Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) is backing Maïwenn’s upcoming period drama Jeanne Du Barry, starring Johnny Depp, marking its first international co-production with France.
The investment through the Red Sea Film Foundation will see RSIFF serve as an executive producer on the feature, which was shot in France and is in post-production. The financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed.
The fund was established in 2021 with a pot of $14m and has supported the development, production and post-production of 170 films from the Arab world and Africa. Previous titles backed by the fund include Venice award-winner The Man Who Sold His Skin by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, which went on to secure a nomination at the Academy Awards.
According to RSIFF, this investment outside the Middle East demonstrates its “ongoing mission to support distinctive filmmaking and champion visionary female talent both on and behind the camera from around the world”.
French actress and filmmaker Maïwenn also plays eponymous courtesan, Madame du Barry, in the film alongside Depp as 18th century King Louis XV as well as Pierre Richard, Benjamin Lavernhe, Noémie Lvovsky, Melvil Poupaud, India Hair and Pascal Greggory.
The drama is inspired by the life of Jeanne Bécu who was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743 and went on to rise through the Court of Louis XV to become the French king’s last mistress.
It marks Maïwenn’s sixth feature and co-wrote the script with Teddy Lussi-Modeste and Nicolas Livecchi. The film has been acquired by Netflix for France after local theatrical release by Le Pacte, and is produced by Why Not Production Company’s Pascal Caucheteux and Grégoire Sorlat, Johnny Depp’s production company IN.2, La Petite Reine and France Télévisions. Wild Bunch International serves as sales agent.
Coming on board as executive producer, RSIFF CEO Mohammed Al Turki said: “We hope this collaboration will strengthen the ties between Saudi and French cinema and is the first of many international films that we can support that advocate for women filmmakers.”
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