (UFA), who also exec produced the film for Germany, Vision for Poland and other Eastern European countries, ECS for the Middle East, VTI for Ex-Yugoslavia. "Mother and Child" went to Haut & Court (France), Cineart (Benelux), Smile (Scandinavia) and Hopscotch (Australia), Vision (Pan-Eastern Europe), Seven Group (Greece), Front Row (Middle East), Bir Film (Turkey) and VTI (Ex-Yugoslavia).

Wide licensed "Tears of April" to Alcine Terran for Japan, FS Film Oy for Finland. "Fissure," went to Japan's 9 Miles Inc. It is also with FilmFrog Productions for USA, Los Banditos Films for Germany. "Louise Michel, the Rebel" went to France's Hevadis Films. "Unfailing" went to Germany's MIG Film for Austria, Germany and German-speaking Switzerland. "I Dreamt Under the Water" went to Taiwan's AV Jet Intl as well as to Optimale for France, PRO-FUN media Filmverleih for Germany, TLA Releasing for the U.K. and U.S. "South Coast" went to Daxar Multimedia Limited for the Middle East. "La Vida Loca" went to Ascot Elite in Germany for German-speaking territories. "Lola Montes" went to Immovision for Brazil.

Wild Bunch licensed "Spring Fever", "The Time That Remain", "Don't Look Back" and "Enter The Void" to Cineart for Benelux. “Don’t Look Back” and Park Benches went to IFC for U.S. They are also sold for Canada: Don’t Look Back to E1 Entertainment and Benches to Metropole. "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky" went to Sony Pictures Classics for North America and to Cineart for Benelux, Canada (E1), China (Metro China), Mexico (Cinemas Nueva), Australia (Madman). "Looking for Eric" went to Alta for Spain, Cinéart for The Netherlands, BIM Distribuzione for Italy, Diaphana Films for France, IFC Films for U.S., Icon Film Distribution for U.K. "Who Knows about Persian Cats" went to Mexico (Quality), Argentina (Pacha Mama), Canada (E1), Israel (Shani), Italy (Bim), Spain (Alta), Romania (Independenta), Greece (Videorama), Portugal (Lusomundo), Columbia (Babilla), Benelux (Cineart) and the Middle East (Front Row Entertainment). A deal with Mars Films for France was concluded just prior to the market. The only major territories remaining are Japan and the US, and both have offering pending "Goeman" went to Splendid for German speaking territories. "The Extra Man" went to Bim for Italy. "Tales From The Golden Age" went to IFC for U.S. Imovision has Brazil. It also went to UK (Trinity), Spain (Alta), Canada (Metropole), Italy (Archibaldo), France (Le Pacte), Scandinavia (Cinema Mondo), Benelux (Imagine). “Spring Fever” went to Strand for U.S., NCF for ex-Yugoslavai and Leopard for Russia. “Polytechnique” sold to Argentina’s Pacha Mama, Brazil’s Immovision, Teleview in the Middle East, Babilla in Columbia and Norway’s Arthouse. “Irish Route” presold to Ex-Yugoslavia (MCF), Romania (Independenta), Greece (Spentzos), Israel (Shani), Middle East (Teleview), Portugal (Lusomundo), Columbia (Babilla), South Africa (Video Vision), Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines (Sound Space) and Bulgaria (Radio Vision). Discussions are ongoing for France, Italy and the UK.

“Socialism” went to Germany (Delphi), Brazil (Immovision), Romania (Independenta), Czech Republic (Artcam), Greece (Videorama), Portugal (Midas), Japan (Open Sesame/Kadokawa), Bulgaria (Radio Vision) and Korea (Sorcerer’s Apprentice). “The Exodus – The Fortress” (“Burnt By The Sun 2”), was licensed to France (TFM), China (New Vision), Ex-Yugoslavia (Discovery), Romania (Independenta), Czech Republic (Hollywood Classics), Greece (Videorama), the Middle East (Teleview), Portugal (Lusomundo), Taiwan (CMC), Columbia (Babilla), Turkey (Umut Sanat), Bulgaria (Radiovision), Poland (Kino Swiat) and Benelux (Paradiso).

“The Extra Man” sold to Ex-Yugoslavia (Discovery), Romania (Independenta), Czech Republic (Hollywood Classics), Greece (Videorama), Israel (Orlando), the Middle East (Teleview), Portugal (Lusomundo), Singapore (Festive), Taiwan (Group Power), Turkey (D Productions), South Africa (Video Vision), Italy (Bim) and Poland (Kino Swiat).

“Full Treatment” sealed deals in Australia (Transmission), Romania (Independenta), Czech Republic (Hollywood Classics), Greece (Videorama), Hong Kong (Panorama), the Middle East (Teleview), Taiwan (CMC), Bulgaria (Radio Vision), Russia (Leopolis), Scandinavia (Cinema Mondo) and Benelux (Paradiso).

“Bunny & The Bull” went to Australia’s Madman, Israel’s Orlando and Germany’s Delphi. “Room in Rome” went to the UK’s Optimum, Hong Kong’s First Distributor, Japan’s Comstock and Australia’s Transmission. “Whatever Works” sealed deals in Israel (Nachson), Iceland (Greenlight), Australia (Hopscotch), Korea (Line Tree), Benelux (Paradiso) and the Czech Republic (Artcam). Deals are pending in Germany and Japan. “The Killer Inside Me” went to Hollywood Classics for Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Umut Sanat in Turkey, Radio Vision in Bulgaria, Top Films of Russia and Paradiso in Benelux. “Petit Nicolas” went to Spain (Vertigo), Italy (Bim), Israel (Nachson) and Korea (Sorcerer’s Apprentice). “Dog Pound” went to Benelux (Paradiso) and Mexico (Quality). Quality also picked up “Yona Yona Penguin” for Mexico.

“Rabia” sold to Romania (Independenta), Greece (Spentzos), the Middle East (Front Row) and Paradiso in Benelux. “A Distant Neighborhood went to Teleview for the Middle East, Babilla in Columbia and Bim in Italy.

William Morris Independent licensed Paris, Not France to Pretty Pictures for France and Benelux, to TVA for Canada and MTV for North America.