Buyers and sellers in the film world will be pitching their latest titles in various meet and greet formats –the Cannes Market offers a bazillion different movie options. Some screenings are hush hush discreet, some are premieres from faltering divisions who could no longer keep the inventory and some are testing the market to find foreign buyers to pump more money back into the producer’s pockets. If I were attending the market I’d be checking up on world preems of Marian Crisan’s Morgen, Laurence Charpentier’s Gigola and, the just lunched Freakonomics and several items from the Berlin Film Fest catalogue (Sylvain Chomet film) but those that should attract the most attention should be the following ten examples.
The Bang Bang Club
The set in apartheid-era pic based on a memoir by Greg Marinovich, stars Malin Akerman and Ryan Phillippe tells the story of photographs captured the final bloody days of white rule in South Africa.
The Fighter
A legitimate contender for Oscar, the David O. Russell film would be looking to tie a ribbon on whatever outstanding remaining territories that are left to sign – made easier with a finished product and Paramount owning the U.S. rights.
I’m Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix
Just screened in the U.S., there’ll be a huge curiosity factor for this title — but will this risky title find several takers and a major bid from a U.S company?
Ironclad
Kate Mara, Jason Flemyng, James Purefoy, Paul Giamatti and Brian Cox star in a legendary story, set in 13th century England and tells the story of a formidable Knight Templar (Purefoy) and his “Magnificent Seven” who defended historic Rochester Castle against the tyrant, King John, and his mercenary army. Purefoy is playing the knight opposite Giamatti’s King John.
Jackboots on Whitehall
Animated film with a stellar voice cast should find some strong attention from English speaking territories looking for an economic buy where quality might be part of the selling points for ths pic.
Love Ranch
Taylor Hackford directs his wife and Joe Pesci among other people in this title that got into hit a major speed bump when ThinkFilm collapsed. The set in a legal brothel in Nevada flick is part of a batch of films that could find a Dark Horse presence in this year’s Oscars.
Main Street
and the cast of Orlando Bloom, Colin Firth, Amber Tamblyn, Patricia Clarkson and Ellen Burstyn isn’t direct-to-video type either. Think of the film as one event affects the lives of many.
Mother’s Day
Saw director Darren Bousman is using his clout to direct his next set of pics – this indie horror pic is freshly cut from the editor’s bay. This is about the sadistic members of a villainous family who return to their childhood home to terrorize the new home owners and their guests.
The Tempest
Disney passed down the title to themselves after the Miramax debacle – and will look find plenty of heat from buyers in some remaining territories because it has an appealing director and cast and has since been tagged with a Holiday release is for the U.S.
Unthinkable
Senator had this in their slate until they folded – even with Gregor Jordan running the show, I’m no longer convinced that this is the alluring title it formerly was – so it’ll hope to grab a finder with a cast that includes Michael Sheen and Samuel L. Jackson.
