08/03/2007

Copenhagen-based Scanbox Entertainment, one of the leading Nordic distribution companies, has announced an impressive slate of 11 new titles for 2007-2008, acquired at this year’s Berlin Film Festival.

Headed by Managing Director Kurt Wellejus, Scanbox acquired Focus Features’ entire Berlin package of three quality commercial films currently in production. Terry George’s psychological thriller Reservation Road – starring Joacquim Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Connelly – will be released in the US next July; In Bruges (currently shooting) is an action comedy by Martin McDonagh starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes; and Doomsday is the new chiller by UK filmmaker Neil Marshall (The Descent [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

Another thriller bought from Summit Entertainment, I Know Who Killed Me by US filmmaker Chris Sivertson, will be released in the US next July.

The comedy genre is represented by Ealing Studios International acquisition I Want Candy [+see also:
trailer
film profile], directed by Stephen Surjik (Wayne’s World 2) and to be released in the UK through BVI on March 23.

In the increasingly popular documentary genre, Scanbox acquired one of the hottest titles at the EFM: the Osama ben Laden project by US filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me), sold by Wild Bunch.

Three established filmmakers have also been added to Scanbox’s 2007-2008 line-up. Feast of Love, acquired from Lakeshore Entertainment, is a new love story by US director Robert Benton starring Greg Kinnear, Selma Blair and Morgan Freeman. It will be released in the US next September.

Jiri Menzel’s I Served the King of England [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], sold by Bavaria Film International, was in competition at the recent Berlinale, and Cheri, based on French novelist Colette’s eponymous book, will see Danish director Bille August team up with Judi Dench, Jessica Lange and Cillian Murphy. The project is in development.

Two films that premiered successfully at Sundance were also acquired in Berlin: King of Comedy by US filmmaker Mike Cahill starring Michael Douglas was bought from Nu Image, and Clubland, an Australian comedy by Cherie Nowlan starring Brenda Blethyn was acquired from Goalpost Film.