18/05/2014 - CANNES 2014: Lionsgate shows great interest in Protagonist Pictures’ Cannes offerings Testament of Youth and Trespass Against Us

The WW1 drama Testament of Youth, shown as a promo-reel at Cannes by sales agent Protagonist Pictures, has been acquired for the UK and Australia by Lionsgate, which also grabbed the heist drama Trespass Against Us, starring Michael Fassbender, for the UK.

Testament of Youth, directed by James Kent, is based on Vera Brittain’s WW1 memoirs. Alicia Vikander and Kit Harington play young lovers separated when the war breaks out. David Heyman (the Harry Potter franchise) and Rosie Alison (The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas [+see also:
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Protagonist’s impressive line-up of 17 features introduced at the pre-sales market include Andrea Arnold’s first US movie, American Honey, set to start filming this summer; and The Childhood of a Leader, the directorial debut of US actor Brady Corbet, starring Juliette Binoche, Tim Roth and Robert Pattinson. Director-driven projects comprise Rebecca Miller’s clever indie comedy Maggie’s Plan, starring Greta Gerwig, Julianne Moore and Clive Owen, set to start filming in late 2014; and The Lobster [+see also:
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Q&A: Yorgos Lanthimos
film profile], the English-language debut by award-winning Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth [+see also:
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interview: Yorgos Lanthimos
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The high-profile sci-fi actioner Monsters: Dark Continent, produced by Vertigo in the UK and executive-produced by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla), is having its second market screening today at Cannes, and several territories are in final negotiations, according to Protagonist’s head of marketing, Bridget Pedgrift.

Two other titles had their market screenings at Cannes: Lenny Abrahamson’s UK/Irish comedy Frank [+see also:
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Q&A: Yann Demange
film profile], sold to over 30 territories, including the US (Roadside Attractions and Black Label Media), France (Ad Vitam), Germany/Switzerland (Ascot Elite), Italy (Good Films), Spain (Vértigo) and Scandinavia (Non Stop Entertainment).