Bac enters film production scene

Company creates Manny Films

By JOHN HOPEWELL

French sales and distribution company Bac Films-Millimages has gone into the production business, creating a talent production house, Manny Films, with producers Philippe Gompel and Aurelia Grossmann.

Gompel, Grossmann and Bac will be partners in the company.

Bac will handle French distribution and international sales on Manny Films’ product.

Manny’s first production, the short “De moins en moins,” the directorial debut of French actress Melanie Laurent, plays in competition at Cannes this year.

The shingle’s first feature, is “Au royaume des aveugles,” the second film by Tristan Aurouet, who attracted attention with 2004’s “Narco,” toplining Benoit Poelvoorde and Guillaume Canet.

Described by Gompel as a “Virgin Suicides”-ish thriller view of teenhood, “Au royaume” is in development. Screenplay is by Dominique Turin.

Manny is also prepping “Los intrepidos,” the feature debut of Swiss Pierre Monnard, an identity comedy about an off-the-rails dubbing artist.

“The humor will be cynical and wacky,” Gompel said.

Grossmann comes from video clipmaker Partizan. Gompel is producing the $16 million Vincent Cassel and Diane Kruger-voiced hip-hop toon feature “Les Lascars,” set up at France Telecom-Orange’s production and acquisition arm Studio 37.

Budgets at Manny are likely to be contained: “Au royame” comes in at E2 million ($3 million). Manny aims to produce two films a year.