08/05/2008

Two feature-length Dutch co-productions – one in the Un certain regard section, the other in the Directors’ Fortnight – will be presented in Cannes, as well as one short film and several market titles.

Dutch production company Fortuna Films co-produced Lisandro Alonso’s Liverpool, an international co-production that also involves Spain, Argentina, France and Germany. The fourth film from the Argentinean director looks at a forlorn sailor (Juan Fernández) who returns to his village of birth. The film will be screened as part of the 40th Directors’ Fortnight and is sold internationally by The Match Factory.

In the Un Certain Regard section, another international co-production also has a Dutch touch: Annemarie Jacir’s Salt of This Sea. The film, set in Palestine and spoken largely in Arabic, was co-produced by Bero Beyer for Dutch outfit Augustus Film. Beyer also produced and co-wrote the Dutch-Palestinian success Paradise Now. International sales on Salt of This Sea are handled by Pyramide International.

Dutch titles with market screenings include quite a few films aimed at teenagers and children, such as Arno Dierickx’ Blood Brothers (handled byNonStop Sales); The Seven of Daran: Battle of Pareo Rock from director Lourens Blok (sales: Cinemavault) and the box-office hits Dunya & Desie [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Where is Winky’s Horse, both sold by Delphis Films (see news).

Adult fare screening at the market includes Pieter Kuijpers’ hostage drama Nothing to Lose, which premiered at the Rotterdam Film Festival (see news) and Hanro Smitsman’s Skin [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (see news), both sold by Highpoint Films.

Dutch film promotion organisation Holland Film will again be present in the International Village with its own pavilion.