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CANNES 2011 International Critics’ Week / France

Five women directors in line-up

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France’s new wave of women directors are set to descend on the 50th International Critics’ Week (SIC), which will run from May 12-20 at the 64th Cannes Film Festival.

Screening in competition is Delphine and Muriel Coulin’s 17 Girls [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(see news). Set in a small crisis-stricken town by the ocean, it centres on 17 teenage girls who make an unexpected decision that others can’t understand and which will change their lives.

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The debut feature was produced by Denis Freyd for Archipel 35. Its €3m budget included co-production support from Arte France Cinéma, an advance on receipts from the National Film and Moving Image Centre (CNC) and pre-acquisitions from Canal + and CinéCinéma. French distribution rights have been acquired by Diaphana, while sales are being managed by Films Distribution.

In the special screenings, Valérie Donzelli’s War Is Declared will open the Critics’ Week. Starring Donzelli and Jérémie Elkaim, the second feature by the director of The Queen of Hearts [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
centres on a young couple who are faced with the serious illness of their son.

The film was produced by Edouard Weil for Rectangle Productions on a €1.82m budget including pre-acquisitions from Canal + and CinéCinéma. It will be distributed in France by Wild Bunch, who are also handling international sales.

Eva Ionesco’s debut feature My Little Princess (see news) is inspired by the Franco-Romanian director’s youth and her relationship with her mother, a famous flamboyant photographer in the Parisian underground of the 1970s. The cast includes Isabelle Huppert, Anamaria Vartolomei, Georgetta Leahu, Denis Lavant, Pascal Bongard, Jethro Cave and Louis-Do de Lencquesaing.

The film was produced by François Marquis for Les Productions Bagheera. Its estimated €2.9m budget included co-production support from Love Streams agnès b. Productions and France 2 Cinéma, an advance on receipts from the CNC and pre-acquisitions from Canal+ and Ciné Cinéma. The title will be released in French theatres by Sophie Dulac Distribution on June 29, while sales are being handled by Urban Distribution International (formerly known as Umedia).

Finally, Katia Lewkowicz’s Bachelor Days Are Over, starring Benjamin Biolay, Emmanuel Devos and Nicole Garcia, will close the Critics’ Week section. Scripted by the director, the film traces the four days preceding a young man’s wedding. Four days in which to ask himself the all-important question: does he really want to get married?

Produced by Panorama Films, this debut feature was co-produced by LGM Cinéma. It will be released in France on June 15 and sold internationally by Le Pacte.

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(Translated from French)

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