Kinology Snags Sacrebleu’s Annecy Work in Progress ‘Sirocco’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentJuliette Schrameck, the former managing director of MK2 Films (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”), will be joining the well-established French production company Agat Films starting Sept.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentColcoa, the Los Angeles-based French film festival, has decided to cancel its 2020 edition due to the continuing health crisis in the U.S.The next edition, which will mark the festival’s 25th anniversary celebration, will be held from Sept. 20-26, 2021.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentEurope’s biggest nation of moviegoers, France, saw its theaters reopen with a bang on June 22 and managed to sell between 850,000 and 900,000 admissions through Sunday.It’s roughly 50% less than an average week in June, but considering the dearth of fresh releases, the heat wave, which plagued most of the country last week, and fears of a second wave of COVID-19, it’s an “outstanding result that is beyond our most optimistic forecast,” said Eric Marti at

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaIFC Films has acquired U.S. rights to “Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles,” a documentary about one Isreali chef’s attempts to recreate some of the French Monarchy’s most delicious desserts.The film is the latest work from Laura Gabbert, who previously teamed with IFC Films on “City of Gold,” a look at the late food critic Jonathan Gold and his connection to the culinary scene of Los Angeles.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentCharades has closed a raft of sales on the French comedy “The Speech” which is part of Cannes 2020’s Official Selection and is screening at Cannes’ virtual Marché du Film.“The Speech” is adapted from Fabcaro’s novel “Le discours,” and is directed by Laurent Tirard, the popular French helmer of “Little Nicholas” and “Astérix and Obélix: God Save Britannia.” The movie is one of five comedies which are part of Cannes’ official selection.“The Speech” tells

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentSolveig Langeland’s Stuttgart-based sales agency Sola Media has sold CGI animated feature film “Moonbound” to multiple territories.The film, directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi on a production budget of around $9 million, will be released in Germany and Austria by Little Dreams and Warner Bros.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentBerlin-based sales agency Films Boutique has closed key territories on its bittersweet portrayal of the end of a relationship “Are We Lost Forever.”The Swedish LGBT drama, the feature debut of director David Färdmar, has been picked up by Outplay in France, Salzgeber in Germany, Peccadillo Pictures (U.K./Ireland), Arti Films in Benelux and Surtsey Fim in Spain.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentJan Naszewski’s Warsaw-based sales agency New Europe Film Sales has closed several deals with leading independent distributors on the upcoming supernatural drama “Lamb” by Valdimar Jóhannsson, starring Noomi Rapace.The film was picked up by distributors in France (The Jokers), Germany (Koch Films), Poland (Gutek Film), Benelux (The Searchers), Hungary (Vertigo), Czech Republic (Artcam), Austria (Filmladen), Denmark (Camera Film), Switzerland

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentMK2 Films (“Maria By Callas,” “Portrait of A Lady On Fire”) has come on board “Louis Armstrong: The Cause of Happiness,” a feature documentary exploring the many faces of the jazz music icon, and set against the backdrop of the social, cultural and political milestones of U.S.

Soko is sharing an exciting, live performance of her new song “Are You A Magician?” exclusively for Just Jared readers.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentMunich-based sales agent Global Screen has closed deals on major territories for nature documentary “The Hidden Life of Trees,” based on Peter Wohlleben’s non-fiction bestseller, which has been published in more than 40 countries.Capelight has acquired all rights for North America, with Metropolitan picking up France.

Kad Merad, star of Dany Boon’s “Welcome to the Sticks,” the highest-grossing film of all time in France, will star in Stéphane Berthomieux’s “Playback,” which has been picked up for international sales by Paris-based Luxbox.Produced by director Mathieu Demy, whose credits include Salma Hayek-starrer “Americano” and TV series “The Bureau,” “Playback,” the fiction feature debut of documentarian Berthomieux.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentMemento Films International has closed major territory sales on its prestige director-driven film slate, including “Persian Lessons,” “My Salinger Year” and “Under The Stars.” “Persian Lessons,” a drama directed by “House of Sand and Fog” helmer Vadim Perelman, is set in Occupied France in 1942.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentParis-based sales company Totem Films has unveiled a teaser for “Gagarine,” a feature debut by Fanny Liatard and Jeremy Trouilh which is part of Cannes’ Official Selection. Totem Films will be hosting two virtual market screening at Cannes’ online Marché du Film that kicks off on Monday.

Ben Croll Rennes-based production outfit Vivement Lundi!, whose short film “Memorable” claimed two top prizes at last year’s Annecy Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award, returns this year to pitch a project of a wholly different flavor.Presented in the Mifa Pitch forum, the short-format series “Douce” (French for “Meek”) offers a bawdy and irreverent look at modern maternity, centering on a 41 year-old force of nature with three kids to feed, one more on the way, and no use for

Variety staff pick 10 short films screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, either from competition or from the event’s multiple prestigious sidebars, which attendees should take care not to miss.This year, with the entirety of the short film competition on the festival’s digital platform, animation fans from almost anywhere in the world can count themselves among attendees for the cost of a €15 ($16.87) accreditation.France is, predictably, well represented on this year’s

Jamie Lang On Wednesday, Les Femmes s’Animent (LFA), the French arm of Women in Animation (WIA), hosted and streamed “Confinement Votre” (Your Confinement), a global video conference, as part of this year’s WIA Summit at the virtual edition of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.LFA reached out to women working in the animation industry across Europe about how being confined to working from home affected them, and what they have learned so far from the experience.In the video,

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentWith “The Summit of the Gods” shaping up as one of the major draws of this year’s online Annecy Work in Progress section, Didier and Damien Brunner’s Paris-based Folivari is teaming with France’s Gaumont on a second signature animated feature, “The Nazis, My Father and Me.”Putting its large weight behind the title, Gaumont will co-produce, distribute in France and handle world sales on the coming of age action-thriller set in October 1941 New York

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentFrench distributor ARP has acquired “Supernova,” a romantic drama starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as a longtime couple on a road trip. The film, represented by The Bureau Sales, has now inked distribution deals in almost all territories worldwide.