Veteran French distributor Rezo Films is closing its doors after more than 32 years and nearly 400 films after struggling to stay afloat in an increasingly competitive distribution landscape.
Founded in 1992 by Jean-Michel Rey and Nadia Lassoujade, Rezo Films helped to launch the careers of several French auteurs including Abdellatif Kechiche, Pascal Bonitzer, Catherine Corsini, Xavier Dolan, Gaspar Noé, Stéphane Brizé and Jeremy Clapin.
Several of those films performed well for arthouse titles in the territory including Clapin’s debut feature I Lost My Body in 2019, Brizé’s Mademoiselle Chambon in 2009, and Kechiche’s Games Of Love And Chance (L’Esquive) with 373,618 tickets...
Founded in 1992 by Jean-Michel Rey and Nadia Lassoujade, Rezo Films helped to launch the careers of several French auteurs including Abdellatif Kechiche, Pascal Bonitzer, Catherine Corsini, Xavier Dolan, Gaspar Noé, Stéphane Brizé and Jeremy Clapin.
Several of those films performed well for arthouse titles in the territory including Clapin’s debut feature I Lost My Body in 2019, Brizé’s Mademoiselle Chambon in 2009, and Kechiche’s Games Of Love And Chance (L’Esquive) with 373,618 tickets...
- 3/19/2024
- ScreenDaily
Paris-based sales company is bringing eight new titles to Rendez-Vous.
Julie Delpy’s immigration-themed comedy Meet The Barbarians (Les Barbares) is among eight new titles Paris-based sales company Charades is launching at Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous with French Cinema this month.
The event takes place from January 16-23 in Paris.
Charades extensive Rendez-Vous line-up also includes 3D animation Flow, romantic comedy Just A Couple of Days starring Camille Cottin, Jeremie Sein’s Olympic sports comedy Game Changers, Antoine Raimbault’s political thriller Smoke Signals, Gustave Kervern’s revenge story Enough Is Enough!, dark comedy Plastic Guns plus recently announced adaptation And...
Julie Delpy’s immigration-themed comedy Meet The Barbarians (Les Barbares) is among eight new titles Paris-based sales company Charades is launching at Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous with French Cinema this month.
The event takes place from January 16-23 in Paris.
Charades extensive Rendez-Vous line-up also includes 3D animation Flow, romantic comedy Just A Couple of Days starring Camille Cottin, Jeremie Sein’s Olympic sports comedy Game Changers, Antoine Raimbault’s political thriller Smoke Signals, Gustave Kervern’s revenge story Enough Is Enough!, dark comedy Plastic Guns plus recently announced adaptation And...
- 1/9/2024
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard and Jacques Audiard are among 500 French cinema professionals to have signed an open letter in support of a silent march for peace in Paris this Sunday.
The initiative – created in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict and its ongoing reverberations around the world – is being spearheaded by the newly launched Une Autre Voix (Another Voice) collective.
“This fratricidal war affects us all, and regardless of our reasons or affinities on each side of the wall, we want it to cease and that both peoples finally live in peace,” reads the letter.
“This is why we are organizing a silent, united, humanist and peaceful march that will open with a single long white banner. No political claims nor slogans. White flags, white handkerchiefs are welcome.”
Belgian-Moroccan actress Lubna Azabal presides over the Une Autre Voix collective which also features French...
The initiative – created in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict and its ongoing reverberations around the world – is being spearheaded by the newly launched Une Autre Voix (Another Voice) collective.
“This fratricidal war affects us all, and regardless of our reasons or affinities on each side of the wall, we want it to cease and that both peoples finally live in peace,” reads the letter.
“This is why we are organizing a silent, united, humanist and peaceful march that will open with a single long white banner. No political claims nor slogans. White flags, white handkerchiefs are welcome.”
Belgian-Moroccan actress Lubna Azabal presides over the Une Autre Voix collective which also features French...
- 11/17/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Rising star Benjamin Lavernhe plays the iconic French priest.
Snd has signed deals in key territories for Frederic Tellier’s €15m biopic about a real-life poverty-fighting French priest L’Abbé Pierre: A Century Of Devotion, who founded the Emmaus network of housing shelters.
Rising star Benjamin Lavernhe plays the iconic figure who devoted his life to championing the poor and bringing global awareness to homelessness. The film had its world premiere out of competition in Cannes earlier this year and will hit French theatres via Snd on November 8 on 600 screens.
The film has been bought by A-z in Canada, Palace for Australia and New Zealand,...
Snd has signed deals in key territories for Frederic Tellier’s €15m biopic about a real-life poverty-fighting French priest L’Abbé Pierre: A Century Of Devotion, who founded the Emmaus network of housing shelters.
Rising star Benjamin Lavernhe plays the iconic figure who devoted his life to championing the poor and bringing global awareness to homelessness. The film had its world premiere out of competition in Cannes earlier this year and will hit French theatres via Snd on November 8 on 600 screens.
The film has been bought by A-z in Canada, Palace for Australia and New Zealand,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Mathieu Kassovitz has quit the Paris Has Fallen television series citing creative differences. He has been replaced by Spiral actor Tewfik Jallab.
Deadline can reveal the casting switch as StudioCanal has released first-look images from the series, which is based on Gerard Butler‘s Has Fallen film franchise and is shooting in London and Paris.
The eight-part drama is made by StudioCanal, War of the Worlds producer Urban Myth Films, and two companies behind the film franchise: Millennium Media and Butler’s G-Base. Eclectic Pictures is also attached.
Kassovitz, best known for his 1995 film La Haine, is recovering from a motorbike accident last month, though his departure from Paris Has Fallen was for creative reasons. In his place, Jallab will play Vincent Taleb, a protection officer to a French Minister, who is the target of a terror group led by villain Jacob.
Vincent works with MI6 operative Zara (Ritu Arya...
Deadline can reveal the casting switch as StudioCanal has released first-look images from the series, which is based on Gerard Butler‘s Has Fallen film franchise and is shooting in London and Paris.
The eight-part drama is made by StudioCanal, War of the Worlds producer Urban Myth Films, and two companies behind the film franchise: Millennium Media and Butler’s G-Base. Eclectic Pictures is also attached.
Kassovitz, best known for his 1995 film La Haine, is recovering from a motorbike accident last month, though his departure from Paris Has Fallen was for creative reasons. In his place, Jallab will play Vincent Taleb, a protection officer to a French Minister, who is the target of a terror group led by villain Jacob.
Vincent works with MI6 operative Zara (Ritu Arya...
- 10/13/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Like writers penning their memoirs, making movies about making movies is a rite of passage for many a director. Fellini famously did it with 8 ½, Truffaut with Day for Night, Godard with Contempt and Fassbinder with Beware of a Holy Whore. More recently, Tarantino gave us Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Spielberg The Fabelmans, Michel Hazavanicius made Final Cut and Damien Chazelle, Babylon.
Almost all behind-the-scenes movies share the same theme: Filmmaking is tough, high-stress work that weighs heavily on everyone involved, especially the directors themselves. That’s certainly one of the main takeaways from Cédric Kahn’s very French variation on the subject, Making Of, which premiered out of competition in Venice.
Kahn is both an actor (he played the douchey Gallic lover in Pawel Pawikowski’s Cold War) and talented director, with a series of strong features under his belt that include hard-hitting thrillers like L’Ennui,...
Almost all behind-the-scenes movies share the same theme: Filmmaking is tough, high-stress work that weighs heavily on everyone involved, especially the directors themselves. That’s certainly one of the main takeaways from Cédric Kahn’s very French variation on the subject, Making Of, which premiered out of competition in Venice.
Kahn is both an actor (he played the douchey Gallic lover in Pawel Pawikowski’s Cold War) and talented director, with a series of strong features under his belt that include hard-hitting thrillers like L’Ennui,...
