News from La Croisette

Michele Maheux, director of marketing and communication at the Toronto International Film Festival, was in Cannes last week for the annual film fest and sends this report.

Cannes: The weather here has been incredibly fickle. First the sun, then the clouds, then the Mistral-like winds. Big winds. First hot, then cold. Kind of like the response to most films here at the festival. But not the Canadian ones.

Canadians at Cannes were basking in the affection of the crowds for Atom Egoyan’s Exotica, which showed in competition on the first Sunday night (a strategically strong screening date). It was such a hot ticket that Unifrance (the French government’s film organization) was asking Canadians if they could spare any tickets for them. Not even a fire at the Telefilm Pavilion (an air-conditioning unit short-circuited) could put a damper on the evening’s festivities, and the film was warmly received by the black-tie crowd.

The director, along with actors Bruce Greenwood, Arsinee Khajian and producer Camelia Freiberg, with production team members Linda Dell Rosario, Richard Paris, Paul Sarossy, Linda Muir and Michael Danna, were feted at a late-night gathering held by Alliance.

The activity level at the new Alliance headquarters on the Croisette reached a fevered pitch last week as mid-festival doldrums rolled in for most others. Alliance’s International, Releasing and new Le Monde divisions are working at a pace to rival any major u.s. studio.

Alliance International received strong sales interest in Egoyan’s wonderfully dark emotional striptease Exotica and Lea Pool’s Mouvements du desir (the latter has sold to Korea). Exotica has sold to Turkey, Israel, Denmark and Singapore to date, with interest from the u.k., Brazil, Germany, Sweden, Greece, Holland, the u.s. and Italy.

The company announced brisk sales for Le Monde’s Operation Golden Phoenix, which heads up that division’s slate of four upcoming films in the suspense/thriller and action genres. Other titles include Soft Deceit with Patrick Bergen, Expect No Mercy and Fearless Tiger.

off Key, the ‘other’ Canadian film in Cannes this year, screened to jammed houses last week as part of Semaine Internationale de la Critique Francaise. They laughed, they clapped, they had a great time. Karethe Linnae’s first film and thesis for a scriptwriting course at the University of British Columbia, off Key is a delightful encounter between a gifted photographer of the famous and infamous and her latest subject, a gifted young concert pianist. Sales are being handled directly by the producer/dop, Wade Ferley.

Although Telefilm Canada’s Jean Lefebvre referred to this year’s edition as ‘a recession Cannes,’ there is still some life left in the market. Less money is being spent on promotion but it seems more sweat is being put into every deal. And there have been results.

Canadian market activity includes Malofilm Distribution’s announcement to ink a deal with ugc: Regis Wargnier’s La Femme Francaise will start production this fall with stars Emanuelle Beart and Daniel Auteuil. The company has also acquired all Canadian rights to Hal Hartley’s Amateur, showing in Cannes to enthusiastic response in the Directors’ Fortnight. Other acquisitions include Tom & Viv with Willem Dafoe as well as La Fille de D’Artagnan by Tavernier and Pas Tres Catholique.

Norstar announced brisk business for Boulevard, a suspense thriller starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Rae Dawn Chong, including a u.s. sale to Live, with Scandinavia and Germany sold and Japan, Korea and Benelux pending. Relative Fear has been sold for the u.k. and Scandinavian markets.

Acquisition news from the Alliance camp includes Vic Armstrong’s Joshua Tree starring Dolph Lundgren and George Segal, and from Diane Kurys, 6 Days, 6 Nights starring Anne Parilliaud and Beatrice Dalle.

On the releasing front, eight of the films in official competition (acquired before the festival) will carry the Alliance banner for domestic distribution. Rights include La Reine Margot for English Canada only, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle for all Canada, Exotica, Trois Couleurs Rouge, Zhang Yimou’s Huozhe, Nannie Moretti’s Caro Diario, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, Lucian Pintilie’s An Unforgettable Summer and three titles from festival sidebars: Boas Yakin’s Fresh, Kayo Hatta’s Picture Bride and Kevin Smith’s Clerks.

Although Canada received very strong response to both Exotica and off Key, by mid-week, the rest of the festival was still looking for the breakout show-stopper. The Piano had the honor last year; Kieslowski’s Rouge, the third in his Trois Couleurs trilogy, seemed to be the only contender. Described as a masterpiece by many who saw it here last week, it is supposedly his last film – if we can believe his intention to retire from directing.

The buzz along the Croisette, when it wasn’t about the latest gypsy swarming, was about Cineplex Odeon’s The Adventures of Priscilla – Queen of the Desert. Through its output deal for Gramercy Pictures, Cineplex has rights to the pic that has the whole town talking. A road movie through the outback in Australia, Priscilla of the title is a tricked-out bus transporting three sweet transvestites (including Terrence Stamp in delectable drag) as they traverse the outback and sing for their supper along the way. Best marketing job we’ve seen at this Cannes and the chatter may make the little Aussie wonder this year’s Strictly Ballroom.