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BERLINALE 2013 Market

Buyers for Bear winners in Berlin

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- Prize-winning films Child's Pose and Gloria also turned out as sales hits at the EFM

The Golden Bear winner Child's Pose [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Calin Peter Netzer
film profile
]
 by the Romanian filmmaker Calin Peter Netzer has been one of the sales hits for the Munich-based world sales company Beta Cinema. Several deals were closed before the awards ceremony at the Berlinale. Among the key territories was Germany, where X Verleih picked up the drama on crime and punishment, which also received the FIPRESCI award in Berlin.

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There was big buzz about the Chile competition entry Gloria [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, with Paulina Garcia (photo) winning the Silver Bear as best actress. The comedy about a 58-year-old divorcee who is looking for love was sold by Funny Balloons to a dozen territories such as UK (Network Releasing), Benelux (Wild Bunch Benelux), France (Ad Vitam), Germany (Alamode) and Spain (Vertigo).

Another competition title that attracted several buyers was the period drama The Nun [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
 by Guillaume Nicloux. The French world sales Le Pacte signed distribution contracts with more than ten territories. Among them is Benelux (O Brother), Switzerland (Frenetic), Germany (Camino) and Canada (Seville E1). In addition there was also interest from US, Japan and the UK. The Polish Golden Bear contender In the Name Of [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Malgorzata Szumowska
interview: Mateusz Kosciukiewicz
film profile
]
, about a struggling young priest was bought by Abordar in Spain, Wild Bunch in Benelux and Salzgeber & Co. in Germany.

Besides the big deals with US projects such as Blood SistersKill Me Messengers, the De Niro-starrer Malavita and the romantic comedy Solace, one of the biggest projects at a European level was Ben Stassen‘s new 3D family adventure The House of Magic. Studiocanal sold the €25m budgeted animation project to CJ Entertainment in South Korea.

Meanwhile, TrustNordisk presold  Lars von Trier‘s star-studded new drama Nymphomaniac with Charlotte Gainsbourg to US distributor Magnolia Pictures. In addition, a number of European distributors such as BAC Films in France, Arrow Films in Great Britain or Wild Bunch in Benelux acquired the Danish feature Northwest by Michael Noer.

Among the most demanded arthouse projects at the EFM was the biopic Yves Saint Laurent, with Pierre Niney as the famous French fashion designer. SND, the sales arm of the French broadcaster M6, signed presales with various distributors such as Pathe in Switzlerland, AB Svensk in Scandinavia, Square One in Germany and Austria as well as eOne for UK, Canada and Australia. Another French export hit at the EFM was the politically incorrect comedy Vive La France by and with Michael Youn. Gaumont sold the €17m budget title to more than a dozen territories. Among the buyers are Victory in Benelux, Praesens in Switzerland, Polyband in Germany, Lusomundo in Portugal und Vendetta in Australia.

Some world sales companies such as The Match Company, which handles Silver Bear winners An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danis Tanović
film profile
]
and Prince Avalanche, is still busy with negotiations.

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