- 9/5/2023
- by Jordan Mintzer
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Johnny Depp’s Comeback Movie ‘Jeanne du Barry’ Rides High at French Box Office After Cannes Premiere
After being greeted with a seven-minute standing ovation on opening night of the Cannes Film Festival, Johnny Depp’s comeback movie “Jeanne du Barry,” directed by Maiwenn, has charmed French audiences after debuting in cinemas.
The costume drama, which stars Depp as the French King Louis Xv and marks his first leading role in three years, has been having a strong run at the French B.O., proving that the controversial star is still bankable. At least in France.
The film was widely released by Le Pacte on 650 screens and has grossed nearly $4.1 million from more than 550,000 tickets sold in two weeks, according to Comscore France. Currently playing across 800 screens, the film got mixed reviews in Cannes, but still has the potential of selling up to 850,000 tickets (an estimated $6.4 million), according to Eric Marti at Comscore France.
“‘Jeanne du Barry’ is doing the job, it’s a well polished film...
The costume drama, which stars Depp as the French King Louis Xv and marks his first leading role in three years, has been having a strong run at the French B.O., proving that the controversial star is still bankable. At least in France.
The film was widely released by Le Pacte on 650 screens and has grossed nearly $4.1 million from more than 550,000 tickets sold in two weeks, according to Comscore France. Currently playing across 800 screens, the film got mixed reviews in Cannes, but still has the potential of selling up to 850,000 tickets (an estimated $6.4 million), according to Eric Marti at Comscore France.
“‘Jeanne du Barry’ is doing the job, it’s a well polished film...
- 6/1/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Paris sales outfit is also handling Pablo Berger’s ‘Robot Dreams’ in Official Selection.
Paris-based sales powerhouse Elle Driver has added Greek director Alexandros Avranas’ Apathy, now in pre-production, to its line-up heading into Cannes.
Apathy is a drama exploring the real-life phenomenon of ‘resignation syndrome’, a catatonic state that has affected around 700 refugee children in Sweden, sparking a wave of concern among doctors and politicians. Told from the perspective of a family, Apathy follows the parents as they struggle in their daily lives and gives a voice to the children. The multi-territory co-production is produced by France’s...
Paris-based sales powerhouse Elle Driver has added Greek director Alexandros Avranas’ Apathy, now in pre-production, to its line-up heading into Cannes.
Apathy is a drama exploring the real-life phenomenon of ‘resignation syndrome’, a catatonic state that has affected around 700 refugee children in Sweden, sparking a wave of concern among doctors and politicians. Told from the perspective of a family, Apathy follows the parents as they struggle in their daily lives and gives a voice to the children. The multi-territory co-production is produced by France’s...
- 5/11/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
The Paris sales outfit is also handling Pablo Berger’s ‘Robot Dreams’ in Official Selection.
Paris-based sales powerhouse Elle Driver has added Greek director Alexandros Avranas’ Apathy, now in pre-production, to its line-up heading into Cannes.
Apathy is a drama exploring the real-life phenomenon of ‘resignation syndrome’, a catatonic state that has affected around 700 refugee children in Sweden, sparking a wave of concern among doctors and politicians. Told from the perspective of a family, Apathy follows the parents as they struggle in their daily lives and gives a voice to the children. The multi-territory co-production is produced by France’s...
Paris-based sales powerhouse Elle Driver has added Greek director Alexandros Avranas’ Apathy, now in pre-production, to its line-up heading into Cannes.
Apathy is a drama exploring the real-life phenomenon of ‘resignation syndrome’, a catatonic state that has affected around 700 refugee children in Sweden, sparking a wave of concern among doctors and politicians. Told from the perspective of a family, Apathy follows the parents as they struggle in their daily lives and gives a voice to the children. The multi-territory co-production is produced by France’s...
- 5/11/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the poster for the 76th edition featuring none other than Gallic cinema icon Catherine Deneuve.
The black and white photo pictures the noted performer in the film “La Chamade” (Heartbeat), directed by Alain Cavalier. Shot in 1968 on Pampelonne beach, near Saint-Tropez, the film stars Deneuve as Lucile, who the festival describes as living a “worldly and superficial life, tinged with ease and a taste for luxury. Her heart beats frantically, hurriedly, passionately.”
Cannes official 2023 poster featuring Catherine Deneuve
The festival called her “an embodiment of cinema, far from what is conventional or appropriate. Without compromise and always in tune with her convictions, even if it means going against the grain of the times,” recalling that Deneuve has been the muse of filmmakers including Jacques Demy, Agnès Varda, Luis Buñuel, François Truffaut, Marco Ferreri, Manoel de Oliveira, André Téchiné, Emmanuelle Bercot and Arnaud Desplechin.
In...
The black and white photo pictures the noted performer in the film “La Chamade” (Heartbeat), directed by Alain Cavalier. Shot in 1968 on Pampelonne beach, near Saint-Tropez, the film stars Deneuve as Lucile, who the festival describes as living a “worldly and superficial life, tinged with ease and a taste for luxury. Her heart beats frantically, hurriedly, passionately.”
Cannes official 2023 poster featuring Catherine Deneuve
The festival called her “an embodiment of cinema, far from what is conventional or appropriate. Without compromise and always in tune with her convictions, even if it means going against the grain of the times,” recalling that Deneuve has been the muse of filmmakers including Jacques Demy, Agnès Varda, Luis Buñuel, François Truffaut, Marco Ferreri, Manoel de Oliveira, André Téchiné, Emmanuelle Bercot and Arnaud Desplechin.
In...
- 4/19/2023
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety Film + TV
The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the poster for its upcoming 76th edition which pays tribute to iconic French actress Catherine Deneuve. Scroll down to see it.
The image shows Deneuve standing on Pampelonne beach, near Saint-Tropez, for the shoot of Alain Cavalier’s 1968 romantic drama Heartbeat (La Chamade), adapted from the novel by Françoise Sagan.
Deneuve stars as a beautiful woman who oscillates between her older businessman lover and a charming young man of her own age, played by Michel Piccoli and Roger Van Hool.
“She plays Lucile, who leads a worldly and superficial life, tinged with ease and a taste for luxury. Her heart beats frantically, hurriedly, passionately,” said the festival in a statement. “Like the heart of cinema that the Festival de Cannes celebrates every year: its lively and embodied pulse can be heard everywhere. The heart of the 7th Art – of its artists, professionals, amateurs, press – beats like a drum,...
The image shows Deneuve standing on Pampelonne beach, near Saint-Tropez, for the shoot of Alain Cavalier’s 1968 romantic drama Heartbeat (La Chamade), adapted from the novel by Françoise Sagan.
Deneuve stars as a beautiful woman who oscillates between her older businessman lover and a charming young man of her own age, played by Michel Piccoli and Roger Van Hool.
“She plays Lucile, who leads a worldly and superficial life, tinged with ease and a taste for luxury. Her heart beats frantically, hurriedly, passionately,” said the festival in a statement. “Like the heart of cinema that the Festival de Cannes celebrates every year: its lively and embodied pulse can be heard everywhere. The heart of the 7th Art – of its artists, professionals, amateurs, press – beats like a drum,...
- 4/19/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Paris, April 6 (Ians) French filmmaker-actress Maiwenn’s historical drama “Jeanne du Barry”, starring Johnny Depp as the French king Louis Xv, is slated for a world premiere on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival’s 76th edition, ‘Variety’ has confirmed.
The movie marks Depp’s acting comeback after a three-year hiatus following his long legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard that culminated in a defamation trial won by Depp in December.
Maiwenn’s sixth feature, the period movie revolves around the tumultuous relationship of the French king and his lover, Jeanne du Barry (played by Maiwenn), whom he brought into the Versailles Palace to live near him even though she wasn’t a noble.
Louis Xv, who was nicknamed “the beloved”, ultimately died as an unpopular king after being accused of corruption. He reigned for 59 years, the longest in the history of France after that of Louis Xiv.
