Curzon takes Farhadi, Dardenne films

Curzon Film World, the parent company of UK distribution label Artificial Eye, has wrapped its Cannes buying spree with the acquisition of Asghar Farhadi’s competition entry The Past.

The outfit has also pre-bought the Dardenne brothers’ Two Days One Night, which is due to shoot in the summer and will star Marion Cotillard.   

Farhadi’s The Past, his anticipated follow up to Oscar winner A Separation, stars Bérénice Bejo – who picked up the Best Actress award in Cannes - Ali Mosaffa and Tahar Rahim.

The drama charts the fallout after an Iranian man deserts his French wife and two children to return to his homeland.

The deal was negotiated with Memento Films International.

• REVIEW: The Past

Artificial Eye’s long-standing relationship with the Dardenne brothers continues with the pre-buy of their next film Two Days One Night, also from Wild Bunch.

Oscar winner Marion Cotillard will star as a 30-year-old woman who searches the town for colleagues prepared to sacrifice their bonuses so she can keep her job.

As announced by Screen on Friday, Curzon Film World also secured Claire Denis’ Un Certain Regard entry Bastards from Wild Bunch.

Vincent Lindon and Lola Creton star in the uncompromising drama, which follows parallel stories including that of a ship’s captain who has to return to Paris to assist his traumatised sister and her daughter.

Other Curzon deals locked in during the market included Paolo Sorrentino’s The Great Beauty, Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Abdellatif Kerchiche’s Palme D’Or winner Blue Is The Warmest Colour and Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox.

Louisa Dent, managing director of Curzon Film World, said of the acquisitions: “We are very proud to be able to announce the acquisition of these films, all of them made by world class filmmakers who have created their own unique voices within the world of cinema.

“It has been a very successful festival for us, and we are delighted with our upcoming slate of films.”