Cort, Link confront 'Aftermath'

'Africa' helmer makes English-lingo debut

By DAVE MCNARY

Robert Cort Prods. has tapped German filmmaker Caroline Link ("Nowhere in Africa") to make her English-language debut writing and directing an adaptation of Scott Campbell's novel "Aftermath."

Story centers on a renowned artist and the young dancer whose portrait he has been commissioned to paint. To complete the portrait, he must uncover the young woman's darkest secrets.

Cort purchased Campbell's manuscript out of his development fund before it went to publishers. VP Scarlett Lacey will produce with Cort.

Link scripted and helmed "Nowhere in Africa," the true story of a Jewish family fleeing the Nazis and struggling to survive on a farm in Kenya. It won the foreign-language film Oscar in 2003.

Campbell novel does not yet have a publisher. Cort, who has a first-look deal with Paramount, raised the development fund independently in association with Open Water Entertainment.