Alta buys 'Christmas Tale'

Distributor takes 'Gomorrah,' 'Den'

By EMILIANO DE PABLOS

MADRID — Spain's top arthouse distributor Alta Classics has taken all Spanish rights to Cannes competition entry "Un conte de Noel" (A Christmas Tale) from Paris-based seller Wild Bunch.

Helmed by Arnaud Desplechin, pic toplines French thesps Mathieu Amalric, soon to be seen in “Quantum of Solace,” and Catherine Deneuve, winner of a Cannes Special Prize this year, given in part to reflect the quality of the thesping in “Tale.”

Pic depicts the strained relationships in a family following the death of a young son.

Alta focused more than ever this Cannes on competition titles that will be able to stand out from the art pic pack in Spain.

The distrib inked with Rome-based sales agent Fandango Portobello on Matteo Garrone's Grand Prix-winner "Gomorrah," a journey into the business and criminal world of the Neapolitan Camorra.

Another competish title, Pablo Trapero's drama "Lion's Den," an Argentine-South Korea co-production, was also picked up by Alta.

"My impression is that the Official Competition held up very well, but the market was a bit weaker compared with previous editions," said Alta Classics' head of acquisitions Enrique Gonzalez Kuhn.

"The Competition was almost totally open for Spanish distributors this year. We’ve waited to see all the movies before buying. Other years, 80% of pics are already sold," he added.

Beyond Cannes’ Competition, Alta inked with Jean Labadie's Le Pacte on the documentary "Young@Heart," which turns on a rowdy bunch of seniors who sing rock songs.