EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based sales outfit takes on documentary ahead of its world premiere in Toronto’s Mavericks section.

Doc & Film International has acquired British director Sophie Fiennes’ documentary The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology exploring the collective fantasies that shape beliefs and practices.

The sequel to Fiennes’ 2006 The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, the work re-unites the director with provocative Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, who examines ideology through his interpretation of classic films

Shot in Ireland’s Ardmore Studios, as well as on location in Los Angeles and Death Valley, Fiennes captures Žižek holding forth on ideology against the backdrop of replica sets of classics such as A Clockwork Orange, Jaws, The Sound of Music and Taxi Driver.

Daniela Elstner’s Paris-based Doc & Film previously sold Fiennes’ Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow, about German artist Anselm Kiefer, which premiered in Official Selection at Cannes in 2010.

“I’m thrilled to be working again with Daniela and the team at Doc & Film.  I really appreciate her continued commitment to the film and the audience for it,” said Fiennes.

Produced by James Wilson, Martin Rosenbaum, Katie Holly and Fiennes, and backed by BFI Film Fund, Film4, Channel 4, the Irish Film Board and Rooks Nest Entertainment, the film is an official UK-Irish co-production between P Guide Productions and Blinder Films. 

The deal was negotiated by Blinder’s Holly and Elstner. 

The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology will makes its world premiere in the Mavericks section of Toronto on Sept 7.

Other titles on Doc & Film International’s Toronto slate include the final version of Rachid Bouchareb’s road movie Just Like a Woman starring Sienna Miller, Golshifteh Farahani and Roschdy Zem which will be unveiled in an industry screening.

In the meantime, Elstner is currently in Venice handling sales on several Lido titles including Italian Roberto Minervini’s Texas-shot tale of the dysfunctional relationship between a 12-year-old and single mother Low Tide, which premieres in Orizzonti on Sept 2.

Doc & Film’s other Venice titles comprise Venice Days-screener Georgian Rusudan Chkonia’s beauty contest drama Keep Smiling as well as documentaries El Impenetrable (Out of Competition Special Screening) and Dreamers (Venice Classics). 

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