U.K.'s Contender picks up film pair

Seville Pictures takes Canadian rights

By ARCHIE THOMAS

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LONDON -- U.K. distrib Contender Films, which was acquired by Canadian DVD distrib outfit Entertainment One last year, has snapped up all U.K. rights to futuristic thriller "Franklyn" and quirky Brit ski jumper pic "Eddie the Eagle" from HanWay Films.

Entertainment One's subsid Seville Pictures has taken Canadian rights to both pics.   

Jeremy Thomas-produced "Franklyn" is set in contemporary London and a future metropolis and weaves the tale of four lost souls divided by two parallel worlds whose fate will be decided by a single bullet. It stars Ryan Philippe, Eva Green and newcomer Sam Riley ("Control").

U.K.-Canada co-production "Eddie the Eagle" is about cult hero Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards who captured the public's imagination when he entered the 1988 Winter Olympics as the U.K.'s first ski jumper and finished last in two events. Steve Coogan plays Edwards.

Both deals were negotiated between Contender CEO Richard Bridgwood and HanWay CEO Tim Haslam.