Salles and Frears head Pathé’s bumper line-up
The Cannes Festival Film Market has announced an 8% increase compared to 2007 in the number of participants signed up by April 15 (8000 participants from 93 countries and 1600 screenings planned for the 33 theatres, including 12 digitally equipped theatres). Meanwhile Pathé have just unveiled their glittering line-up for the event.
With a major title in official competition (Linha de Passe by Brazilian directors Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas), the French international sales company headed by Muriel Sauzay have prepared a generous selection of promotional reels, including the outstanding Chéri by Stephen Frears.
Written by Christopher Hampton and adapted from Colette’s eponymous novel, the film’s all-star cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates and Felicity Jones. Chéri – which is lensed by Darius Khondji – is currently in production and is set to be distributed in France, the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Promotional reels also include Slumdog Millionaire by UK director Danny Boyle; Bright Star by Australia’s Jane Campion; animated film The Illusionist by Sylvain Chomet (Belleville Rendez-vous [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), based on Jacques Tati’s original screenplay; Nicolas Bary’s fantastical feature Les enfants de Timpelbach (“The Children of Timpelbach”); Belen Macias’s Spanish film My Prison Yard; as well as French features Agathe Cléry by Etienne Chatiliez and Lol by Lisa Azuelos (starring Sophie Marceau).
There will be market premieres for three UK productions that are a blend of thriller and horror: Mark Tonderai’s Hush, James Watkins’ Eden Lake (starring Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender and Thomas Turgoose), and Paul Andrew Williams’ The Cottage.
Four French features are also on the slate of market premieres: Miguel Courtois’ Skate or Die; Lorraine Levy’s London Mon Amour (starring Vincent Lindon and Virginie Ledoyen); the documentary Tabarly, which is dedicated to the famous sailor; and the phenomenal hit Welcome to the Land of Shtis [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Dany Boon.
As for films currently in production, Pathé will get sales underway for Jacques Perrin’s documentary Oceans (set to be released in mid-2009), which has already been pre-bought for Spain, Germany, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, France and the US.
Successful sales are also expected for The Descent 2 by UK director John Harris, in which Shauna Mc Donald dives back into the depths of the cave featured in the first instalment.
Finally, on the post-production side, Pathé will continue sales – which are already well underway – for Faubourg 36 [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by French director Christophe Barratier, and Saul Dibb’s The Duchess (starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes and Charlotte Rampling).
(Translated from French)
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