After riding on the wave of success enjoyed in Berlin by We Believe You [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Arnaud Dufeys e Charlotte …
scheda film] by Arnaud Dufeys and Charlotte Devillers (awarded a Special Mention in the Perspectives competition), French international sales agent The Party Film Sales (directed by Sarah Chazelle and Etienne Ollagnier) will be hitting the 78th Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film (running 13 to 21 May) in an ambitious frame of mind, since four of the titles in its line-up are set to be showcased in various selections on the Croisette.

Stealing focus among them are two first feature films competing in Critics’ Week. The first is Reedland by the Netherlands’ Sven Bresser, which is pitched as a "dark detective movie masterfully cultivating a powerful and singular atmosphere, and maintaining mystery and doubt until the final curtain falls." Scripted by the director himself, the film (whose initial images were unveiled in December in Les Arcs’ Work in Progress line-up) revolves around solitary farmer Johan (Gerrit Knobbe) who discovers the lifeless body of a young girl on his land and is subsequently overcome by a strange feeling. While looking after his grand-daughter, he sets out in search of the truth, determined to shed light on this tragedy. But darkness can thrive in unexpected places... Production was steered by Dutch firm Viking Film in co-production with Belgian outfit A Private View. Distribution in France falls to The Jokers Films.

Overseen by Estelle de Araujo and Samuel Blanc, The Party Film Sales team will boast a second ace in Critics’ Week in the form of Nino, by French director Pauline Loquès, which charts three decisive days in the life of a young man (Canada’s Théodore Pellerin) who no longer knows what to do with himself, and who’s on the streets after losing the keys to his apartment. This staggering chronicle filmed in real time was produced by Blue Monday Productions in co-production with France 2 Cinéma. Its release in France will be managed by Jour2Fête.

The Party Film Sales will be wagering on another first feature film, set to world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight: Wild Foxes by Belgium’s Valery Carnoy, which is toplined by rising French star Samuel Kircher. This film exploring young masculinities, injunctions and pressures was produced by Belgian firm Hélicotronc in co-production with French outfit Les Films du Poisson. Jour2Fête will handle distribution in French cinemas.

Last but not least, the Official Selection showcase will also be welcoming a film sold by The Party Film Sales in the form of Once Upon a Time in Gaza by Palestinian brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser, due to be unveiled in the Un Certain Regard section. Previously acclaimed in Critics’ Week 2015 via Dégradé [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] and in Venice’s 2020 Orizzonti line-up thanks to Gaza mon amour [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], the filmmaking duo are this time taking us back to Gaza 2007, following in the wake of a young student called Yahya who strikes up a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they decide to peddle drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they’re soon forced to contend with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego... The film’s production involved France (with Les Films du Tambour leading efforts and 3B Productions in co-production), Germany (Riva Filmproduktion), Portugal (Ukbar Filmes) and Palestine (Made in Palestine Project). The movie’s release in France will be steered by Dulac Distribution.