Italian EFM deals led by Sacher taking on Nader and Simin

Nanni Moretti’s Sacher Films has sealed Italian distribution rights for Golden Bear winner Nader and Simin, A Separation by Iran’s Asghar Farhadi from Memento Films International, while Bim has taken Italian rights to Wim Wenders’ 3D film Pina about legendary choreographer Pina Bausch from HanWay.

Both films had their world premieres at the Berlinale, which wrapped Saturday.

Other prominent deals set in motion include Eagle Pictures joining Studio Canal’s Nick Hill-produced CGI dinosaur adventure film currently called The Dinosaur Project, which Hill has described as a “Jurassic Park meets Blair Witch in the style of District 9,” without the grainy look.

The film spans a father and son expedition to the Congo where they uncover what could be dinosaurs.

In another strong co-production deal, Eagle signed off on the StudioCanal and Nwave (Belgium) co-production of African Safari, a live action 3D documentary style picture set to hit the screens in 2012.

The picture follows animals traveling from Namibia to Mount Kilimanjaro. “It’s in a 3D you have never seen before,” says Eagle’s Maria Grazia Vairo who brokered the deal after a successful co production with Nwave last year for the film Sammy’s Adventures. Vairo confirmed that Eagle and Nwave are also back at work on the sequel Sammy’s Adventures 2 in production this year.

Eagle has also picked up the Robert De Niro-starring thriller Limitless from Mandate – set to hit US theatres this March, as well as Mandate production’s Fifty – Fifty, the working title of the Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon Levitt starring drama comedy about a 26-year-old confronting cancer.

Several other sales to Italy were sealed during the European Film Market, including Sacher’s pick up of Robert Guediguian’s We Fought For That from Films Distribution. Independent distributor Archibald took Italian rights to French comedy Les Femmes Du 6eme Etage, from SND Films, directed by Philippe Le Guay staring Carmen Maura among others and which was presented out of competition during the festival.

Bolero took Italian rights to the Match Factory’s Mediarenas, a sentimental comedy set in Buenos Aires, which was directed by Argentine director Gustavo Taretto and presented in Panorama.

In other announcements, Filmexport Group announced the co- production of Dario Argento’s $13.7m (Euros 10m) project Dracula 3D, featuring Rutger Hauer through their company Multimedia Film Production with France’s Les Films de l’Astre and Spain’s Enrique Cerezo Porducciones Cinematográficas. The film will start shooting in Budapest on May 16 with post-production set to wrap by year’s end.

Filmexport president Roberto Di Girolamo says they are in advanced negotiations for sales to several territories for the film, which he says has garnered lots of interest thanks to the enticing combination of Dracula, 3D and Dario Argento’s name.