24/02/2006

Spearheaded by its two competition winners at Berlin (Best Actor for Moritz Bleibtreu in Oskar Roehler’s The Elementary Particles [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Franka Potente & Moritz Ble…
interview: Oskar Roehler
film profile] and the Jury Grand Prix for Jafar Panahi’s Offside), French international sales company Celluloid Dreams enjoyed dazzling success at the festival market.

Back in Paris, the sales team, headed by Hengameh Panahi, wrapped up further deals and told Cineuropa about the main successes. According to sales representative Tanja Meissner, German feature The Elementary Particles [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Franka Potente & Moritz Ble…
interview: Oskar Roehler
film profile] was acquired for Spain (Golem), France (TFM), the UK (Momentum), Italy (Lucky Red), Benelux (Cinemien-ABC), Hungary (Mokep), Poland (Kino Świat), Greece (Prooptiki), Scandinavia (NonStop), Portugal (Atalanta Filmes), ex-Yugoslavia (Arena), Turkey, Canada, Australia and numerous Asian territories, including South Korea, with negotiations also progressing positively for the USA and Japan.

As for Offside, the Iranian film found buyers in Italy, Sweden, UK, Benelux, Norway, South Korea, Brazil, Austria, Iceland and Switzerland.

Sales for Family Law [+see also:
trailer
film profile] from Argentina’s Daniel Burman, which opened the Berlin Panorama, included the Baltic states, Switzerland, Australia, Peru, Mexico and Turkey, while solid deals were made for the American film Quinceanera by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, screened in the Kinderfilmfest/14plus section.

From among its numerous projects, Celluloid Dreams recorded strong interest from buyers in particular for two British features. Billie Eltringham’s Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution (produced by Assassin Film) was pre-bought for Brazil and ex-Yugoslavia; and by Warner (Spain and Scandinavia), Italian International Film (Italy), Cinéart (Benelux), and Filmcoopi (Switzerland).

Currently shooting, Kenneth Branagh’s The Magic Flute, produced by Peter Moores Foundation and French company Idéale Audience, has been acquired for Greece, Switzerland, ex-Yugoslavia, Eastern Europe, Japan, South Korea and Brazil. This is yet another strong title in the line-up being assembled by Celluloid Dreams, a company that is on the rise.

Cannes is the next objective, via a detour at the Oscars, where Celluloid Dreams has two nominees: Paradise Now [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Best Foreign Language Film) and Darwin’s Nightmare (Best Documentary).

(Translated from French)