26/03/2009

Luxembourg production company Iris Production set up its own distribution arm at the start of the year, and is already doing brisk business. Fabrizio Zanier, head of marketing and distribution at Iris, heads the new division.

Iris Distribution currently has two films on Luxembourg screens: A Thousand Oceans [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Life for Sale [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. Both are Swiss/Luxembourg co-productions in which Iris was actively involved.

Luki Frieden’s psychological drama A Thousand Oceans, now in its fourth week, was co-produced with Swiss-based Carac Film. The film, headlined by German actor and former Shooting Star Max Riemelt, is sold internationally by Iris Distribution, who will present it at the Cannes Market in May.

Oceans tells the story of a slacker whose life goes out of whack when travelling to the paradisiacal Maldives.

Dominique de Rivaz’ Life for Sale, which premiered at Locarno last year, was released last week. Two of its protagonists are also former Shooting Stars: Joel Bassman from Switzerland and Iceland’s Tómas Lemarquis. They play young men who auction off their lives on the Internet in order to make some money.

CAB Productions is the Swiss producer on the project, while sales are handled by Cologne-based Media Luna Entertainment.

The late Luxembourg name actor Thierry Van Werveke co-stars in both films, which adds to the appeal for local audiences. Explains Zanier: “The fact that he is in both movies surely helps, but even without Thierry they are excellent. And the story of Life for Sale is exceptionally up-to-date in the time of crisis we’re going through right now”.

Iris Distribution’s next release is only a few weeks away: Humains [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a French-language horror film, will be released April 22. The directorial debut of Jacques-Olivier Molon and Pierre-Olivier Thevenin was co-produced by Iris, Vega Film (Switzerland) and La Fabrique de Films (France). The latter will release the film in France on the same day.