Small films popular at Cannes

Major deals likely to follow soon

By ANNE THOMPSON

The first Cannes films to sell are smaller films as a collection of pics likely to generate major deals are just starting to be shown to potential buyers.

Magnolia's genre label Magnet picked up Jennifer Lynch’s “Surveillance,” while IFC Films acquired Arnaud Desplechin’s dark family drama “A Christmas Tale.” IFC chief Jonathan Seyring is “bullish” on this year's market and plans to continue to shop aggressively.

For his part, Roadside Attractions' Howard Cohen is chasing foreign-language fare that has a chance to be distinctive, after seeing his own “Caramel,” Miramax's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," IFC's "Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days," and Sony Pictures Classics' "Persepolis" do well out of Cannes last year.

On the pricier side, Wild Bunch is seeking about $8 million for North American rights to Steven Soderbergh’s anticipated $61 million two-parter on Che. James Gray’s “Two Lovers” is generating advance buzz for Joaquin Phoenix’s performance. And Charlie Kaufman’s feature directorial debut “Synecdoche New York,” which both cost north of $15 million, received a mixed response after it was screened Saturday afternoon.

UTA and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment made the dicey call to screen “Synecdoche” for buyers far in advance of its fest unveiling Friday. “Cannes is a tricky place to sell a movie,” UTA agent Rich Klubeck admits.

While the funny promo trailer for Jean-Claude Van Damme pic “JCVD” wowed many buyers, some were underwhelmed when they saw a more dramatic final product. Van Damme will do some press here.

The irony may be that 2929’s pricey $20-million “What Just Happened?”, which failed to sell at Sundance, may get a new lease on life if it plays well here, and sell for a fraction of its original asking price. Several specialty distribs are lying in wait.