18/05/2009

Peter Strickland’s Romanian film Katalin Varga [+see also:
film review
trailer
Interview Peter Strickland - Director …
film profile] has been acquired by UK distribution company Artificial Eye, adding to a handful of deals closed at the last Berlinale by Paris-based sales company Memento Films, including France (MFD), Benelux (Lumière/Filmmuseum), Greece (Rosebud) and former Yugoslavia (Megacom)

The recent winner of New Talent Grand Pix Award (€50,000) at Copenhagen’s CPH:PIX festival is screening at the Cannes Market.

Nicholas Kaiser, sales executive at Memento, had high hopes at press time for another Eastern European film on line up: Kamen Kalev’s Bulgarian Eastern Plays [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kamen Kalev
film profile], which premiered in the Directors' Fortnight yesterday. The film co-produced by Sweden (Chimney Pot) was proudly presented by the Swedish Film Institute and co-investor Film i Väst at various press meetings in Cannes.

Memento’s other festival title, screening tomorrow in Un Certain Regard, is Independencia by Filipino filmmaker Raya Martin. Part of a trilogy on the Philippines’ struggle to gain independence, the film has a unique black and white look reminiscent of studio photography of the early 20th century.

North [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rune Denstad Langlo
film profile], the Norwegian comedy drama that proved a strong sell at the last Berlinale, is continuing to attract world buyers. Recent deals closed on Rune Denstad Langlo’s debut feature include Argentina, the Czech Republic, the former Yugoslavia and Israel.

Memento’s sales team at the Riviera Pavilion is also negotiating two high profile French films: the Larrieu brothers’ This Is the End, which is aiming for the next Venice Film Festival, and Gilles Marchand’s Black Heaven, produced by Haut et Court for €6m and set for delivery next spring.