TF1 International presents The Rabbi’s Cat and Black Box

by Fabien Lemercier

12/05/2009 - With films by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Fabrice Genestal, Joann Sfar, Tony Gatlif and Arild Fröhlich, French seller TF1 International has an enticing line-up in store for the upcoming Film Market at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24).

Among the promo-reels, Nicolas Eschbach’s team will unveil the first images from Genestal’s Black Box (see news), starring Gilles Lellouche, Vahina Giocante, Michael Madsen and Charles Berling; and from Sfar and Antoine Delesvaux’s highly-anticipated animated feature The Rabbi’s Cat.

Adapted from several volumes of Sfar’s eponymous comic book, the latter film will be released in theatres next year by TFM. Featuring voice-overs by Maurice Bénichou, François Morel and Hafsia Herzi, the story begins in Algiers in the 1920s.

TF1 International will also show the first promo-reel for Jeunet’s satirical comedy Micmacs à tire-larigot (“Playing Games to Your Heart’s Content”), starring Dany Boon. The film successfully clinched pre-sales at the AFM and Berlin.

Market screenings include Fröhlich’s Norwegian comedy Fatso, which was a domestic hit; Caroline and Eric du Potet’s horror thriller In Their Sleep (starring Anne Parillaud, Arthur Dupont, Thierry Frémont and Jean-Hugues Anglade); Ivan Calbérac’s comedy about divorce Alternate Weeks (and Half the Vacation) (starring Mathilde Seigner and Bernard Campan); and Thomas Gilou’s Victor, or How to Adopt a Grandpa?. Also in the line-up are previous Berlin contenders In The Electric Mist [trailer, film focus] by Bertrand Tavernier and Bellamy [trailer] by Claude Chabrol.

In post-production, the company has Gatlif’s Freedom (featuring Marc Lavoine, Marie Josée Croze and James Thiérrée); Eléonore Faucher’s Sisters (starring Sylvie Testud); and Wang Chao’s Love Reclaimed.

(Translated from French)