Cannes deals gives Fortissimo hope

Sales hint at economic recovery

By PATRICK FRATER

A flurry of pre-Cannes buying by French, British, Israeli and Taiwanese distributors has given Fortissimo Films a hint that certain territories could be recovering some health.

ARP picked up Wong Kar Wai's Official Selection "Ashes of Time Redux" and earlier grabbed Un Certain Regard film "Tokyo Sonata." La Fabrique de Films picked up Madonna's Malawi docu "I Am Because We Are" and Alex Rivera's "Sleep Dealer." Films Sans Frontieres picked up Majid Majidi's "The Song of Sparrows," while "Serbis," a French-Filipino co-production, has found a home at Equation Films.

"France has always been important, but has been slow. Now it is turning out to be one of the healthiest for upmarket arthouse films from around the world -- these six are from the Philippines, Japan, Iran, the U.S., U.K. and Hong Kong -- and the prices are good," said company co-topper Michael J. Werner. He pointed to the euro's strength helping buyers of films priced in dollars, as a factor behind the recovery.

Israel's United King grabbed a package of titles including "Serbis," "Chevolution," "I Am," "Song," "Gigantic" and "Country Wedding."

In the week before the market, company also inked two deals with U.K. arthouse distrib Artificial Eye for Fortissimo's Wong library (which excludes "Redux") and for its Hal Hartley collection. Blighty distrib Metrodome bought Chinese period actioner "A Battle of Wits."

"Taiwan just popped for us. And it seems there are more Taiwanese buyers registered in the Cannes Market than for a long while," Werner said.

Company inked deals for "Captain Abu Raed" and "Queens" with Khan Pictures and for "Gloss" with Joint Entertainment.