Memento reels in U.S. features

Film unit expands reach as sales company

By JOHN HOPEWELL

Memento will rep international rights on 'Goodbye Solo.'

Rolling off its sales hit with Palme d'Or winner "The Class," Paris-based Memento Films Intl. is driving into the acquisition of international rights on U.S. titles as its expands its geographical reach as a sales company.

In its latest U.S. move, Memento will rep international rights on "Goodbye Solo."

Produced by New York's Gigantic Pictures and Noruz Films, in association with Lucky Hat Entertainment and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), "Solo" is the third feature by Yank Ramin Bahrani.

Story follows a Senagalese taxi driver in North Carolina who attempts to dissuade a suicidal 70-year-old from taking his life.

Bahrani's follow-up to "Chop Shop" will world preem at the Venice Film Festival, which starts on Wednesday, and make its North American preem at Toronto next month.

MFI's "Solo" pickup follows that of  Kelly Reichardt's "Wendy & Lucy," which screened in Cannes' Un Certain Regard this year.

The company has also taken international rights on So-Yong Kim's "Treeless Mountain," which will world preem at Toronto. Pic is her follow-up to "In Between Days," which won the top prize last year at Buenos Aires' prestigious Bafici festival.

Reinforcing its management, MFI has appointed Nicholas Kaiser, former head of marketing and fest relations at Rezo Films, to oversee TV/video sales and select territory all-rights deals.

Marion Klotz, formerly at Films Distribution, has joined MFI as head of fest relations.

"We will continue to handle around eight films a year, all artpics, with a focus on new directors, but we're looking to expand our scope as a sales company," Kaiser told Daily Variety.