14/05/2007

Ramin Bahrani’s second feature Chop Chop, which will have its world premiere in Cannes on May 21 as part of the Directors' Fortnight (May 17 - 27), has been picked up for international sales by London-based The Works.

The Iranian-American Bahrani had his international breakthrough with his feature debut and festival hit Man Push Cart (2005), about a former Pakistani rock star who sells coffee from his pushcart on the streets of Manhattan. Chop Chop is another slice of New York life, this time set on the outskirts of Queens, in which young Latino street orphan Alejandro works in an auto-body repair shop and dreams of a better life.

Chop Chop was produced by Marc Turtletaub and Jeb Brody of Big Beach (Little Miss Sunshine) with Lisa Muskat (Man Push Cart) and Bahrani’s own production outfit Noruz Films.

At the Cannes market, The Work’s sales team, headed by Joy Wong, will also premiere the Icelandic film Parents by Ragnar Bragason, the twin feature and independent companion piece to Children [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], both produced by one of Iceland’s most innovative theatre companies, Vesturport. Set in modern-day Reykjavik, Parents is a portrayal of Iceland’s suburban middle class.

A third new title will be introduced at the market: the feature documentary Garbage Warrior by Oliver Hodge, successfully launched at last month’s Hot Docs festival in Toronto. The film about architect Michael Reynolds and his battle with US legislation to build sustainable housing was co-produced by Open Eye Media UK, ITVS International and the Sundance Channel.