Depp,...
The movie marks Depp’s acting comeback after a three-year hiatus following his long legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard that culminated in a defamation trial won by Depp in December.
Maiwenn’s sixth feature, the period movie revolves around the tumultuous relationship of the French king and his lover, Jeanne du Barry (played by Maiwenn), whom he brought into the Versailles Palace to live near him even though she wasn’t a noble.
Louis Xv, who was nicknamed “the beloved”, ultimately died as an unpopular king after being accused of corruption. He reigned for 59 years, the longest in the history of France after that of Louis Xiv.
Depp,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Johnny Depp returns to cinema for the first time in three years with the 2023 Cannes opening night film, “Jeanne du Barry.”
Directed by French actress/filmmaker Maïwenn, “Jeanne du Barry” centers on French king Louis Xv (Depp) and his lover Jeanne du Barry (Maïwenn) at the Versailles Palace. Louis Xv later was accused of corruption after his 59-year reign, the longest in French history other than Louis Xiv.
IndieWire can confirm “Jeanne du Barry” will premiere on the opening night of the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, kicking off May 16. Le Pacte will distribute the film in France on the same day as Cannes’ opening night. The film is also expected to play in competition. It’s written by Maïwenn with Teddy Lussi-Modeste and Nicolas Livecchi.
Per the festival synopsis, Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb...
Directed by French actress/filmmaker Maïwenn, “Jeanne du Barry” centers on French king Louis Xv (Depp) and his lover Jeanne du Barry (Maïwenn) at the Versailles Palace. Louis Xv later was accused of corruption after his 59-year reign, the longest in French history other than Louis Xiv.
IndieWire can confirm “Jeanne du Barry” will premiere on the opening night of the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, kicking off May 16. Le Pacte will distribute the film in France on the same day as Cannes’ opening night. The film is also expected to play in competition. It’s written by Maïwenn with Teddy Lussi-Modeste and Nicolas Livecchi.
Per the festival synopsis, Jeanne Vaubernier, a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb...
- 4/5/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
’Jeanne du Barry’ will be released on the same day in French cinemas.
The world premiere of Jeanne du Barry, directed by Maïwenn and starring Johnny Depp, will open the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on May 16.
The festival didn’t specify whether the film will bow in or out of Competition.
Jeanne du Barry will be released the same day in French theatres via Le Pacte. The costume drama was produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Gregoire Sorlat’s Why Not Productions.
Also producing is Depp’s production company In.2 alongside La Petite Reine and France Télévisions, with the Red Sea International...
The world premiere of Jeanne du Barry, directed by Maïwenn and starring Johnny Depp, will open the 2023 Cannes Film Festival on May 16.
The festival didn’t specify whether the film will bow in or out of Competition.
Jeanne du Barry will be released the same day in French theatres via Le Pacte. The costume drama was produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Gregoire Sorlat’s Why Not Productions.
Also producing is Depp’s production company In.2 alongside La Petite Reine and France Télévisions, with the Red Sea International...
- 4/5/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Johnny Depp’s comeback movie Jeanne Du Barry is to open the Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by Maïwenn, who also stars, the film’s world premiere will take place on Tuesday, May 16 and the film will be released in cinemas the same day in France, the festival said Wednesday.
Maïwenn herself plays the eponymous main character alongside Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. The film will recount the life, rise and fall of French King Louis Xv‘s court favorite, Jeanne Vaubernier.
The French-language film’s official synopsis describes Vaubernier as “a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favourite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love.
Directed by Maïwenn, who also stars, the film’s world premiere will take place on Tuesday, May 16 and the film will be released in cinemas the same day in France, the festival said Wednesday.
Maïwenn herself plays the eponymous main character alongside Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Greggory and India Hair. The film will recount the life, rise and fall of French King Louis Xv‘s court favorite, Jeanne Vaubernier.
The French-language film’s official synopsis describes Vaubernier as “a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, who uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one. She becomes the favourite of King Louis Xv who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life. They fall madly in love.
- 4/5/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Maïwenn’s historical drama, “Jeanne du Barry,” starring Johnny Depp as Louis Xv, is slated to world premiere on opening night of the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, Variety has learned. The festival confirmed the news following Variety’s report.
The movie marks Depp’s acting comeback after a three-year hiatus following his long legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard which culminated in a defamation trial won by Depp in December.
Maïwenn’s sixth feature, the period movie revolves around the tumultuous relationship of the French king Louis Xv and his lover, Jeanne du Barry (played by Maiwenn), whom he brought into the Versailles Palace to live near him even though she wasn’t a noble. Louis Xv, who was nicknamed “the beloved,” ultimately died as an unpopular king after being accused of corruption. He reigned for 59 years, the longest in the history of France after that of...
The movie marks Depp’s acting comeback after a three-year hiatus following his long legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard which culminated in a defamation trial won by Depp in December.
Maïwenn’s sixth feature, the period movie revolves around the tumultuous relationship of the French king Louis Xv and his lover, Jeanne du Barry (played by Maiwenn), whom he brought into the Versailles Palace to live near him even though she wasn’t a noble. Louis Xv, who was nicknamed “the beloved,” ultimately died as an unpopular king after being accused of corruption. He reigned for 59 years, the longest in the history of France after that of...
- 4/5/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Vincent Cassel, the chameleon of French cinema, is not one for analysing his characters. In fact, he hates the very idea. When we meet over video chat, he mentions Michel Simon, the “wonderful French actor from the Thirties and Forties” who starred in classics like Boudu Saved from Drowning and L’Atalante. “When suddenly coming across an actor that would discuss the character and talk, he would go, ‘Ah, another intelligent actor.’ And that wasn’t a compliment! Because you don’t have to be smart to be an actor. You have to be able to let yourself go.”
Now 56, the wiry, scruffily handsome Cassel has been doing exactly that for his entire career, ever since he shocked audiences as the combustible Vinz in 1995’s Parisian riots drama La Haine. Since then, he’s never been afraid of courting controversy, notably in Gaspar Noé’s still-shocking 2002 rape-revenge drama Irréversible, one of...
Now 56, the wiry, scruffily handsome Cassel has been doing exactly that for his entire career, ever since he shocked audiences as the combustible Vinz in 1995’s Parisian riots drama La Haine. Since then, he’s never been afraid of courting controversy, notably in Gaspar Noé’s still-shocking 2002 rape-revenge drama Irréversible, one of...
- 2/26/2023
- by James Mottram
- The Independent - TV
Dominik Moll’s investigative drama earns awards in Paris for best film, director, adapted screenplay and more.
Dominik Moll’s investigative drama The Night Of The 12th enjoyed a big night at France’s 48th annual César Awards, picking up six awards including best film of the year at a starry ceremony at Paris concert hall l’Olympia on Friday night.
The film, which started the night on 10 nominations, prevailed in a competitive category alongside Louis Garrel’s crime-infused romantic comedy The Innocent, Cédric Klapisch’s dance drama Rise, Albert Serra’s political thriller Pacifiction, and Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi’s coming-of-age tale Forever Young.
Dominik Moll’s investigative drama The Night Of The 12th enjoyed a big night at France’s 48th annual César Awards, picking up six awards including best film of the year at a starry ceremony at Paris concert hall l’Olympia on Friday night.
The film, which started the night on 10 nominations, prevailed in a competitive category alongside Louis Garrel’s crime-infused romantic comedy The Innocent, Cédric Klapisch’s dance drama Rise, Albert Serra’s political thriller Pacifiction, and Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi’s coming-of-age tale Forever Young.
- 2/25/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Brussels-based sales outfit unveils Paris Rendez-Vous slate.
Brussels-based sales company Best Friend Forever (Bff) has acquired Michaël Dichter’s pre-teen feature The Fantastic Three and Angela Ottobah’s genre drama Rapture.
Bff will also market premiere Nicolas Silhol’s Anti-Squat at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris this week.
