Pre-sales to commence at Cannes.

Ahead of the Cannes Marche, Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights (excluding Dutch-speaking Benelux) for Dennis Bartok’s English-language horror, P.O.V.

The film, currently in pre-production, is due to commence principal photography in Q3, 2015, for an early 2016 debut. Pre-sales will commence at Cannes.

Casting is currently underway for Bartok’s directorial debut, which will shoot in Ireland and various locations around the UK.

P.O.V follows the story of Dana Milgrom, a track coach who, having survived a near-death car accident, finds herself completely paralysed and trapped inside her own body. While recovering, she becomes convinced that an evil presence exists inside her hospital room and is intent on killing her - and she may not be the only target. 

Brendan McCarthy and John McDonnell will produce through their Ireland-based, horror production outfit Fantastic Films along with Jan Doense and Herman Slagter of The Netherlands-based, genre-specific, House of Netherhorror.

Bartok wrote the script with Tom Abrams and a copy will be at Fortissimo’s Cannes office, along with a sizzle reel for the film.

A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Film program, Bartok worked for Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca Productions in New York and went on to serve as head of programming for the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles, a non-profit film organisation that screens foreign, classic and rare films.

During his time at the American Cinematheque, Bartok sold a number of spec screenplays to both 20th Century Fox and New Line Cinema and went on to produce his own screenplay; horror film Trapped Ashes. The film screened as a work-in-progress cut at Cannes 2006 and received its world premiere at Toronto in the Midnight Madness programme that year.

The acquisition is first English-language horror film on Fortissimo’s slate, having previously handled Asian horror including The Eye, Rigor Mortis, Dumplings, Three and Shock Labyrinth.

The deal was finalised by Fortissimo Films svp of acquisitions Berenice Fugard and Fantastic Films producer Brendan McCarthy.

Bartok is repped by APA.

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