BERLIN -- The crowds at the Berlin Intl. Film Festival had begun to dwindle by Wednesday, but business for continental product remained hot at the European Film Market.
Bavaria Film Intl. had a successful few days: A-Film purchased Benelux rights to its foreign-lingo Oscar hopeful "Nowhere in Africa," while buzz surrounding Wolfgang Becker's Berlinale contender "Good Bye Lenin!" led to quick deals with France's Ocean Films and Japanese distrib Gaga following its sold-out screenings and premiere on Sunday.
Mexico's Constellation Pictures grabbed rights to tyke pic "The Flying Classroom" (Latin American TV rights for the pic went to PWI); Italian distrib Cattleya bought Fatih Akin's Italian-accented "Solino" and Denmark's Miracle Film acquired teen love story "Heart Over Head."
Rival German license trader Beta Cinema, meanwhile, sold Teutonic terrorist drama "Baader" to Greek distrib Camelot and Teutonic pubcaster ARD; latter also acquired Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" from local distrib Prokino.
Gallic outfit Films Distribution unloaded Belgian director Lucas Belvaux's trilogy -- "An Amazing Couple," "On the Run" and "After Life" -- to U.S. distrib Magnolia Pictures, while France's Celluloid Dream rang up a slew of sales for its adult-oriented animated pic "Belleville Rendez-vous" from Sylvain Chomet. Buyers included Metro Tartan (U.K.), Vertigo (Spain), Mikado (Italy), Pan Terra (Russia), Frenetic (Switzerland), Cine Libre (Benelux), Gutek (Poland), Sandrew (Scandinavia), Providence (Brazil) and Artcam (Czech Republic).
Francois Ozon's newest project, still in the works, "5x2," has been picked up by Bim (Italy), Film Cooperative (Switzerland), Intercinema (Russia), Rosebud (Greece) and Oro (Scandinavia).
Metro Tartan also grabbed Bertrand Bonello's gender-bending "Tiresia," Gilles Marchand's "Who Killed Bambi" and "In My Skin" from longtime Ozon collaborator Marina De Van. Latter also landed at Maywin Media (Russia).
Dutch distrib Film Museum bought Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Bright Future," as well as "Angel on the Right."
Barcelona-based producer Media Pro has sold rights to Oliver Stone's docu on Fidel Castro, "Comandante," to Italian distrib Mikado; pic is screening in the Panorama sidebar.
Cuban and Mexican distributors had no sales to report, but were happy that they had increased contacts.
Contact Ed Meza at
ed.meza@mannaa.de