Los Angeles: An overwhelming atmosphere of caution permeated this year’s American Film Market, held Feb. 21-28 in L.A., with sellers reporting that buyers were being very prudent about their purchases.

Lina Marrone, VP international distribution, Blackwatch International noted that mostly cast-driven, mid- to high-end films were the biggest draw.

Barbara Bernhard of Annex Entertainment says this AFM was one of the slowest in the nine years she’s attended, with presales being particularly hard to come by.

Michael Strange, president, Keystone Entertainment, observed, "There are lots of Korean buyers, but I’m not sure if they are really buyers or just tire kickers."

Oasis International had three new films at the market: Society’s Child, an MOW produced by Buffalo Gal Pictures and Sienna Films for the CBC, currently in sound mixing; Torso, a feature produced by Shaftesbury Films for CTV and Oasis; and The Perfect Son, a New Real Films production Oasis picked up at the Toronto International Film Festival. Oasis completed a video deal in the Philippines and a TV deal in Latin America for The Perfect Son.

As well as hosting its annual, well-attended bowling party, North American Releasing was selling its two-hour feature Adriana’s Quest, starring Rena Mero, better known as Sable in wrestling circles. North American Releasing and Internet Studios financed the film. NAR attracted strong interest in its sci-fi feature Starfire Mutiny and slasher film Killer Love.

TVA International had two new features at the market: Century Hotel, from Victorious Films and Stiletto Dance, produced by Chesler/Perlmutter.

Keystone Entertainment was selling its two family franchises, Air Bud and MVP, as well as drumming up presales on features Detonator, Pillow Fight and Malicious Intent.

Annex Entertainment was selling Fall, a straight-to-video film it produced as well as Boozecan. Both were picked up for video release in the U.S. by Blockbuster, and will air on Super Channel and TMN-The Movie Network.

Blackwatch International was selling world rights except for the U.S. on the Barbara Kopple doc My Generation, a look at the three Woodstock festivals. The film screened at TIFF and the Venice Film Festival, but had its first market screening at AFM. It has sold in Japan and Italy. Blackwatch was also selling a film it picked up at TIFF called The Truth About Tully, which was also having its first market screening at AFM.

Fireworks Pictures was also selling cast-driven films, including Interstate 60, currently in post, starring James Marsden, Gary Oldman and Michael J. Fox. Rat Race, also in post, has a U.S. theatrical release with Paramount in May and stars Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg and Cuba Gooding Jr. Hardball, featuring Keanu Reeves, will be released by Paramount in the U.S. around August.

Lions Gate was also pushing a full slate of features including Frailty, starring Matthew McConaughey and Bill Paxton; The Cats Meow, starring Kirsten Dunst and directed by Peter Bogdanovich; and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, produced by Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. *