The Buyer’s Club: Top 20 Films for Sale at TIFF 2010

If you happen to be at a world premiere screening at the Toronto Int. Film Festival for a film that is going into the fest with available domestic rights, there is a distinct chance you might run into the VIPs of the acquisitions world: the Weinsteins, Focus’ James Schamus, Fox Searchlight’s Ray Strache, IFC’s Arianna Bocco, SPC’s Michael Barker & Tom Bernard, Magnolia Tom Quinn and Summit’s Michael Schaefer. This year’s TIFF has a good batch of films that will have a little something for everyone – meaning we should see several distribution companies willing to share in those theatrical release dreams.

Out of the hundred plus available titles, only a quarter of those can expect some kind of distribution deal, so unless they’re shopping for docu items such as Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams and Morris’ Tabloid or foreign language offerings such as, I Saw the Devil and Little White Lies, the films that should receive the most buzz should be the following list of twenty English language film titles — with the top three titles looking like bona fide award season contenders. Here we go with the countdown starting with the #20 pic.

#20. The First Grader

Director: Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl)
Sales Agent: Goldcrest Films International
Selling Point: Underdog tale based on a true story would be a much buzzed about media item.
Suited For: Distributor that is looking for “feel good” story…where the “heart” of the tale counts more than the faces you’d find on the theatrical poster. 

The Gist: Naomie Harris and Oliver Musila Litondo star in this true story written by Ann Peacock, it details the story of an elderly Kenyan who signs up for school on the back of a government pledge of free education for everyone. Having fought for his country’s liberation, the old man wants the chance of an education so long denied — even if it means sitting in a classroom alongside 6-year-olds.