04/11/2008

Armed with an impressive line-up of around 40 films, French international sales company Wild Bunch intends to make the most of the American Film Market (November 5-12) to end a busy 2008 with a flourish. Moreover, the future looks promising for the team headed by Vincent Maraval, as they have numerous high-profile European films currently shooting or in post-production.

In Los Angeles, Wild Bunch will be hoping for success with Jan Kounen’s Chanel & Igor Stavinsky: The Secret Story, starring Anna Mougalis and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen. Produced by Eurowide Film, the film has already been pre-sold to France (to be released March 2009), Germany, Greece, Japan, Taiwan, the Middle East and Singapore.

Sales will also get underway for Dog Pound by Kim Chapiron, (Satan). Produced by Partizan Films, the title looks at the hardships of a group of youngsters in a US reformatory.

There is also a Scandinavian flavour to the new additions on the line-up with Valhalla Rising by Denmark’s Nicolas Winding Refn (director of the Pusher trilogy). Currently in post-production, the film – produced by Nimbus Film and One Eyed – also stars Mikkelsen. Distributors have already been found for France (Le Pacte), the UK, Scandinavia and Iceland.

Wild Bunch will also present in Los Angeles a promotional reel for Icelandic director Dagur Kari’s The Good Heart, starring Paul Dano, Brian Cox and Isild Le Besco. Produced by ZI ZAK Filmworks in collaboration with Ex Nihilo, Forensic Film, Network Movie film and Nimbus Film, the feature is currently in post-production and has already been pre-sold to France, Scandinavia, Iceland and Poland.

The French sales company has also added to its slate Paul King’s UK feature The Bunny and the Bull, which is in post-production. Produced by Warp X, this apartment-based road movie stars Edward Hogg and Simon Farnaby.

Spanish film is also represented by Gabe Ibanez’s Hierro (“Iron”), featuring Elena Anaya (Shooting Star 2004). This thriller – which is currently shooting – is produced by the team of Pan’s Labyrinth [+see also:
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film profile].

Wild Bunch will present 12 films at the AFM, including Spanish director Javier Fesser’s Camino (“Path”) and French director Jérôme Salle’s Largo Winch.

The company will also promote a wide selection of strong titles in post-production. These include UK director Ken Loach’s Looking for Eric (pre-sold in Europe to the UK, France, Spain, Italy, Benelux, Romania, Poland and the countries of the former Yugoslavia); Gaspard Noé’s Enter the Void (pre-bought in Europe for France, Italy, Poland, Greece, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Iceland, Romania, Switzerland, Scandinavia and Benelux); and Le Concert by French-Romanian filmmaker Radu Mihaileanu (pre-sold in Europe to France, Germany, the UK, Scandinavia, Italy, Poland, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Baltic countries, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland and Romania).

Further titles are Mr Nobody by Belgium’s Jaco Van Dormael, Le petit Nicolas (“Little Nicolas”) by France’s Laurent Tirard, French director Marian de Van’s Ne te retourne pas (“Don’t Turn Back”) and Claire Denis’ White Material.

(Translated from French)