EXCLUSIVE: The Broken Circle Breakdown and Prince Avalanche among hot EFM sellers, with both selling to France, Germany and Australia among others.
German sales outfit The Match Factory saw healthy demand for its titles during a muted EFM, including wide sales on competition entries The Broken Circle Breakdown, Prince Avalanche, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker and Gold.
The company has closed a slew of deals on critical hit The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix Van Groeningen’s Belgian drama, which won the Panorama Audience Award and the Europa Cinemas Label prize, including for Germany (Pandora), France (Bodega), Australia (eOne), Canada (Films We Like), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), CIS and Baltics (Maywin), Sweden (Njuta), Greece (Seven Films), Poland (Gravity), South Korea (S.Y. Comad), Turkey (Kurmaca), Former Yugoslavia (Demiurg) and Romania (Independenta).
David Gordon Green’s comedy-drama Prince Avalanche, which picked up the Silver Bear for Best Director, also drew strong attention selling to France (Memento), Germany (Kool Film), Australia (Madman), Scandinavia (NonStop), Benelux (Film Freak), Turkey (Bir) Greece (Ama Films) and Bulgaria (Bulgarian Film Vision). Magnolia took US rights from Cinetic.
Thomas Arslan’s competition western Gold, starring Nina Hoss and Marko Mandic, has been picked up in France (Happiness), Canada (Films We Like), CIS (Cinema Prestige), Former Yugoslavia (Discovery) and Bulgaria (Bulgarian Film Vision).
Pia Marais’ thriller Layla Fourie, which garnered a jury special mention, sold to France (Jour de Fete), Greece (Ama Films) and Former Yugoslavia (Discovery).
Panorama entry Youth was picked up in France (Ad Vitam) and Australia (Palace Films).
Danis Tanovic’s Silver Bear Jury Grand Prize winner An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, which also garnered the Best Actor award for Nazif Mujic, attracted buyers from Italy (RAI), Spain (Golem), Benelux (Cinemien), Switzerland (Trigon), Japan (Bitters End), Greece (Seven Films), Turkey (Istanbul Film Festival), Czech Republic (Art Cam) and Bulgaria (Art Fest). As previously announced, New Wave took UK rights.
Among recent catalogue titles Spanish comedy A Gun in Each Hand sold to CIS (Cinema Prestige) and Baltics (A1).
Peter Strickland’s Berberian Sound Studio sold to Japan (Shochiku).
SPC acquisition Wadjda went to Greece (Feelgood Entertainment).
Sally Potter’s coming-of-age drama Ginger and Rosa was picked up for Benelux (Film Freak).
TMF head of sales Brigitte Suarez told Screen: “We are delighted with the flow of business on our diverse slate, which was well rewarded by the festival juries and critics and has struck a chord with buyers.”
The strong slew of deals follow reports at the EFM of slower business, a weak festival offering and struggles in the UK distribution sector.
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