Flurry of small-scale activity at Cannes
IFC leads charge, buys five films
|
More Articles:
Most Viewed:
Tommy Lee Jones exits ‘Lincoln Lawyer’(4207 views)The Lovely Bones(3679 views)Hugh Jackman to star in 'Real Steel'(2836 views)Apatow, Universal pick up pitches(2382 views)'New Moon' draws global audience(1987 views)The Princess and the Frog(1759 views) |
While more conservative buyers held back, a flurry of small-scale activity was led by IFC Films, which bought five films: critics' fave and Un Certain Regard opener, "Hunger" from Brit rookie Steve McQueen, about a grisly 1981 IRA hunger strike, Arnaud Desplechin's competition entry "A Christmas Tale," Olivier Assayas' "Summer Hours," Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," and Anna Melikyan's "Mermaid."
IFC will release the films through its innovative day-and-date theatrical/VOD distribution model, which shares revenues with filmmakers. "IFC is taking more risk at the festival," said William Morris Independent's Jerome Duboz. "They will go for movies even if they are difficult."
Wednesday, Sony Pictures Classics made a modest six-figure bid for all rights on James Toback's well-reviewed doc "Tyson," a probing look at the former heavyweight champion. Toback talked Wednesday on the Croisette with SPC's Michael Barker, "his prospective distributor," he said. Toback was hoping to close one of several offers before he left town. ICM's Jeff Berg is handling the sale.
Repeating the pattern established at Cannes, three higher profile pics are the ones still going begging at fest's end.
Four Cannes buyers are bidding on James Gray's $12-million "Two Lovers," which has generated strong reviews and awards buzz for Joaquin Phoenix's performance. 2929 Entertainment will only sell the $12 million film if the deal gives them a shot at a bigger upside through output deals than they would get on their own through Magnolia Pictures. The same is true of Barry Levinson's $20-million Sundance pic "What Just Happened," which will close the fest.
Charlie Kaufman's feature directorial debut "Synecdoche, New York," which Sidney Kimmel Entertainment backed for $20 million, failed to score a sale out of an early buyers' screening. Buyers are waiting for critical response to the film, which unspools today.
