16/05/2008

A new name in international sales is making its Cannes debut: London-based Protagonist Pictures, introducing at the market four titles in post-production, by Nicolas Winding Refn (Pusher III [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Alexis dos Santos (Glue), Vito Rocco and Tom Shankland (Waz).

Backed by Film4, Vertigo Films and Ingenious Media, Protagonist is represented in Cannes by company CEO Ben Roberts, former VP acquisitions for Universal Pictures, and Head of Sales Charlotte Van Weede, who joined Protagonist from Hanway Films. The sales company handles products from its parent companies, as well as external pick ups.

Four titles presented in Cannes are produced Vertigo Films. Danish filmmaker Refn’s Bronson is a biopic on notorious prisoner Charles Bronson, played by Tom Hardy. Rocco’s romantic comedy Faintheart, starring Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Jessica Hynes (Confetti [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) is the first user-generated feature film backed by MySpace and Film4.

Shankland’s horror film The Day, based on a story by Paul Andrew Williams (London To Brighton [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), stars Eva Birthistle (Breakfast on Pluto [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Stephen Campbell-Moore (The History Boys [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). Still in development, The Trail is an action thriller to be directed by Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]).

The fifth title offered by Protagonist is dos Santos’ Unmade Beds, produced by The Bureau in co-production with Film4.