Celsius says Paris, je t’aime

by Annika Pham

18/05/2006 - Celsius Entertainments, headed by Thierry Wase-Bailey, is the happy sales representative of the most star-studded film of the official selection, Paris, je t’aime, which has its world premiere today in the Un Certain Regard.

The collective film – in which 18 of the world’s top filmmakers and stars each directed a five-minute romantic film with various Parisian quarters as key settings – was produced by Victoires International’s Claudie Ossard. Over 20 territories have already bought the original project, including Poland, Portugal, Benelux, Switzerland, and Greece/Cyprus. The film will be released in France on June 21 by La Fabrique de Films.

There are six other titles on Celsius’ Cannes line-up, including the €42m Trading Paint by Chuck Russell (The Mask), starring James Franco (Spiderman1, 2 & 3). Currently in development, the project, which is being produced by Ann Carli, Britney Spears and Larry Rudolph, is set in the world of NASCAR racing. The €10.8m musical biopic about Janis Joplin, The Gospel According To Janis by Penelope Spheeris (Wayne’s World), will start shooting next summer in South Carolina.

Two titles in post-production will be delivered next autumn: Crusade, an adventure/fantasy film by Dutch director Ben Sombogaart (Twin Sisters), which includes a star-studded European cast: Emily Watson, Stephanie Leonidas (Mirrormask [trailer]) Benno Fürmann (Merry Christmas: Joyeux Noël [trailer, film focus]), Ophelia Lovibond (Oliver Twist [trailer]) and Udo Kier (Manderlay [trailer]). The €12.4m film is being produced by Kees Kasander and Bill Haney. Pre-sold territories include Benelux, Portugal, Eastern Europe, Greece/Cyprus, and CIS/Baltics.

UK film The Flying Scotsman by Douglas Mackinnon, based on the true story of Scottish amateur cyclist Graeme Obree, stars Jonny Lee Miller and is being produced by Peter Broughan. Pre-sold territories include Italy, Scandinavia, Portugal and Greece/Cyprus.

Rounding-up Celsius’ line-up are the completed films River Queen by Vincent Ward and Tara Road by Gillies Mackinnon.