Miramax, X mark spot
Mini-major expanding Euro presence
Just six months after signing a three-picture deal with Spain's Zodiac Films, the studio has inked a co-production pact with a group of hot German filmmakers known as X-Filme Creative Pool.
Based in Berlin, X-Filme was founded three years ago by producer Stefan Arndt and writer-directors Wolfgang Becker, Dani Levy and Tom Tykwer.
X-Filme produced "Run Lola Run," the German-lingo thriller directed by Tykwer that was a sensation at this year's Toronto Intl. Film Festival with its mixture of film, video, animation and rapid-fire cuts.
After a marathon negotiating session for "Lola" in Toronto, Miramax walked away from the table empty-handed. Sony Pictures Classics nabbed rights to the film, thanks to a relationship SPC acquisitions exec Dylan Leiner had developed earlier with X-Filme.
The story of a young woman who is in a race against the clock to find the money needed to save her lover's life, "Lola" is the most successful domestic film in Germany this year. It will screen at the Sundance Film Festival.
First look agreement
Under X-Filme's agreement with Miramax, the creative pool will provide the studio with an exclusive first look at all properties owned, controlled or written by its members for co-production and distribution.
Miramax will submit to X-Filme projects for its members to write, direct, produce and co-produce, including English-language films.
Arndt told Daily Variety X-Filme wants to learn from Miramax's international marketing expertise. "This agreement is designed to expand the global reach of two companies, each the best at what it does."
No money is changing hands under the agreement, stressed Arndt.
Six releases
"Lola" is one of six films X-Filme has released to date. All of the titles, which include Becker's "Life Is All You Get," Levy's "Silent Night" and "The Giraffe" and Tykwer's "Deadly Maria" and "Winter Sleepers" have won national and international prizes. Although there are only three helmers in X-Filme's creative pool, Arndt said the founders are interested in expanding their ranks.
X-Filme is in talks with several U.S. distributors about releasing "Giraffe" Stateside, Arndt said. He said discussions are also under way with a studio to make an English-language version of "Lola," but said that he will not be involved in the remake.
"I want to make new films, not remakes," Arndt said.
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Miramax by Andrew Herwitz, senior VP for acquisitions and business affairs, and Jason Blum, senior VP for acquisitions and co-productions. Arndt and attorney Steve Saltzman negotiated on behalf of X-Filme.
