EXCLUSIVE: FilmNation, coming off a strong Cannes market, is close to selling out John Carney’s upcoming Sing Street, featuring music from U2’s Bono and The Edge.

Rights to Sing Street have gone for the UK (Lionsgate UK), Australia and New Zealand (Roadshow Films), France (TFI), Germany (StudioCanal Germany), Japan (Gaga), Italy (BIM), Spain (Vertigo) and Scandinavia (Svensk).

Further deals closed in Canada (Elevation Pictures), Taiwan (Filmware International), Hong Kong (Golden Scene), Singapore (Shaw Renters), Switzerland (Elite Film), Turkey (Aqua Group), Greece and Cyprus (Spentzos Film / Seven Films) and Israel (LEV Cinemas).

FilmNation CEO Glen Basner and his team also licensed rights for South Korea (Bloomage), Indonesia (PT Amero Mitra), South Africa (Ster Kinekor), Iceland (Sam Films) and pan-Asian TV (HBO Pacific Partners).

Production is set to begin this summer on the semi-autobiographical tale of a 14-year-old Dublin boy who forms a band to cope with his troubled life and eventually runs off to London with his 15-year-old girlfriend and aspiring model.

As ScreenDaily first reported in February, U2’s Bono and The Edge will be involved in the film’s music. The film is a co-production with Anthony Bregman of Likely Story and Canrey through his Distressed Films in partnership with Kevin Frakes of PalmStar and Raj Brinder Singh for Merced Media Partners in the US and Paul Trijbits and Christian Grass of FilmWave in the UK.

“John Carney’s unique and personal way of storytelling had us immediately excited about his new film,” said Basner [pictured]. “It comes as no surprise to us that distributors throughout the world responded to it so positively. Sing Street isn’t a feel-good movie — it’s a feel-great movie.”

As reported previously, The Weinstein Company acquired US rights in Cannes, one of several deals that marked a momentous market for FilmNation.

On the first day of the market Basner and WME Global secured a $20m MG from Paramount for North America and China on Story Of Your Life, the upcoming sci-fi that will see Denis Villeneuve direct Amy Adams in 2015 once the actress has fuflilled production commitments on Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice. FilmNation is co-financing with Lava Bear and the two companies produce alongside 21 Laps.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions picked up the majority of international territories in what was a busy market for the studio buyer.

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