Emmanuelle Bercot became the first female director to open the festival since 1987.

Cohen Media Group has acquired all US distribution rights to this year’s Cannes Film Festival opening night feature, Standing Tall (La Tête Haute) from French filmmaker Emmanuelle Bercot.

The film, which is the second ever female-directed feature to open the festival, stars Catherine Deneuve and newcomer Rod Paradot. 

CMG plans a theatrical release in early 2016.

The distribution agreement was negotiated by CMG svp John Kochman and Adeline Fontan Tessaur, co-founder and international sales director of Paris-based sales and acquisition firm Elle Driver.

The film follows juvenile delinquent Malony from childhood to adulthood, as a children’s judge and social worker try to save him from a life of crime.

Standing Tall received its world premiere in Cannes - out of competition - on May 13 and was released in French cinemas the same day.

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