After winning the Golden Lion in Venice, Alexander Sokurov’s Faust has been sold to multiple territories by Films Boutique.

Artificial Eye has confirmed that it has picked up the film (which screened recently at the BFI London Film Festival) and is planning a UK theatrical release for May 2012.

Films Boutique has also sold for Spain has gone to Golem Distribucion, Italy to Archibald, France to Sophie Dulac distribution, Germany to MFA. Japan to Cetera International, Portugal to Clap Filmes, Austria to Polyfilms, Korea to Arthouse Momo, Quebec to Fun Films Distribution, Taiwan to Atom Cinema, Mexico to Cineteca Nacional, Hungary to Cirko Films, Imovision to Brazil, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway to Atlantic Films, Ex-Yugoslavia to MCF Megacom, Greece to Artplex Attica, Turkey to Kalinos Ent. , Czech/ Slovak to Film Europe, and Poland to Aurora Films.

Films Boutique’s Jean-Christophe Simon also confirmed that there have been offers from, among others, the US, Canada, Benelux, Romania and Hong Kong.

In Venice in September, Faust beat off such titles as Steve McQueen’s Shame and Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to win the main festival award. Venice Jury chairman Darren Aronofsky was effusive in his praise for Sokurov,’s version of Faust commenting: “There are some films that make you cry, there are some films that make you laugh, there are some films that change you forever after you see them; and this is one of them.”

Visiting London last weekend for a major British Film Institute retrospective of his work, Sokurov confirmed that his next film is likely to be Two Brothers And A Sister, the concluding part in his trilogy of intimate, family themed dramas that also includes Mother and Son (1997) and Father And Son (2003).

Sokurov revealed that he is planning a documentary feature about “art in the Second World War.” The Russian director also added that he would like to make an English-language film in Britain. He has a project set in the 19th century and another set in contemporary England but declined to reveal further details about either.

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