05/02/2025 - The Belgian outfit will also negotiate deals at the EFM for The Incredible Snow Woman by Sébastien Betbeder, selected in Panorama

The European Film Market (13 to 19 February) of the 75th Berlinale is looking very promising for international sales company Be For Films, the Belgian subsidiary of French group Playtime lead by Pamela Leu, whose lineup includes a film in competition and another in the Panorama section.

After two highly noticed selections in Cannes with Montparnasse Bienvenüe [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Léonor Serraille
film profile] (Caméra d’or in 2017) and Mother and Son [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Léonor Serraille
film profile] (in competition in 2022), French filmmaker Léonor Serraille will be in the running for the 2025 Golden Bear with her third feature, Ari [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Produced by Geko Films and Blue Monday Productions, co-produced by Arte France, Pictanovo and Belgian outfit Wrong Men, the film stars Andranic Manet (described as “exceptional” by Pamela Leu) in the lead, supported by Pascal Rénéric, Théo Delezenne, Ryad Ferrad, Eva Lallier Juan, Lomane de Dietrich, Mikaël-Don Giancarli and Clémence Coullon. Written by the director, the script centres on Ari, a young teacher who leaves his job and is thrown out by his father. Lost and alone, he reconnects with old friends, which triggers a journey of self-discovery… As a reminder, Ari is the third chapter in a collection that started with All Hands on Deck [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Guillaume Brac
film profile] by Guillaume Brac and continued with Midwives [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Léa Fehner
film profile] by Léa Fehner (unveiled in the Panorama section of the Berlinale in 2020 and 2023, respectively), following a concept by which scripts are written through workshops with final year students at the Conservatoire Supérieur d’Art Dramatique in Paris.

Discover the first exclusive teasers for Ari at the bottom of this article.

At the EFM, Be For Films will also be betting on The Incredible Snow Woma [+see also:
trailer
film profile]n by French filmmaker Sébastien Betbeder, which will have its world premiere in Panorama. Standing out in the cast of the 9th feature from this filmmaker –discovered in Locarno in 2007 and who went to ACID in Cannes (in 2013 and 2016) as well as to Toronto (in 2012 and 2018)– are Blanche Gardin, Philippe Katerine, Bastien Bouillon and Danish actors Ole Eliassen et Martin Jensen. The script, written by the director, centres on Coline Morel. Travelling solo across Greenland, camping on an ice floe, single-handedly wrestling a bear – not much daunts her except, perhaps, confronting her own existence when it starts to spiral out of control… This feature was produced by Envie de Tempête Productions and co-produced by Pastorale Productions and Sedna Explore.

In Berlin, Be For Films will also unveil in market premiere Muganga by Marie-Hélène Roux (article - starring Isaach de Bankolé and Vincent Macaigne in leading roles) and will continue sales for Lads by Julien Menanteau which will be released in French cinemas on 2 April by ARP Sélection.

(Translated from French)