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Sony Classics picks up 'Chanel' film

Studio acquires U.S. rights to fashion biopic

By DAVE MCNARY

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Sony Pictures Classics has acquired domestic distribution rights to biopic "Coco Before Chanel," starring Audrey Tautou and directed by Anne Fontaine.

Warner Bros., one of the producers, handles foreign distribution. It's set an April 22 launch for France and has the film in Latin America, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan and Australia. Additional distributors include Optimum in the U.K., RCV in Benelux, Global Motion Pictures in Russia and Svensk in Scandinavia.

"Coco Before Chanel" is a co-production of Haut et Court, Cine@, Warner Bros. France and Films Distribution. Producers are Philippe Carcassonne, Caroline Benjo and Carole Scotta.

Pic was shot in the Paris region and in Normandy. Anne Fontaine and Camille Fontaine scripted with the collaboration of Christopher Hampton ("Dangerous Liaisons"), loosely based on "L'irreguliere" by Edmonde Charles-Roux.

The film also stars Benoit Poelvoorde, Emmanuelle Devos, Marie Gillain and Alessandro Nivola.