The Fantastic Three (Les Trois Fantastiques) is Dichter’s feature debut and is a continuation of his César-nominated short film Pollux.
Set in contemporary Eastern France, the film follows a group of pre-teen boys, aka “the fantastic three,” who lean on each other amidst their complicated home lives. When the brother of...
Brussels-based sales company Best Friend Forever (Bff) has acquired Michaël Dichter’s pre-teen feature The Fantastic Three and Angela Ottobah’s genre drama Rapture.
Bff will also market premiere Nicolas Silhol’s Anti-Squat at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris this week.
The Fantastic Three (Les Trois Fantastiques) is Dichter’s feature debut and is a continuation of his César-nominated short film Pollux.
Set in contemporary Eastern France, the film follows a group of pre-teen boys, aka “the fantastic three,” who lean on each other amidst their complicated home lives. When the brother of...
- 1/10/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Brussels-based sales outfit unveils Rendez-Vous slate.
Brussels-based sales company Best Friend Forever (Bff) has acquired Michaël Dichter’s pre-teen feature The Fantastic Three and Angela Ottobah’s genre drama Rapture.
Bff will also market premiere Nicolas Silhol’s Anti-Squat at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris this week.
The Fantastic Three (Les Trois Fantastiques) is Dichter’s feature debut and is a continuation of his César-nominated short film Pollux.
Set in contemporary Eastern France, the film follows a group of pre-teen boys, aka “the fantastic three,” who lean on each other amidst their complicated home lives. When the brother of one...
Brussels-based sales company Best Friend Forever (Bff) has acquired Michaël Dichter’s pre-teen feature The Fantastic Three and Angela Ottobah’s genre drama Rapture.
Bff will also market premiere Nicolas Silhol’s Anti-Squat at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris this week.
The Fantastic Three (Les Trois Fantastiques) is Dichter’s feature debut and is a continuation of his César-nominated short film Pollux.
Set in contemporary Eastern France, the film follows a group of pre-teen boys, aka “the fantastic three,” who lean on each other amidst their complicated home lives. When the brother of one...
- 1/10/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Lockdown Tower has sold to UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, Latin America, and German-speaking Europe
Paris-based sales company Elle Driver has closed a slew of sales for Guillaume Nicloux’s Lockdown Tower and Yann Samuell’s The Lulus ahead of Unifrance’s annual Rendez-Vous in Paris.
Lockdown Tower has sold to Signature Entertainment for the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, to California Filmes for Latin America and to Capelight for German-speaking Europe. Other sales include Vie Vision Pictures for Taiwan, Klockworks in Japan, Media4Fun in Poland, Nk Contents in Korea and Capella Film for Cis and the Baltics.
Paris-based sales company Elle Driver has closed a slew of sales for Guillaume Nicloux’s Lockdown Tower and Yann Samuell’s The Lulus ahead of Unifrance’s annual Rendez-Vous in Paris.
Lockdown Tower has sold to Signature Entertainment for the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, to California Filmes for Latin America and to Capelight for German-speaking Europe. Other sales include Vie Vision Pictures for Taiwan, Klockworks in Japan, Media4Fun in Poland, Nk Contents in Korea and Capella Film for Cis and the Baltics.
- 1/5/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Amazon Prime Video has come a long way since launching in France in 2016. The streamer, whose first French film original, “The Mad Women’s Ball,” recently picked up an International Emmy Award, unveiled a landmark deal with French guilds during a posh dinner with industry players and talent in Paris on Wednesday evening (Nov. 30).
On the guest list at the chic Lutetia Hotel was a laundry list of talent that’s in business with Prime Video, including Philippe Lacheau (“Lol”), Franck Gastambide (“Medellin”), Eloise Lang (“La Graine”), Melha Bedia (“Miskina”), Ziad Doueiri (“Coeurs Noirs”), as well as producers Alain Goldman, Pathé Films’ Ardavan Safaee, Mandarin’s Eric Altmayer, CG Cinema’s Charles Gillibert, Metropolitan FilmExport’s Victor Hadida, Newen’s Romain Bessi, and Asasha Group’s Gaspard de Chavagnac, among many others.
Announced by Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Prime Video’s country manager in France, the four-year deal was signed with the guilds AnimFrance,...
On the guest list at the chic Lutetia Hotel was a laundry list of talent that’s in business with Prime Video, including Philippe Lacheau (“Lol”), Franck Gastambide (“Medellin”), Eloise Lang (“La Graine”), Melha Bedia (“Miskina”), Ziad Doueiri (“Coeurs Noirs”), as well as producers Alain Goldman, Pathé Films’ Ardavan Safaee, Mandarin’s Eric Altmayer, CG Cinema’s Charles Gillibert, Metropolitan FilmExport’s Victor Hadida, Newen’s Romain Bessi, and Asasha Group’s Gaspard de Chavagnac, among many others.
Announced by Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Prime Video’s country manager in France, the four-year deal was signed with the guilds AnimFrance,...
- 12/1/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Emmanuelle Bercot’s Peaceful (De Son Vivant in the French) is a noble endeavor, if a bit didactic. Above all else the film serves as a solid showcase for its stellar cast. We follow a young acting teacher, Benjamin (Benoît Magimel), who’s doing his best to ignore the fact that he is dying. He’s got pancreatic cancer. His controlling mother Crystal (Catherine Deneuve) appears more urgently worried. Deneuve, unsurprisingly, is the anchor of this picture. The living legend excels at making it look easy, and here—playing both steadfast and guilt-stricken—she’s as natural as ever. A truly impressive less-is-more supporting turn. Magimel also does strong work, accentuating the curse of a cancer-riddled body. He can’t really compete with Deneuve in their scenes together, but who can? Points for the effort alone.
On the edges of its central narrative is Dr. Eddé (Gabriel Sara), the optimistic...
On the edges of its central narrative is Dr. Eddé (Gabriel Sara), the optimistic...
- 11/7/2022
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Exclusive: Wild Bunch International (Wbi) has released a fresh image of Johnny Depp as Louis Xv in French director Maïwenn’s ambitious costume drama Jeanne du Barry, in which she also co-stars as the titular courtesan, and unveiled a raft of first theatrical deals.
The historical love story has been acquired for France (Le Pacte), Benelux (Paradiso Filmed Entertainment), Switzerland (Frenetic Films), Italy and Spain (Notorious Pictures), Greece (Spentzos Film), Portugal (Pris Audiovisuais), ex-Yugoslavia (McF), Hungary (Ads Service), Czech Republic (Film New Europe), Romania (Independenta), Poland (Gutek) and Cis (World Vision).
Post-production is currently underway on the film after an 11-week shoot at locations including the Palace of Versailles and other chateaux in the Paris region as well as in the studio.
Why Not Productions (Rust And Bone and A Prophet) lead produces with IN2 and France Télévisions also on board as producers.
The production marks Depp’s first feature film role in three years,...
The historical love story has been acquired for France (Le Pacte), Benelux (Paradiso Filmed Entertainment), Switzerland (Frenetic Films), Italy and Spain (Notorious Pictures), Greece (Spentzos Film), Portugal (Pris Audiovisuais), ex-Yugoslavia (McF), Hungary (Ads Service), Czech Republic (Film New Europe), Romania (Independenta), Poland (Gutek) and Cis (World Vision).
Post-production is currently underway on the film after an 11-week shoot at locations including the Palace of Versailles and other chateaux in the Paris region as well as in the studio.
Why Not Productions (Rust And Bone and A Prophet) lead produces with IN2 and France Télévisions also on board as producers.
The production marks Depp’s first feature film role in three years,...
