Berlin sellers roundup: Deals from Delphis, Locomotive, Jinga, Stealth and more

Jinga sinks teeth into US deals
Jinga Films has sold all Canadian rights to Scott Leberecht’s urban vampire tale Midnight Son to Mongrel Media.  Image Entertainment have acquired US rights and both distributors aim to release in August 2012. Jinga also sold US on Zombie Undead, The Hunt and The Scar Crow to Music Video Distribution.

Euforia takes on Thale
Norwegian distributor Euforia is to handle the release of Aleksander Nordaas’ Thale, the new Scandinavian crime drama. The film, which will premiere at SXSW, is produced by Bendik Heggen Strnstad, for Yesbox Productions.The project is said to be a lower-budget counterpart to such Scandinavian hits as Troll Hunter and Headhunters.Thale tells the story of two crime scene cleaners who discover a hidden cellar under a cabin - with a mysterious girl in it and a secret that certain people will go to extreme lengths to keep, This is the second feature from Nordass after 2005’s Circle.

Anatomist cast grows for Stealth
Stealth Media is selling international sales on The Anatomist, and Ray Stevenson (Jayne Mansfield’s Car, Thor) has joined the cast.The romantic comedy, directed by Gabriela Tagliavin, is based on the bestselling novel by Federeico Andahazy. It tells the story of the 16th Century surgeon and professor Matteo Colombo and the extreme lengths he goes to in his courtship of a celebrated Venetian prostitute. In his anatomical research, he is credited with the discovery of the clitoris.The film is being put together as a UK/French/German/Spanish/Italian coproduction with the support of Flach Film France and Buena Onda International. It is currently in pre-production.

Intra flies with Stork
Intra Movies is to handle world sales on The Commander And The Stork, the new feature from Italian auteur Silvio Soldini (Bread And Tulips). The Turin-set comedy, set in Turin and scripted by Soldini, is reportedly in a more “dreamy” and less realist mode than the director’s recent films. Currently in post-production, it could be ready for Cannes. Also new on Intra’s slate is romantic comedy, Chocolate Kisses, directed by Alessio Maria Federici, described by Intra’s Jef Nuyts as “a sweet film about love.” Meanwhile, the company is introducing buyers to The Legend Of Kaspar Hauser by Davide Manuli. The Sardinian-set film, a world premiere at the recent Rotterdam Festival, features disco and flying saucers. It stars the maverick US actor Vincent Gallo in twin roles - as “The Sheriff”  and as The Pusher.

Locomotive chugs with Bar deals
US-based Locomotive Distribution has struck key deals on several titles. Sebastian Gutierrez’s Girl Walks Into A Bar has sold to Wrekin Hill for the US, Canada and the UK, plus deals in Russia (Big Movie), Japan (Epcott), Latin America (CDC), Middle East (Front Row), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery Film & Video). Accent has already released in Australia/New Zealand.
The Los Angeles-set comedy stars Carla Gugino, Danny Devito, Zachary Quinto, Josh Hartnett, Rosario Dawson, Robert Forster and Emmanuell Chriqui. Michael A Pinckney’s You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Kills You, executive produced by Spike Lee, has been sold to the US and Canada to Grindstone Entertainment. Also, Showbox Media Group has acquired UK rights to The Hot Potato starring Ray Winstone.

Delphis colours in Fuschia sales
Montreal-based sales outfit Delphis Films has sold Dutch box-office hit Fuschia, The Mini-Witch to Spain [pictured] (Flins Y Peliculas), France (97 Productions), Italy (Imago), Germany (Telepool).
Alfie, The Little Werewolf (from Burny Bros) has been pre-sold to Spain (Flins Y Peliculas) Indonesia (Ramindo), Poland (PolMedia), and to the Czech Republic (Vapet.)
Czech fairy tale Saxana has also gone to Indonesia (Raimindo) and to Russia and The CIS (Central Partnership.) Also on the Delphis EFM slate is Belgian thriller Code 37 by rising young Flemish director Jakob Verbruggen.

DR dances with Autlook
Danish distributor DR International sales will partner with Austria-based sales outfit Autlook on its feature doc Ballroom Dancer. The was negotiated between DR’s Kim Christiansen and Sanne Arlo and Autlook’s CEO Peter Jager. DR is a major presence at TV markets, while Autlook has extensive contacts with theatrical distributors.

Foster on board for GFM’s Job
GFM Films, the company run by Guy Collins and Michael Ryan, has confirmed that Lucas Foster of WARP Films will produce its forthcoming action/thriller The Job. Brad Mirman wrote the screenplay.

Seance summons deals
Arrow Entertainment has closed sales on Séance: The Summoning to the US (Grindstone) and the UK (Metrodome and Lionsgate Home Entertainment). Alex Wright directs the story of four college students who try to hold séance in a morgue.

Showbox plays Dead
Showbox Media Group has taken UK rights to black & white dark comedy Dead in France. The deal was negotiated Saturday by David Hodgins and Steve Rivers of Showbox Media Group Limited and Brian Levine of Delacheroy Films ahead of the film’s market screening on Monday.

Restored Korczak goes to US, UK
Wavelength Pictures has sold the new HD restoration of Andzej Wajda’s Korczak to North America (Kino Lorber) and the UK/Ireland (Arrow). “Despite being a well-known film from one of the great auteurs of world cinema, that inspired Steven Spielberg to shoot Schindler’s List in black & white, it’s surprising that it drifted out of circulation.  For most territories it is available as a DVD as well as a Blu-ray premiere,” said John Flahive Managing Director of Wavelength Pictures.    

Kevin Williams adds sales for Aballay, Macabre
Kevin Williams Associates (KWA) has announced a number of recent sales on its EFM titles. Fernando Spiner’s Argentine Oscar contender Aballay has sold to Germany (Tiberius), Spain  (The Sundance Channel) Scandinavia (NonStop), Thailand (Mpix) and is in advanced discussions for a US deal. Aballay ihas also gone to TV in Croatia(HRT) and TV in Slovenia (RTV Slo)
Singaporean slasher movie Macabre (on KWA’s Elixir Asian action slate) has gone to Japan (Only Hearts),. The film, directed by the Mo Brothers, has also been snapped up for Canada (Mongrel), the UK (HiFliers), Germany, Benelux and Australia (all to Ion New Media), and France (Le Fabrique). Williams also claimed to be in negotiations for a US deal. Another Elixir horror film, Vampire Warriors, has gone to Germany (Tiberius) and the UK (Arrow Entertainment.) Elixir’s Act Of Grace has gone to the UK (HiFliers). Meanwhile, KWA’s Leticia Tonos film Love Child (La Hija Natural), the Dominican entry for the Oscars, is also closing in on a US deal. Here at the EFM, KWA is giving a market screening to Jo Sol’s Fake Orgasm (on KWA’s slate) as well as Elixir’s Indonesian horror Perfect House, inspired by Nicole Kidman movie, The Others.