EPC entices at Rome with tantalising titles

by Fabien Lemercier

16/10/2007 - Participants can look forward to a tantalising selection of titles at the European Producers Club (EPC) Co-production Forum, which will take place on Sunday at the Hôtel de Russie as part of the 2nd RomeFilmFest (October 18-27).

Using the "à la carte" formula once again – which proved very successful at its last meeting in Cannes – the EPC (presided over by Jean Cazès and run by Alexandra Lebret) – will continue to act as an agent in order to bring producers and their selected projects (estimated at €4m) closer to potential co-production partners from countries that interest them the most.

Heading the list of selected projects is Lady N° 13 by Spain’s Jaume Balagueró. The project – which will be presented in Rome by Antonia Nava for Filmax – is an adaptation of the José Carlos Somoza novel The Number Thirteen Lady.

The story follows a retired literature professor who is keen on poetry and has been having the same nightmare for several weeks, only finally to realise that his horrifying dream is, in fact, real.

Curious to know more, he finds himself entangled in an adventure, which leads him to the gates of hell. In short, Lady N° 13 promises to be just as intriguing as the director’s previous films (Darkness, The Nameles, Fragile and REC [trailer, film focus]). The latter two screened at this year’s Venice Film Festival.

The selection also includes two Portuguese projects to be watched closely, both Filmes do Fundo productions: How to Draw a Perfect Circle by Marco Martins (director of 2005 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight entry Alice [trailer, film focus]) and The Northern Court by João Botelho (whose O Fatalista competed at Venice 2005), based on a novel by Agustina Bessa-Luís and starring Ana Moreira.

Further titles comprise Bon appétit, the feature debut by Spanish editor-director David Pinillos (a Morena Films production), Mira & Giuditta by Norwegian helmer Grethe Bøe (Vulkan Story), two French projects, Thousand Flowers Palace (CDP) and Francesco Henderson Pepe’s Amaro Amore (Adesif productions).

Other European countries present at the event will be Slovenia with Franci Slak’s Transition (A Atalanta), Italy with Fariborz Kamkari’s Kirkuk (Far Out), Ireland with Johnny Gogan’s The Straits (Zanzibar Films) and the UK with Brendan Derwoody’s Come Back (Young Pictures).

Lastly, an untitled film by Argentina’s Luís Ortega, produced by Costantini Films, could join the abundant programme, which also features projects from Revolver and Butterfly Productions.

(Translated from French)