Media Luna’s Student wanted for France

by Annika Pham

23/05/2012 - Student by Kazakh director Darezhan Omirbayev has received strong interest from world buyers since the film’s early showing in official selection Un Certain Regard entry Student by Kazakh director Darezhan Omirbayev has received strong interest from world buyers since the film’s early showing in official selection. Sales rep Media Luna says a deal should soon be closed with France.

Boosted by the selection of Kazakh film Student at Cannes’ sidebar Un Certain Regard, the Cologne-based sales company Media Luna has had steady foot traffic at its Riviera booth and acquisition manager Alessandro Lombardo said that ‘business was better than last year’ for the small independent company founded by Ida Martins.

Student, which is a loose interpretation by Omirbayev of Fyodor Dostoievski’s Crime and Punishment received good reviews in the trade press in Cannes and a deal is in negotiations with France.

Three other titles had their market screenings in Cannes - the Germany family film Patty’s Catchup by Tina von Traben, Dutch erotic drama Hemel by Sacha Polak (FIPRESCI award in Berlin) and British gay thriller Unconditional by Bryn Higgins.

Lombardo said new titles that sparked buyers’ interest include the Dutch drama Lilet Never Happened by Jacco Groen, added to Media Luna’s slate at the beginning of the market. Based on the true story of one of Manila’s famous child prostitutes, the film tells the story of a 12 year-old Philippine/American prostitute who refuses to get off the streets of Manilla and the support from a social worker (played by Dutch actress Johanna ter Steege. The film was co-produced by Holland’s Springfilm with the UK’s Film & Music Entertainment (F&ME) together with Wild & More Film and JaJa Film.

Commenting on the market, Lombardo said he felt buyers were much more active than last year. “We can see the light after the tunnel” he said.