Artificial Eye, Alta, Bim head for Mungiu’s Hills

Wild Bunch has been racking up sales on Cristian Mungiu’s Beyond the Hills, with fresh acquisitions by the UK’s Artificial Eye, Spain’s Alta Classic, Italy’s Bim, Germany’s Wild Bunch, and Australia’s Madman.

The picture, which was picked up by IFC for the U.S. prior to its Cannes premiere, is a favourite for the Palme d’Or.

Other festival titles attracting buyers include Leo Carax’s comeback picture Holy Motors, which has sold to Japan (Eurospace), Spain (Avalon), Benelux (Cineart) and Sweden (Tri Art).

Wild Bunch’s Vincent Maraval is reporting a busy market. Other popular titles include David Gordon Green’s Suspiria remake which has been picked in Japan (Comstock), Latin America (Gussi) and Germany (Koch Media).

Vincenzo Natali’s horror thriller Haunter has also sold to Gussi and Koch Media.

Gussi also picked up Brian De Palma’s Passion and a third genre title Dark Touch, but just for Mexico. Comstock and Broad Media System (BMS) have bought Marina de Van’s psychological thriller together for Japan.

Koch Media also bought The Last Supper and Tied for Germany.

James Gray’ s untitled picture has sold to Latin America (Cinevideo y television) and Japan (Gaga).

Regis Roinsard’s debut feature Populaire, which sold to The Weinstein Company earlier this year, has been picked up in Japan (Comstock/Gaga), Italy (Bim), Spain (Vertigo) and Germany (StudioCanal). The picture is being handled by TWC for the UK and distributed in France by Mars Films.  

Other Japanese acquisitions include Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmasters by Gaga and Valérie Donzelli’s next film Hand in Hand by Comstock and Klockworx.

Guillaume Canet’s Blood Ties, currently shooting in New York with Clive Owen Clive Owen, Billy Crudup, Mila Kunis and James Caan in the cast, has sold to Top Film for Russia.

John Luc Godard’s first foray into 3D filmmaking Goodbye to Language 3D has sold to Japan (Comstock) and Russian (Carmen Film).

A La Mode and Wild Bunch Germany have joined forces to acquire a Haute Cuisine and Lou Ye’s Mystery for Germany.

A La Mode has also picked up Un Certain Regard selection 7 Days in Havana by itself. Other territories sold include UK (Artificial Eye), Italy (Bim), Spain (Golem), France (Rezo), Japan (Comstock), Canada (eOne).