- 11/1/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Peaceful (De Son Vivant) Studio Canal Reviewed for Shockya.com & BigAppleReviews.net, linked from Rotten Tomatoes by Harvey Karten Director: Emmanuelle Bercot Screenwriter: Emmanuelle Bercot, Marcia Romano Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Benoît Magimel, Gabriel A. Sara, Cécile de France, Oscar Morgan Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 10/12/22 Opens: October 28, 2022 If you don’t know that stage […]
The post Peaceful (De Son Vivant) Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Peaceful (De Son Vivant) Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 10/28/2022
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
“For me, truth is non-negotiable,” a preternaturally serene oncologist tells his latest patient at the start of Emmanuelle Bercot’s sincere but unmoving cancer melodrama, “Peaceful.” He will never lie about a prognosis, offer false hope, or frame someone’s experience with a terminal disease as a “fight” they can win. Movingly played by real-life oncologist and first-time actor Gabriel A. Sara, who brings his personal experience to bear in every beat, Dr. Eddé embodies the same emotional truth that “failed actor” Benjamin Boltanski (Benoît Magimel) seeks to inspire from his wide-eyed theater students and avoid from his suffocating mother (Catherine Deneuve), even as he lies to them both.
That makes the two men natural scene partners in a film about someone finding the strength to know themselves as their body weakens towards death (a process rather clumsily paralleled by one of the exercises Benjamin asks his students to perform...
That makes the two men natural scene partners in a film about someone finding the strength to know themselves as their body weakens towards death (a process rather clumsily paralleled by one of the exercises Benjamin asks his students to perform...
- 10/27/2022
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
The Big C Minus: Bercot Submerges Maudlin Disease Drama with Sentimentality
Cancer isn’t the only element degrading the lives of those defined by it in Emmanuelle Bercot’s latest feature, Peaceful (De son vivant), the director’s third time directing the iconic Catherine Deneuve, at least not when explored in a script so jam-packed with familiar tropes and cliches one questions what inspired the need for it to be made. Another entry in a countless glut of similar narratives, Bercot explores the last year in the life of an acting coach suffering from stage four pancreatic cancer, a veritable ‘disease for all seasons’ as he comes to grips with the reality of his diagnosis.…...
Cancer isn’t the only element degrading the lives of those defined by it in Emmanuelle Bercot’s latest feature, Peaceful (De son vivant), the director’s third time directing the iconic Catherine Deneuve, at least not when explored in a script so jam-packed with familiar tropes and cliches one questions what inspired the need for it to be made. Another entry in a countless glut of similar narratives, Bercot explores the last year in the life of an acting coach suffering from stage four pancreatic cancer, a veritable ‘disease for all seasons’ as he comes to grips with the reality of his diagnosis.…...
- 10/27/2022
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Update: French actors Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard, Melanie Laurent, Isabelle Huppert and Charlotte Gainsbourg are among those who have cut off locks of their hair in support of the Iranian protests against the death of Mahsa Amini.
In a video posted to Instagram, the actors are among a number of French industry members who are seen trimming locks of their hair. In Binoche’s case, the “Both Sides of the Blade” actor defiantly lobs off entire inches of her dark hair, while declaring “For freedom!”
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A post shared by Soutien Femmes Iran (@soutienfemmesiran)
The video campaign, which uses the hashtag #HairForFreedom, was organized by Richard Sedillot, with Julie Couturier and Christiane Feral Schuhl.
“It is impossible not to denounce again and again this terrible repression,” reads a statement posted with the video. “There are already dozens of dead men and women, including children. The arrests only swell,...
In a video posted to Instagram, the actors are among a number of French industry members who are seen trimming locks of their hair. In Binoche’s case, the “Both Sides of the Blade” actor defiantly lobs off entire inches of her dark hair, while declaring “For freedom!”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Soutien Femmes Iran (@soutienfemmesiran)
The video campaign, which uses the hashtag #HairForFreedom, was organized by Richard Sedillot, with Julie Couturier and Christiane Feral Schuhl.
“It is impossible not to denounce again and again this terrible repression,” reads a statement posted with the video. “There are already dozens of dead men and women, including children. The arrests only swell,...
- 10/5/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A trio of French films, the melodrama “A Family for 1640 Days,” political thriller “Goliath” and comedy “Adieu Paris,” are set to be released in the U.S. by the New York-based company Distrib Films.
Both Fabien Gorgeart’s “A Family for 1640 Days” (“Une vraie famille”) and Edouard Baer’s “Adieu Paris” are represented in international markets by Le Pacte.
“A Family for 1640 Days,” winner of the top prize at last year’s American French Film Festival, revolves around Simon, a six-year old adopted boy who is about to reunite with his biological father. The movie stars Melanie Thierry (“En therapie”) and Lyes Salem. Distrib Films is planning to release the film in early 2023 and have it play at festivals.
A love letter to the French capital, “Adieu Paris” marks the fourth directorial outing of actor-turned-helmer Baer, who last directed “Ouvert la nuit” in which he starred opposite Audrey Tautou and Sabrina Ouazani.
Both Fabien Gorgeart’s “A Family for 1640 Days” (“Une vraie famille”) and Edouard Baer’s “Adieu Paris” are represented in international markets by Le Pacte.
“A Family for 1640 Days,” winner of the top prize at last year’s American French Film Festival, revolves around Simon, a six-year old adopted boy who is about to reunite with his biological father. The movie stars Melanie Thierry (“En therapie”) and Lyes Salem. Distrib Films is planning to release the film in early 2023 and have it play at festivals.
A love letter to the French capital, “Adieu Paris” marks the fourth directorial outing of actor-turned-helmer Baer, who last directed “Ouvert la nuit” in which he starred opposite Audrey Tautou and Sabrina Ouazani.
- 9/26/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Catherine Deneuve has no regrets. Though the French icon has worked with everyone from Buñuel to Bjork, she doesn’t dwell on the decades she’s spent on screen. And, at 78, she’s certainly not thinking of retirement.
“I’m not at all ready to draw up a career assessment,” says Deneuve during an interview at the sleek, four-star Hotel Gabriel in Paris’ Saint-Germain des Près — her go-to place for the rare interviews she gives. “I’m very focused on the present, a little on the past and even on the near-future.”
But it’s her legacy of indelible performances that’s on the menu during the interview, which is being conducted as Deneuve prepares to be celebrated at the Venice Film Festival with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Sophisticated as ever and sporting a plunging neckline that exposes her black tulle lingerie, Deneuve feels conflicted about the honor.
“I’m not at all ready to draw up a career assessment,” says Deneuve during an interview at the sleek, four-star Hotel Gabriel in Paris’ Saint-Germain des Près — her go-to place for the rare interviews she gives. “I’m very focused on the present, a little on the past and even on the near-future.”
But it’s her legacy of indelible performances that’s on the menu during the interview, which is being conducted as Deneuve prepares to be celebrated at the Venice Film Festival with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Sophisticated as ever and sporting a plunging neckline that exposes her black tulle lingerie, Deneuve feels conflicted about the honor.
- 8/24/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: France’s Why Not Productions has unveiled a playful first teaser image of Johnny Depp in the role of King Louis Xv in French director Maïwenn’s historical love story Jeanne du Barry, in which she also co-stars as the titular courtesan. Check it out below.
Rust And Bone and A Prophet production company Why Not has also confirmed that shoot began on July 26 for 11 weeks, with locations including Versailles and other chateaux in the Paris region as well as the studio.
The production marks Depp’s first feature film role in three years, and follows hot on the heels of his victory in his turbulent defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
The ambitious drama is freely inspired by the life of Jeanne du Barry, Louis Xv’s last royal mistress at the Court of Versaille, after Madame de Pompadour.
Born into poverty, she is a young working-class woman...
Rust And Bone and A Prophet production company Why Not has also confirmed that shoot began on July 26 for 11 weeks, with locations including Versailles and other chateaux in the Paris region as well as the studio.
The production marks Depp’s first feature film role in three years, and follows hot on the heels of his victory in his turbulent defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
The ambitious drama is freely inspired by the life of Jeanne du Barry, Louis Xv’s last royal mistress at the Court of Versaille, after Madame de Pompadour.
