MONTREAL — Christal Films, the distributor of box-office hit Les 3 p’tits cochons and Jutra winner Continental, un film sans fusil, is in the red. Confiming a story that appeared Thursday in the French-language paper La Presse, a spokeperson for Christal says the company is having cash-flow problems and is looking for a financial partner.

Company president Christian Larouche told La Presse he needs a partner to help ‘continue to do what I do,’ but, according to the spokesperson, is witholding any further comment.

Christal also confirmed that it is facing two separate lawsuits, from Montreal post-production house Technicolor Services Créatifs and from its copro partners on the TV series Sous les vents de Neptune. La Presse is reporting that Technicolor has filed a $1.8-million claim and that the copro partners are seeking $100,000.

Last May, the collaboration between Christal and Maple Pictures — which distributes Lionsgate product in Canada — ended. Maple is now associated with Seville Pictures, one of Christal’s main competitors.

Larouche, whose company last year released Quebec box-office hits Cochons and A vos marques…Party!, was named Playback‘s producer of the year for his involvement on those films.