RAI Trade, Adriana Chiesa and newcomer Ellipsis hitting EFM

by Camillo de Marco

11/02/2011 - Fewer films (only sure bets), fewer acquisitions (especially from broadcasters), and price tags that are still too pricey. After a relatively weak American Film Market, the Berlinale’s European Film Market (EFM) can pique buyers’ interests, especially as a prelude to Cannes.

The Italian offering at the market isn’t a particularly big one but includes some interesting titles. Besides Intramovies (see news), here is a quick breakdown of other vendors’ line-ups.

Adriana Chiesa Enterprises is offering Roberta Torre’s Stolen Kisses, which was received to much applause at the latest Venice fest and had sold to over 10 international territories before playing in the World Cinema Competition at Sundance this year. The company’s slate also includes the comedy Io loro e Lara [trailer] by Carlo Verdone and the more dramatic School is Over [trailer] by Valerio Jalongo.

RAI Trade is bringing Stefano Incerti’s Gorbaciof [trailer, film focus], an out of competition at Venice 2010, that can count on star Toni Servillo, who plays a Neapolitan gambler, sparking interest.

They also have Pasquale Scimeca’s The House by the Medlar Tree, another successful Venice title, and the road movie 18 Years Later [trailer], the directorial debut of actor Edoardo Leo.

Minerva Pictures Group, headed by Gianluca Curti, is bringing two documentaries on Naples: Guido Lombardi’s Down There and Gaetano Di Vaio’s Il loro Natale, on the prisons of Poggio Reale and Pozzuoli.

Darkroom Entertainment is selling Marco Luca Cattaneo’s dramatic Amore Liquido, while Flavio Donnini’s new Ellipsis, specializing in indie films, has on its slate three titles that could interest international buyers: Paola Randi’s debut film Into Paradiso [trailer], which comes out Friday in Italy, a comedy on integration set in Naples’ Sri Lankan community; The Pasolini-esque Et In Terra Pax by Matteo Botrugno and Daniele Coluccini, set in the gritty, crime-ridden outskirts of Rome; and Daniele Gaglianone’s Pietro [trailer], an uber-independent film shot in 12 days for just €120,000.

(Translated from Italian)