Born into poverty, she is a young working-class woman...
- 8/10/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Wassim Beji, the French producer of “Boite noire,” and Snd have acquired the adaptation rights to iconic French detective novels “Fantomas” and are planning a film and a series based on the franchise.
A ruthless and multi-faceted thief and assassin, Fantomas “was the first occidental super-villain featured in a serialized format, first through comic strips and later in a radio series,” said Beji, adding that “Fantomas” has also been a source of inspiration for some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including the surrealist poet Guillaume Apollinaire.
Created in 1911 by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre, Fantomas is one of France’s most popular fictional characters, along with Arsene Lupin. Fantomas was first adapted for the big screen by into a silent crime film serial directed by Louis Feuillade for Gaumont in 1913. The property was later adapted into a crime comedy trilogy starring Jean Marais and Louis de Fines...
A ruthless and multi-faceted thief and assassin, Fantomas “was the first occidental super-villain featured in a serialized format, first through comic strips and later in a radio series,” said Beji, adding that “Fantomas” has also been a source of inspiration for some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including the surrealist poet Guillaume Apollinaire.
Created in 1911 by Marcel Allain and Pierre Souvestre, Fantomas is one of France’s most popular fictional characters, along with Arsene Lupin. Fantomas was first adapted for the big screen by into a silent crime film serial directed by Louis Feuillade for Gaumont in 1913. The property was later adapted into a crime comedy trilogy starring Jean Marais and Louis de Fines...
- 8/10/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The 2022 Cannes Film Festival is nearing its conclusion, and soon the jury will be selecting awards for this year’s impressive, albeit quieter, slate of films. After last year’s “Titane” from Julia Ducournau made history as the first female-directed film to fully win the Palme d’Or (Jane Campion’s “The Piano” tied with “Farewell My Concubine” in 1993), at this point in the festival, it doesn’t seem likely that a woman-directed project will walk away with it this year.
“Forever Young” by French-Italian director Valeria Bruni Tedeschi seems to be the only film directed by a woman that has so far invoked any passion for bringing it to the finish line. Claire Denis’ “Stars at Noon,” Kelly Reichardt’s “Showing Up,” Leonor Serraille’s “Mother and Son” and Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix van Groeningen’s “Eight Mountains” are the other titles directed by women among the 21 contending features.
“Forever Young” by French-Italian director Valeria Bruni Tedeschi seems to be the only film directed by a woman that has so far invoked any passion for bringing it to the finish line. Claire Denis’ “Stars at Noon,” Kelly Reichardt’s “Showing Up,” Leonor Serraille’s “Mother and Son” and Charlotte Vandermeersch and Felix van Groeningen’s “Eight Mountains” are the other titles directed by women among the 21 contending features.
- 5/26/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
In the run up to Cannes, Gaumont is launching sales on “The Pot of Feu,” Tran Anh Hung’s period romance starring Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel. The movie is currently shooting in a French castle.
Set in the world of French gastronomy in 1885, “The Pot of Feu” charts the relationship between Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin, the fine gourmet she has been working for over the last 20 years. Growing fonder of one another, their bond turns into a romance and gives rise to delicious dishes that impress even the world’s most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie’s reluctance to commit to him, he decides to start cooking for her.
Pierre Gagnaire, the 14 Michelin starred-chef, is serving as culinary counselor on the film and also has a small part in it. The story is inspired by the famous French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.
“The Pot...
Set in the world of French gastronomy in 1885, “The Pot of Feu” charts the relationship between Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin, the fine gourmet she has been working for over the last 20 years. Growing fonder of one another, their bond turns into a romance and gives rise to delicious dishes that impress even the world’s most illustrious chefs. When Dodin is faced with Eugenie’s reluctance to commit to him, he decides to start cooking for her.
Pierre Gagnaire, the 14 Michelin starred-chef, is serving as culinary counselor on the film and also has a small part in it. The story is inspired by the famous French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin.
“The Pot...
- 4/19/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
“Peaceful,” Emmanuelle Bercot’s Cesar-winning melodrama which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, has landed domestic distribution with New York-based banner Distrib US.
Sold by Studiocanal, the movie is headlined by Benoit Magimel and Catherine Deneuve (pictured). Magimel, who won the Cesar Award for best actor — beating fellow nominee Adam Driver — stars as a man dying of cancer. “Peaceful” world premiered out of competition at Cannes where it earn warm reviews.
Distrib US has also acquired “A Tale of Love and Desire” and “Les Inde Galantes,” which are both screening this week at the Film at Lincoln Center as part of the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in New York. The event is being co-organized by Unifrance, the French film and TV advocacy org.
“Les Inde Galantes,” directed by Philippe Béziat, is a documentary following 30 dancers reprising Jean-Philippe Rameau’s baroque masterpiece on the stage of Paris’s legendary Opéra Bastille.
Sold by Studiocanal, the movie is headlined by Benoit Magimel and Catherine Deneuve (pictured). Magimel, who won the Cesar Award for best actor — beating fellow nominee Adam Driver — stars as a man dying of cancer. “Peaceful” world premiered out of competition at Cannes where it earn warm reviews.
Distrib US has also acquired “A Tale of Love and Desire” and “Les Inde Galantes,” which are both screening this week at the Film at Lincoln Center as part of the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema in New York. The event is being co-organized by Unifrance, the French film and TV advocacy org.
“Les Inde Galantes,” directed by Philippe Béziat, is a documentary following 30 dancers reprising Jean-Philippe Rameau’s baroque masterpiece on the stage of Paris’s legendary Opéra Bastille.
- 3/11/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Rolling off an unpredictable and crowded race, Xavier Giannoli’s period piece “Lost Illusions” and Leos Carax’s musical romance “Annette” scooped the top prizes at the 47th Cesar Awards, France’s equivalent to the Oscars, on Friday evening. “Lost Illusions,” which led the nominations, won seven awards, including best film and best male newcomer. “Annette,” which world premiered on opening night at the Cannes Film Festival, won five awards, including best director and original score for Ron Mael and Russell Mael from the rock band Sparks, who performed live during the Cesar ceremony.
The glitzy in-person event took place at the Olympia theater in Paris with prestigious guests including Adam Driver, who was nominated for his performance in “Annette,” and Cate Blanchett, who received the honorary Cesar Award from the hands of Isabelle Huppert. Celebrated by a long and rowdy standing ovation, Blanchett got up on stage and gave a long hug to Huppert.
The glitzy in-person event took place at the Olympia theater in Paris with prestigious guests including Adam Driver, who was nominated for his performance in “Annette,” and Cate Blanchett, who received the honorary Cesar Award from the hands of Isabelle Huppert. Celebrated by a long and rowdy standing ovation, Blanchett got up on stage and gave a long hug to Huppert.
- 2/25/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Johnny Depp will star as French king Louis Xv in the next film directed by French helmer Maiwenn whose shoot will begin this summer, Variety has confirmed.
The movie, whose title and exact plot are kept under wraps, is being produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Gregoire Sorlat’s Paris-based Why Not Productions (“A Prophet”), with Wild Bunch International (“Titane”) handling world sales.
Filming will take place for three months on location across Parisian landmarks, mainly at the Versailles Palace.
Maiwenn will star as Jeanne du Barry, a countess who was Louis Xv’s last mistress.
Louis Xv, who was nicknamed “the beloved” and reigned for 59 years, the longest in the history of France after that of Louis Xiv. Paradoxically, Louis Xv died as an unpopular king after being accused of corruption and debauchery. The project was first reported by the French website Satellifax.
The American actor, who has been accused...
The movie, whose title and exact plot are kept under wraps, is being produced by Pascal Caucheteux and Gregoire Sorlat’s Paris-based Why Not Productions (“A Prophet”), with Wild Bunch International (“Titane”) handling world sales.
