19/07/2006

Eight European (co-)productions open today, alongside four US features.

First up in the abundant summer selection is the 2006 Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language Film, Tsotsi [+see also:
trailer
film profile], by Gavin Hood. MK2 Distribution will release the UK (UK Film & TV Company)/South African co-production on no less than 233 screens.

Meanwhile, Diaphana is releasing The Weakest Is Always Right [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Belgium’s Lucas Belvaux on 150 screens. Screened in competition at Cannes (see article and interview with the director), the French/Belgian/Swiss co-production from Agat Films & Cie, Entre Chien et Loup, France 3 Cinéma, RTBF and Les Ateliers de Baere was funded by the CNC, Eurimages, the French Community of Belgium and Wallimage.

Fear and horror in the style of the The Blair Witch Project will spook audiences of Them [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by directing duo David Moreau and Xavier Palud. With excellent international sales by StudioCanal, the French (Eskwad 70%)/Romanian (30%) production is being distributed by Mars Distribution on an ambitious 152 prints.

Other European titles opening today are Lucy [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by German director Henner Winckler (ASC Dist., 7 screens), as well as Eleven Men Out by Iceland’s Robert I. Douglas (Equation, 3 screens), acclaimed at Toronto in 2005 and in this year’s Berlin Panorama sidebar.

Pierre Todeschini, director at the Italian Film Festival in Annecy, has started activity back up at his outfit Acadra Distribution and will release three prints each of the feature film Nema Problema by Giancarlo Bocchi and Stefano Rulli’s documentary A Particular Silence.

Lastly, K'ien Distribution is opening The United States of Albert by André Forcier – a Canadian/French (10 %, Links and France 2 Cinéma)/Swiss (15 %, Bohemian Films) co-production – on 23 screens.

(Translated from French)