Zeitgeist hooks 'Jellyfish'

Film unit picks up rights to Cannes winner

By DADE HAYES

'Jellyfish,' which won the Camera d'Or at Cannes, will go out in March through Zeitgeist Films.

Zeitgeist Films has picked up U.S. rights to "Jellyfish," the Camera d'Or winner at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

A March release is planned for the Israeli/French co-production by Lama Prods. ("Walk on Water," "Paradise Now") and Les Films du Poisson ("Since Otar Left"). Pic marks the directing debut of husband-and-wife fiction-writing team Etgar Keret and Shira Geffen, who helmed from a script by Geffen.

"Jellyfish" weaves together the stories of three Tel Aviv women to illustrate modern Israeli life: Batya, a waitress; Keren, a troubled new bride; and Joy, a Filipino domestic worker. In addition to the Camera d'Or, "Jellyfish" won two other awards at Cannes: the Young Critics Prize and the French Artist and Writers Guild Award for best directors.

Zeitgeist co-prexys Nancy Gerstman and Emily Russo negotiated the deal with Eric Lagesse and Valentina Merli of Pyramide Intl. Zeitgeist distributed Les Films du Poisson's "Since Otar Left" and Lama's "James' Journey to Jerusalem."