Filming will take place for three months on location across Parisian landmarks, mainly at the Versailles Palace.
Maiwenn will star as Jeanne du Barry, a countess who was Louis Xv’s last mistress.
Louis Xv, who was nicknamed “the beloved” and reigned for 59 years, the longest in the history of France after that of Louis Xiv. Paradoxically, Louis Xv died as an unpopular king after being accused of corruption and debauchery. The project was first reported by the French website Satellifax.
The American actor, who has been accused...
- 1/21/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
It’s all “Happening.”
France’s Lumière Awards proved a colossal evening for Audrey Diwan’s festival favorite “Happening,” which took home both best film and best actress wins on Jan. 17. The abortion drama previously won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was later acquired by IFC Films.
Set in 1963 France, “Happening” focuses on a promising young student (Anamaria Vartolome) who risks prison to terminate an unwanted pregnancy that threatens her academic future. Venice Film Festival jury president Bong Joon Ho deemed the Golden Lion win for the film an “unanimous decision” among voters.
“Happening” beat out Leos Carax’s “Annette,” Emmanuelle Bercot’s “Living,” Xavier Giannoli’s “Lost Illusions,” and Arthur Harari’s “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle” to win Best Film at the Lumière Awards, which are selected by France-based members of the foreign press.
Carax won best director for musical drama “Annette,” starring Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver.
France’s Lumière Awards proved a colossal evening for Audrey Diwan’s festival favorite “Happening,” which took home both best film and best actress wins on Jan. 17. The abortion drama previously won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was later acquired by IFC Films.
Set in 1963 France, “Happening” focuses on a promising young student (Anamaria Vartolome) who risks prison to terminate an unwanted pregnancy that threatens her academic future. Venice Film Festival jury president Bong Joon Ho deemed the Golden Lion win for the film an “unanimous decision” among voters.
“Happening” beat out Leos Carax’s “Annette,” Emmanuelle Bercot’s “Living,” Xavier Giannoli’s “Lost Illusions,” and Arthur Harari’s “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle” to win Best Film at the Lumière Awards, which are selected by France-based members of the foreign press.
Carax won best director for musical drama “Annette,” starring Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver.
- 1/18/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Audrey Diwan’s “Happening” won best film and actress for Anamaria Vartolome at France’s Lumière Awards on Monday evening.
“Happening,” which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was acquired by IFC Films, beat out Leos Carax’s “Annette,” Emmanuelle Bercot’s “Living,” Xavier Giannoli’s “Lost Illusions” and Arthur Harari’s “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle.”
Julia Ducournau’s Cannes’ Palme d’Or winning “Titane” was surprisingly snubbed from the best film and director categories. The daring movie won the female newcomer prize which was picked up by Agathe Rousselle. The Lumiere Awards are meant to be selected by France-based members of the foreign press, as are the Golden Globes.
Carax, meanwhile, won best director with “Annette,” a musical drama with Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver. The movie also won best cinematography for Caroline Champetier and best music for Sparks. “Annette” previously earned Carax...
“Happening,” which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was acquired by IFC Films, beat out Leos Carax’s “Annette,” Emmanuelle Bercot’s “Living,” Xavier Giannoli’s “Lost Illusions” and Arthur Harari’s “Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle.”
Julia Ducournau’s Cannes’ Palme d’Or winning “Titane” was surprisingly snubbed from the best film and director categories. The daring movie won the female newcomer prize which was picked up by Agathe Rousselle. The Lumiere Awards are meant to be selected by France-based members of the foreign press, as are the Golden Globes.
Carax, meanwhile, won best director with “Annette,” a musical drama with Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver. The movie also won best cinematography for Caroline Champetier and best music for Sparks. “Annette” previously earned Carax...
- 1/18/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Venice Golden Lion winner Happening won best film and best actress prizes
Audrey Diwan’s Venice Golden Lion winner Happening won best film at the 27th edition of France’s Lumière Awards on Monday evening, while its star Anamaria Vartolomei was awarded the best actress prize.
Adapted from French writer Annie Ernaux’s 2019 semi-autobiographical work, Happening recounts a gifted literature student’s struggle to get an abortion in 1964, 11 years before abortion was legalised in France in 1975.
It marks a first lead role for Vartolomei, whose previous credits include How To Be A Good Wife and The Royal Exchange. Vartolomei is...
Audrey Diwan’s Venice Golden Lion winner Happening won best film at the 27th edition of France’s Lumière Awards on Monday evening, while its star Anamaria Vartolomei was awarded the best actress prize.
Adapted from French writer Annie Ernaux’s 2019 semi-autobiographical work, Happening recounts a gifted literature student’s struggle to get an abortion in 1964, 11 years before abortion was legalised in France in 1975.
It marks a first lead role for Vartolomei, whose previous credits include How To Be A Good Wife and The Royal Exchange. Vartolomei is...
- 1/18/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The awards are voted on by 95 international correspondents from 36 countries.
Xavier Giannoli’s literary adaptation Lost Illusions leads the nominations of the 27th edition of France’s Lumière awards, followed by Audrey Diwan’s Venice Golden Lion winner Happening and Arthur Harari’s Onoda, 10,000 Nights In The Jungle.
The awards, which are voted on by 95 international correspondents hailing from 36 countries this year, are France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes.
Giannoli’s adaptation of Honoré de Balzac’s eponymous 19th-century novel, which premiered in competition in Venice this year, was nominated in five categories including best film, director, screenplay, actor...
Xavier Giannoli’s literary adaptation Lost Illusions leads the nominations of the 27th edition of France’s Lumière awards, followed by Audrey Diwan’s Venice Golden Lion winner Happening and Arthur Harari’s Onoda, 10,000 Nights In The Jungle.
The awards, which are voted on by 95 international correspondents hailing from 36 countries this year, are France’s equivalent of the Golden Globes.
Giannoli’s adaptation of Honoré de Balzac’s eponymous 19th-century novel, which premiered in competition in Venice this year, was nominated in five categories including best film, director, screenplay, actor...
- 12/10/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
France’s most famous Catholic priest, Abbé Pierre, will be portrayed in a €15 million ($17.5 million) biopic movie produced by Snd and Wassim Beji, who previously teamed on “Yves Saint Laurent.”
Titled “Abbé Pierre, a Century of Devotion,” the movie will be directed by Frederic Tellier with Benjamin Lavernhe (“The Speech”) playing the title role, alongside Emmanuelle Bercot.
Snd, the commercial arm of French TV network M6, is producing the film with Beji at Wy Productions and will launch sales at the American Film Market. “Abbé Pierre” will start shooting in December.
Tellier, who depicted the world of firefighters in the critically acclaimed film “Through the Fire,” has done extensive research on the French priest’s legacy in order to chart his life.
Born and raised a Catholic, Henri Groues became a member of the Resistance during World War II, an experience which shaped him and catalyzed his desire to help others.
Titled “Abbé Pierre, a Century of Devotion,” the movie will be directed by Frederic Tellier with Benjamin Lavernhe (“The Speech”) playing the title role, alongside Emmanuelle Bercot.
Snd, the commercial arm of French TV network M6, is producing the film with Beji at Wy Productions and will launch sales at the American Film Market. “Abbé Pierre” will start shooting in December.
Tellier, who depicted the world of firefighters in the critically acclaimed film “Through the Fire,” has done extensive research on the French priest’s legacy in order to chart his life.
Born and raised a Catholic, Henri Groues became a member of the Resistance during World War II, an experience which shaped him and catalyzed his desire to help others.
- 10/28/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
French sales companies are getting behind Mia’s film and TV market in Rome this week.
French sales companies will be out in force at Rome’s Mia film and TV market (October 13-17) as the global film and TV market circuit continues to shift due to the pandemic Covid-19.
French sellers have been busy networking at the Venice and San Sebastian film festivals this autumn, but Mia represents the first physical market since Cannes in July for most after only a handful of European professionals made the trip to Toronto in September.
