TFM nabs French rights to 'Trader'

Wall Street thriller stars Vahina Giocante

By ELSA KESLASSY

PARIS — Paris-based company TFM Distribution has nabbed French rights to "Trader Games," a thriller set on Wall Street, featuring Michael Madsen, and toplining Vahina Giocante ("Secret Defense"), the rising star among French actresses.

TF1 Intl. is handling international sales on the pic, which is in English and French.

Penned and directed by Patric Genestal, whose film "The Squale" earned a Cesar nom in 2000, pic follows an up-and-coming young trader, played by Gallic thesp Gilles Lellouche ("Public Enemy Number One") and a climate researcher, played by Giocante, struggling to win big in Wall Street.

Currently in post-production, the film will be released in France next year.

Another title picked up by TF1 Intl., "Fatso" is a Norwegian laffer about an overweight loner whose solitary life gets turned upside down after a drop-dead gorgeous Swedish girl moves into his house.

Pic bowed last October in Norway and has performed well at the local B.O.

TF1 Intl. will also show promoreels of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's "Micmacs," starring Dany Boon, and animated feature "The Rabbi's Cat," which is co-produced by TF1 Intl. and distribbed in France by TFM. "Cat" is helmed by comicbook artist Joann Sfar, who is also directing "Serge Gainsbourg: Vie Heroique," and his producing partner Antoine Delesvaux.