15/03/2012 - At Cartoon Movie in Lyon, Ghent-based distributor Lumière announced that it would soon launch into international sales.

Ghent-based distribution company Lumière annonced at Cartoon Movie in Lyon that it would soon launch into international sales. Lumière is one of Belgium's main distributors for auteur films, notably from France (Beloved [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Christophe Honoré
film profile], Goodbye First Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mia Hansen-Love
film profile], and soon Farewell, My Queen [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benoît Jacquot
film profile]). It will be a new diversification for the company, that up until now has distributed films and television series (including Scandinavian productions including The Killing), but also owns cinemas in Bruges and runs production company Lunanime. The latter's productions will be privileged over otehrs at first, as Lumière will be in charge of sales for the new project by French animation duo Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli (A Cat in Paris [+see also:
trailer
film profile], nominated for an Oscar). Phantom Boy [+see also:
trailer
film profile] will follow a 11-year-old boy confined to a hospital bed, but able to escape it thanks to his incredible powers. This exceptional boy who can fly, notably through walls, will team up with a policeman to stop a dangerous gangster. The Lumière team will be able to count on the experience of Esther Bannenberg, in charges of acquisitions, and a veteran from Fortissimo.

Lumière will also be in charge of sales for Peter Monsaert's first feature, Offline with Wim Willaert (When the Sea Rises) and Anemone Valcke (Oxygen [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). Finished last autumn, the film has been announced to feature at Cannes. Lumière will make the best of the festival to unveil a few titles that will enrich its line-up.

This latest turn in events is not insignificant, as there are more or less no international sales agents in Belgium, if one forgets production companies selling their own films. If Phantom Boy sells as well as A Cat in Paris (to about 20 territories), it will be promising for Lumière's future.

(Translated from French)