27/10/2011

Nearly 70 French professionals representing 54 companies are attending the Business Street at the 6th Rome International Film Festival, which opens this Thursday. Loyal attendees of the four-day market on the Via Veneto, many sellers will then head straight to the American Film Market (November 2-9) for a double date which will be made easier next year when the Rome event is scheduled in mid-October again.

French international sales companies are very much in favour of there being a European market in the autumn that is more focused on arthouse productions and enables them to finalise the negotiations started at Toronto. They all emphasise the congenial and highly professional atmosphere of the Rome event and have turned out in large numbers in the Eternal City.

Indeed, the following companies will be hard at work in Rome: Wild Bunch, Gaumont, Pathé International, Films Distribution, Memento Films International, Celluloid Dreams, Pyramide, Le Pacte, MK2, TF1 International, Rezo, Les Films du Losange, SND, Bac Films, Coproduction Office, Doc & Film International, Funny Balloons, PTZ, Reel Suspects, Wide Management and Elle Driver. Among the distributors present are Haut et Court, Happiness Distribution, Swift, CTV and Bellissima Films.

Highlights among the market screenings include the world premiere of Jalil Lespert’s Headwinds (featuring Benoît Magimel, Isabelle Carré and Audrey Tautou – see news – sold by PTZ International).

In total, the French sellers will show 49 films at the Business Street, including 12 in market premiere.

(Translated from French)