Mia will also be the last opportunity...
French sales companies will be out in force at Rome’s Mia film and TV market (October 13-17) as the global film and TV market circuit continues to shift due to the pandemic Covid-19.
French sellers have been busy networking at the Venice and San Sebastian film festivals this autumn, but Mia represents the first physical market since Cannes in July for most after only a handful of European professionals made the trip to Toronto in September.
Mia will also be the last opportunity...
- 10/12/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
When Victor Hugo was laid to rest in June of 1885, 40,000 people slept on the streets of Paris in order to catch a glimpse of his casket. Mélanie Laurent’s “The Mad Women’s Ball,” adapted from the Victoria Mas bestseller of the same name, imagines that one of those mourners was a 26-year-old woman who typically communed with the dead in private, where it was all too easy for others to disbelieve her. Between her flushed beauty and immaculate breeding, Eugénie should be the finest husband bait in all of France, but her severe wit and voracious curiosity tend to frustrate her father’s marriage plots. What good is a strong mind when it comes to carrying the next generation of powerful men?
As if Eugénie’s pesky intelligence weren’t enough of a deal-breaker unto itself, there’s also the added bonus that she claims to be visited by ghosts...
As if Eugénie’s pesky intelligence weren’t enough of a deal-breaker unto itself, there’s also the added bonus that she claims to be visited by ghosts...
- 9/13/2021
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Mélanie Laurent is probably still best known to American filmgoers for her literal barn-burner of a performance in “Inglorious Basterds,” but on the global stage, she’s a filmmaking force, premiering her sixth film in ten years at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival on its way to a global debut on Amazon Prime, the streaming service’s first original French production.
“The Mad Women’s Ball,” adapted by Laurent and Christophe Deslandes from Victoria Mas’ novel, explores outdated medical practices and even the supernatural, and it’s another powerful examination of how the asylum essentially served as the witch-burning post for more “enlightened” times — a place to take care of women who didn’t know their place, all under the guise of serving the public order.
Lou de Laâge stars as Eugénie, a spirited young woman who bristles against the expectations of her conservative father, taking every opportunity to hang out...
“The Mad Women’s Ball,” adapted by Laurent and Christophe Deslandes from Victoria Mas’ novel, explores outdated medical practices and even the supernatural, and it’s another powerful examination of how the asylum essentially served as the witch-burning post for more “enlightened” times — a place to take care of women who didn’t know their place, all under the guise of serving the public order.
Lou de Laâge stars as Eugénie, a spirited young woman who bristles against the expectations of her conservative father, taking every opportunity to hang out...
- 9/13/2021
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
"Is it true that you communicate with the dead, Mademoiselle?" An early trailer is out for the French drama The Mad Women's Ball, which is premiering at the upcoming 2021 Toronto Film Festival soon before debuting on Amazon Prime Video. From TIFF: The latest from writer-director-actor Mélanie Laurent is a chilling tale of spectral visions and institutional abuse set in 19th-century France. The film stars Mélanie Laurent, who also wrote & directed it; she's also joined by César Domboy, Lou de Laâge, Benjamin Voisin, Emmanuelle Bercot, Cédric Kahn, Coralie Russier, plus Martine Chevallier. A woman who is unfairly institutionalized at Paris asylum plots to escape with the help of one of its nurses. Based on the novel "Le bal des folles" by Victoria Mas, out now in hardcover for those interested in also reading this "darkly sumptuous tale of wicked spectacle, wild injustice and the insuppressible strength of women." This plays like...
- 8/12/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
There are two types of people in this world, apparently: Those who would find a staff-led singalong of “Let My People Go” in a hospital cancer ward comforting, even inspiring, and those for whom it would only exacerbate the agony. Emmanuelle Bercot’s heart-on-sleeve medical drama “Peaceful” is populated largely by the former group, and duly presumes a high tolerance for sentimentality in its audience — though there are pockets of perceptiveness amid its stickier emotional gestures. Following the last year in the life of terminal cancer patient Benjamin (Benoit Magimel) as he struggles to accept his imminent death and tie up the loose ends of his past, the film is too emotionally blunt not to wring tears (or at least a solid lump in the throat) where required, though they don’t always feel artfully earned. Either way, at over two hours, it’s a long trudge toward an inevitable end.
- 7/26/2021
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
French icon Catherine Deneuve was visibly moved at the Cannes Film Festival’s press conference for Emmanuelle Bercot’s “Peaceful” (“De son vivant”) in which she stars as a grieving mother helping her terminally-ill son (Benoit Magimel) accept his fate along with a doctor (Dr. Gabriel Sara) and a nurse (Cecile de France).
The movie, produced by Les Films du Kiosque, is so far one of the most applauded films at the festival, although it’s surprisingly playing out of competition.
Fiction and reality became blurred during the filming of “Peaceful,” as Deneuve suffered a stroke on set in a hospital near Paris and spent several months resting, first at a hospital and then at home. Deneuve was eventually able to return to the production whose filming was delayed by eight months due to the pandemic.
The beloved actor, who was greeted with a heartfelt standing ovation at the film...
The movie, produced by Les Films du Kiosque, is so far one of the most applauded films at the festival, although it’s surprisingly playing out of competition.
Fiction and reality became blurred during the filming of “Peaceful,” as Deneuve suffered a stroke on set in a hospital near Paris and spent several months resting, first at a hospital and then at home. Deneuve was eventually able to return to the production whose filming was delayed by eight months due to the pandemic.
The beloved actor, who was greeted with a heartfelt standing ovation at the film...
- 7/11/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Multi-hyphenate Emmanuelle Bercot returns to the Cannes Film Festival this year with out-of-competition entry Peaceful (De Son Vivant), an avowed melodrama she both directed and wrote. Bercot was last here starring in Eva Husson’s 2018 Girls Of The Sun and previously had a triumphant 2015 when her drama Standing Tall opened the fest, and when she later scooped the Best Actress prize for My King that same year.
Peaceful, which debuts on Saturday, is the story of Crystal (Catherine Deneuve) and her 40-year-old son Benjamin (Benoît Magimel), the latter living in denial about his terminal cancer diagnosis. Between them are Dr. Eddé (Gabriel Sara) and nurse Eugénie (Cécile de France) who are fighting to do their job and bring mother and son to acceptance. They have one year and four seasons to come together and...
Peaceful, which debuts on Saturday, is the story of Crystal (Catherine Deneuve) and her 40-year-old son Benjamin (Benoît Magimel), the latter living in denial about his terminal cancer diagnosis. Between them are Dr. Eddé (Gabriel Sara) and nurse Eugénie (Cécile de France) who are fighting to do their job and bring mother and son to acceptance. They have one year and four seasons to come together and...
- 7/9/2021
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The company aims to release up to 25 Belgian-focused films a year.
An alliance of leading Belgian production companies, Artemis, Frakas, Tarantula and Gapbusters, are to join Belgian outfit O’Brother Distribution as partners alongside fellow producer Versus, the original founder of the outfit in 2009.
The company now aims to double the number of films it releases each year to up as many as 25, with the focus on commercial independent Belgian titles, including third-party acquisitions. It will also continue to buy big independent titles such as recent pick-up Emmanuelle Bercot’s Out of Competition Cannes title Peaceful (De Son Vivant), starring Catherine Deneuve.
An alliance of leading Belgian production companies, Artemis, Frakas, Tarantula and Gapbusters, are to join Belgian outfit O’Brother Distribution as partners alongside fellow producer Versus, the original founder of the outfit in 2009.
The company now aims to double the number of films it releases each year to up as many as 25, with the focus on commercial independent Belgian titles, including third-party acquisitions. It will also continue to buy big independent titles such as recent pick-up Emmanuelle Bercot’s Out of Competition Cannes title Peaceful (De Son Vivant), starring Catherine Deneuve.
- 7/8/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
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