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CANNES 2021 Marché du Film

Indie Sales sees six of its films selected for Cannes

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- France is set for the competition, while Playground, Bigger Than Us, Magnetic Beats, Robuste and Bruno Reidal, Confessions of a Murderer also shine bright on the Croisette

Indie Sales sees six of its films selected for Cannes
France by Bruno Dumont

It’s a wonderful line-up for by the French international sales agent Indie Sales, who are already in action at the Pre-Cannes Screenings (unfolding online from 21 to 25 June) organised by the Marché du Film (whose physical version will unspool from 6 – 15 July, as part of the 74th Cannes Film Festival). The team led by Nicolas Eschbach (who is flanked by Florencia Gil and Simon Gabriele) is notably selling an impressive contingent of six films selected for the Cannes showcase: three gracing the Official Selection, one in the Directors’ Fortnight and two in the Critics’ Week line-up

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At the top of the pack is France [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bruno Dumont
film profile
]
by Bruno Dumont, who will be competing in Cannes for the 4th time and travelling to the Croisette for the 9th time since receiving a Special Mention from the Caméra d’Or jury in 1997. Starring in the cast of this new opus are Léa Seydoux, Blanche Gardin and Benjamin Biolay, who tell the tale of France de Meurs, a star journalist running between a television set, a distant war and the hustle and bustle of her busy family life. Her frantic, high-profile world is suddenly turned upside down by a road traffic accident in which she injures a pedestrian. This unexpected irruption of reality calls everything into question. France attempts to slow down and retreat into a simple, anonymous life, but her fame continues to pursue her. Until a mysterious love affair seems to put an end to her quest… Steered by 3B Productions, France is co-produced by Arte France Cinéma, German outfit Red Balloon, Italian firms Tea Time Film, Ascent Film and RAI Cinema, and Belgian group Scope Pictures, and will be released in French cinemas on 25 August by ARP Sélection.

Indie Sales is also selling Playground [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Wandel
film profile
]
, which is the first feature film by Belgium’s Laura Wandel, set to be unveiled in the Un Certain Regard section. The film is a Dragons Films and Lunanime production which will be distributed in France on 10 November by Tandem, and by Lumière in Belgium.

Likewise stealing focus in the line-up is a third title which has been chosen for the Official Selection’s pop-up section for films on the subject of the environment: Flore Vasseur’s documentary Bigger Than Us [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(which follows seven young activists from all around the world, and which was produced by Marion Cotillard by way of All You Need, alongside Big Mother Productions and Elzévir Films). Its French release will take place via Jour2Fête on 22 September.

The Directors’ Fortnight, meanwhile, will see Indie Sales wagering on Magnetic Beats [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Vincent Maël Cardona
film profile
]
, the debut feature film by Vincent Maël Cardona. Starring Thimotée Robart, Joseph Olivennes and Marie Colomb, the movie unfolds in Brittany in the 1980s and sees a group of friends, who are desperate for some excitement in their lives, broadcasting a free radio show from their hometown in the countryside. Jerome takes the lead with his unique charisma, while technical genius Philippe lives in his big brother’s shadow. When he’s called up for military service, Philippe has no choice but to leave for West Berlin. He’s determined to carry on broadcasting but realises he’s just lived the last glorious moments of a world on the verge of extinction... Produced by Easy Tiger, SRAB Films and German firm Elemag Pictures, in co-production with Port au Prince Film & Kultur Produktion, the film will be distributed in France on 10 November by way of Paname Distribution.

Two further titles in the Indie Sales line-up are scheduled to world premiere in Critics’ Week, out of competition. Produced by Dharamsala, Constance Meyer’s Robust [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Constance Meyer
film profile
]
 (toplined by Gérard Depardieu and Déborah Lukumuena) will open the event and will be distributed in France by Diaphana, while Vincent Le Port’s Bruno Reidal, Confessions of a Murderer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Vincent Le Port
film profile
]
, which is produced by Stank and Capricci (who are also handling distribution in France in March 2022), is slated for a Special Screening.

Worth a final mention is the agent’s intention to kick off pre-sales on Blandine Lenoir’s Angry Annie [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
 and the online market screenings which are on the agenda at the Cannes Pre-Screenings for Florence Miailhe’s French-German-Czech animated film The Crossing [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, which just scooped a Jury Special Mention in Annecy, for Broken Keys by Lebanese director Jimmy Keyrouz (awarded Cannes 2020’s Official Selection label and nominated by his country for this year’s Oscar) and for Dead & Beautiful [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Verbeek
film profile
]
by the Netherlands’ David Verbeek (discovered in Rotterdam).

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(Translated from French)

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