19/07/2010

Three feature film projects were chosen at the latest Arte France Cinéma selection committee meeting.

These include Philippine director Brillante Mendoza’s Captured (working title), starring Isabelle Huppert. The actress (who is currently on screens in Copacabana [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and has just finished shooting I’m Not A Fucking Princess – see news) will play a missionary who is caught up in a hostage-taking of foreign nationals by Philippine group Abu Sayyaf.

The film, which will be shot in early 2011, is executive produced by Swift Productions, who piloted the director’s latest two features (Lola, in competition at Venice in 2009, and The Execution of P [+see also:
trailer
film profile], winner of Best Director at Cannes the same year) and co-produced his previous work (Serbis, in competition on the Croisette in 2008).

Arte France Cinéma will also support Atiq Rahimi’s The Patience Stone, produced by The Film. After adapting his debut novel Earth and Ashes (“Regard Vers l'Avenir” Prize at Cannes 2004), the writer of dual French and Afghan nationality will bring his latest book (winner of the Goncourt Prize 2008) to the big screen. It tells the story of an Afghan woman who watches over her dying husband and reveals to him all her memories and secrets.

Finally, the Cinéma d’Arte subsidiary will co-produce 11 Flowers by Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai (produced by French company Full House), who won the Berlinale Grand Prize in 2001 and Best Screenplay in 2008. He also scooped the 2001 Jury Prize at Cannes, where he was selected in competition this May with Chongqing Blues.

The May session of Arte France Cinéma selected Maïwenn’s Polisse (produced by Les Films du Trésor and Mars Films); Mathieu Demy’s Americano (Les Films de l’Autre, Cine-Tamaris); Alain Cavalier’s Pater (Camera One); and Chicken With Plums by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud (see news).

(Translated from French)