Cannes: Match Factory adds painter biopic 'Paula'

The Match Factory has bolstered its Cannes slate with director Christian Schwochow‘s (Novemberkind, The Tower) drama Paula, about German expressionist painter Paula Modersohn-Becker.

Despite dying aged 31, Modersohn-Becker is considered one of the pioneers of German Expressionism.

Stefan Kolditz and Stephan Suschke’s script weaves together episodes from the final years of the acclaimed painter’s life, including her breaks with social convention and artistic radicalism.

Wetlands actress Carla Juri is set to star in the title role with Roxane Duran (The White Ribbon) on board to play sculptor Clara Rilke-Westhoff, the wife of poet Rainer Maria Rilke.

The German-French production is produced by Pandora Film Produktion, Grown Up Films and Alcatraz Films in co-production with Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Degeto Film, Radio Bremen.

Producers are Ingelore König, Christoph Friedel, Claudia Steffen. Pandora will also distribute in Germany in 2016.

Shoot is due to get underway in mid-September 2015 in Germany and France.

Michael Weber‘s art-house kingpin The Match Factory also heads to Cannes with Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Un Certain Regard entry Cemetery of Splendour, Miguel Gomes‘ Directors‘ Fortnight entry Arabian Nights and Special Screening Afterghought by Elad.