17/01/2006

Success for Hengameh Panahi who heads the production companyLumen Films and the international sales outfit Celluloïd Dreams, winning last night the Golden Globe for best foreign film for the Dutch-French-German-Israeli co-production Paradise Now [+see also:
trailer
film profile] directed by the Palestinian Hany Abu-Assad. Co-produced at 30% by France, the film, with a budget of 2 million euros, is also its country’s candidate for the run-in for Oscar nominations for Best foreign film. Arte France Cinéma also supported the project with 350 000 euros (of which 150 000 was broadcast rights).

In total, Celluloïd Dreams sold Paradise Now to forty territories throughout the World. The feature, multi award-winner at the festivals with among others Best European film at the Berlinale and an European Film Award 2005 for best screenplay, was bought by Indie Circle, the alliance of five independent European distributors bringing together companies such as Haut et Court (France – release 7th September 2005), Lucky Red (Italia - release the 14th October), Cinéart (Belgium - release 7th September ), A-Film Distribution (Holland - release the 20th October) and Frenetic Films (Switzerland – release the 22nd September in the German-speaking region). Paradise Now was also acquired by Non Stop Entertainment (NSE) for Sweden (release 7th October), Denmark, Norway, Finland (release 9th September 2005) and Iceland. Also, it was distributed in Germany (29th September), in Spain (Golem - 30th September), in Greece (20th October), In Hungary (10th November) and in Austria (18th November). In Europe, the film will also come out in Poland (Kino Swiat), and in the UK through Warner Independent who also handle North American distribution.

(Translated from French)