Fortissimo announces LFF deals

Fortissimo Films has confirmed several deals on its three titles screening at the BFI London Film Festival.

Berlinale Golden and Silver Bear winner Black Coal, Thin Ice has been acquired by StudioCanal for the UK. Diao Yi’nan’s Chinese thriller tells the story of an ex-cop and his former partner who decide to follow up on an investigation of a series of murders.

Theeb, best director award winner in Venice’s Orizzonti section, has sold to Cinemien for Benelux and Megacom for former Yugoslavia. Naji Abu Nowar’s Bedouin Western also screened in Toronto, and Fortissimo is continuing negotiations for other territories. The film is about a boy whose Bedouin tribal life is interrupted by a British army officer on a mysterious mission.

Ira Sachs’ Love Is Strange has now confirmed deals with Edko Films for Hong Kong and Filmware for Taiwan. Altitude has UK rights to the Sundance hit and will launch it theatrically in early 2015, while Sony Pictures Classics has already opened the film in the US. Sachs is attending the LFF for a panel discussion as well. The story follows couple Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) who are painfully separated when they have to sell their New York City apartment.