The film will tell the life story of Italian singer Rocca Granata (pictured), who had a worldwide hit with Marina.

Eyeworks Film & TV Drama, Cologne Film and Orisa Produzioni are coproducing Marina, a €6m project to be directed by Oscar-nominated film-maker Stijn Coninx.

The Belgian-German-Italian project has more than 40% of its budget in place, originating from Benelux, and principal photography is planned for summer next year with a released scheduled for March 2012.

Marina is billed as a European take on the ideal of the The American dream. It follows the life of the Italian/Belgian musician Rocco Granata, who escaped a tough life in a Belgian mining village to have a worldwide hit with his song “Marina” which sold over a 100m copies. This song has since been covered many times by such artists as Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin and Dalida.

Coninx’s previous credits include Hector, Koko Flanel, and Oscar-nominated Daens, all-time box office hits in Belgium. He also directed There Will Be Light, Verder Dan De Maan, and To Walk Again. Last year, he directed Soeur Sourire with Cécile de France.

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