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Key Players in the Cannes Market: Pathe International
There won't be any big costly parties in Cannes this year for the folks at Pathe – it seems to be a Berlin, skip Cannes and go to Venice type of year. The Illusionist preemed in Berlin and makes an appearance in the Market screenings, and the much anticipated Miral from Julian Schnabel skipped a non-comp, non-confidence vote and is instead poised to double dip in Venice and TIFF.
Key Players in the Cannes Market: Kinology
Kinology is heading to Cannes with a single title in Copacabana – the Isabelle Huppert starring with her daughter comedy is a focal point in the Critic's Week section this year. It's the projects that they've got on the sales slate that have got my ears perked up in an upright position – beginning with Juan Solanas' next - he is currently shooting Upside Down in Montreal, while Andrew Niccol is still in pre-production mod with The Cross.
Key Players in the Cannes Market: Coproduction Office
This year the Coproduction Office come packing three titles – a pair in the Un Certain Regard section and a much anticipated Cannes supported, docu-essay Le Quattro Volte by Italian helmer Michelangelo Frammartino...and the last minute addition to the fest Tender Son - The Frankenstein Project which will probably see the director work on the film until the very last minute, hence the very late in the fest screening.
Key Players in the Cannes Market: Funny Balloons
Funny Balloons - the French sales company (founded in 03) has created a small niche of repertoire films, and are the folks behind some of my breakout favorites such as Chile's Tony Manero and Mexico's Lake Tahoe (both Cannes products).
Croque Croisette: Big Budget Failures in the Making
This year, the further out east you go, the more eye pollution there seems to be. We've got some horror items that are fighting the hard fight to gain traction --- you got a pic I took of a collage of items from one sales company trying to unload Marcos Efron's horror thriller with Amber Heard in the lead. In front of the Palais Stephanie where all the action takes place for the Director's Fortnight, we have Eli Roth wearing his producer's cap for the helming duo Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland's The Other Woman.
