Memento Films Intl. Scores Deals Across Auteur-Driven Film Slate (EXCLUSIVE)

Maggie Lee Chief Asia Film CriticEye-popping action steals the show in “Lupin III: The First,” the first computer-animated feature entry in the classic franchise about the French gentleman thief and master of disguise.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentM6 Group, the second biggest commercial network in France, has acquired Epithete Films, a Paris-based production company boasting a catalogue of 25 feature films, including the hit family adventure franchise “Belle and Sébastien.”The banner’s library also includes Gilles Legrand’s “Malabar Princess,” “Tu seras mon fils” and Patrice Leconte’s “Ridicule.” Epithete Films is headed by Frédéric Brillion and Legrand.“With this targeted acquisition, M6 Group

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.

Manchester Airport.Terminal 3 will reopen with airlines British Airways, Ryanair, Air France, KLM, Eastern Airways and Loganair as well as Jet2 and easyJet who are also resuming their flight programme.However, while some will be keen to get away, the government's advice is still against all but essential travel with those entering the UK subject to a 14 day quarantine.For those who are dusting off their suitcases and looking at a break, there will be differences at the airport and certain rules

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

Manori Ravindran International EditorMichael Bay-produced pandemic thriller “Songbird” has secured its first international sale out of the virtual Cannes market.European powerhouse Leonine has snapped up rights for German-speaking Europe, Variety can reveal. It’s believed there’s been strong interest on the continent, and that a number of U.S.

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.

Dave McNary Film ReporterNicolas Cage thriller “Willy’s Wonderland” has sold to most international territories, including the U.K., Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany and Latin America, by Foresight Unlimited at the Cannes virtual market.Cage portrays an out-of-towner forced to clean a family entertainment center in exchange for having his car serviced after it breaks down.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterIranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti, who starred in Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar-winning drama The Salesman, has been sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for two years.BBC Persia is reporting that Alidosti’s lawyer said the charges are related to sharing negative tweets about law enforcement officers.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentMK2 Films (“Maria By Callas,” “Portrait of A Lady On Fire”) has pulled out of “Louis Armstrong: The Cause of Happiness,” after the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation said they were not collaborators on the project, as previously indicated.MK2 Films announced on June 23 during the virtual Cannes market that it was handling international sales on the film.

Keanu Reeves and girlfriend Alexandra Grant appeared more in love than ever while out and about in Berlin.The Matrix star, 55, and Grant, 47, arrived in Germany earlier this month as the fourth installment of the sci-fi films prepares to resume filming amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Shalini Dore Features News EditorGerman cinema looks set for an exciting year with forthcoming works that include a high-profile Cannes selection celebrating one of Germany’s most iconic filmmakers, an expressionistic thriller set in 1920s Vienna, a tale of Nazi seduction and a new Thomas Mann adaptation.The COVID-19 pandemic dashed the excitement of a splashy Cannes premiere for Oskar Roehler’s “Enfant Terrible,” part of the festival’s Official Selection, but the film is nevertheless certain

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.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorWhen German filmmaker Patrick Vollrath told DP Sebastian Thaler that he planned to do a film shot in one room, Thaler was curious. What he didn’t know was that Vollrath meant a cockpit.Vollrath’s feature debut, “7500,” which bows in the U.S.

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.