Fortissimo pacts with Fox International Productions

Fortissimo Films has signed a ground-breaking deal under which it will handle international sales on a number of films from Fox’s local-language production arm, Fox International Productions (FIP).
 
The first two titles under the deal will be Italian-language production Vallanzasca, directed by Michele Placido, and Russian-language Alien Girl, directed by Anton Barmatov.
 
The deal, which sees Fortissimo handling international sales on mutually agreed FIP projects in the majority of territories, was announced by FIP president Sanford Panitch and Fortissimo chairman Michael J. Werner.
 
On Vallanzasca, Fortissimo will handle all rights outside Italy, France, Germany and Scandinavia. On Alien Girl, it will handle all rights outside of Russia.
 
“Fortissimo’s success in matching local distributors with independent films and Michael’s own familiarity with the kind of studio level  pictures we are developing and producing makes this a perfect fit for both parties and will prove an incredible benefit to the film makers and projects involved,” said Panitch.
 
Werner added: “This is a very exciting deal for the Fortissimo family. Sanford and his FIP team are developing an amazing slate of high profile and extremely commercial local language films. Using Fortissimo’s long standing experience in bringing local films to prominence and success we expect that this arrangement will be a win-win situation for Fox, Fortissimo and the independent distribution community around the globe.”
 
Currently in post-production for an autumn release in Italy and Germany, Placido’s Vallanzasca is set in 1970s Italy and is based on the true story of the infamous Italian gangster. FIP co-produced with Elide Mali for Italy’s Cosmo Production. Paz Vega, Moritz Bleibtreu and Kim Rossi Stuart head the cast.
 
Also with an underworld theme, Alien Girl tells the story of a Russian mobster who sends four of his hitmen to pick up a woman hiding out in the Czech Republic, only to have her play them off against each other.
 
The film is based on the novel of the same name by cult author Vladimir “Adolfovich” Nesterenko and was co-produced by FIP, Konstantin Ernst and Igor Tolstunov. It is scheduled for a Russian theatrical release on June 17.