31/12/2002 - Hot on the heels of his worldwide hit, 8 Women, the young French filmmaker's latest offering, a thriller called Swimming Pool, is snatched up for US distribution by Universal

Being selected to represent France in the best foreign film Oscar category with 8 Women [+see also:
trailer
film profile], put François Ozon’s firmly under the industry spotlight. His international profile is so high that his forthcoming feature, Swimming Pool, currently in post-production, has already found an American buyer.
Seen by 3.7 million filmgoers in France, 1.3 million in Germany and with a reported Italian and American box office of respectively nearly Euros2million and $3 million, 8 Women consolidated Ozon’s reputation as an original and, significantly in America, commercial director. This was not lost on Focus Features, a division of Universal Pictures. They were fastest on the draw to snatch up the US distribution rights to Ozon’s English-language Swimming Pool, starring Charlotte Rampling (Beneath the Sand [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Ludivine Sagnier ( Gouttes d’eau sur pierre brûlantes) and Charles Dance (Alien 3). Focus will release the film in the US in 2003. Produced by Fidelité Productions, Swimming Pool will be out in France in April 2003, courtesy of Mars Distribution in April 2003.

(Translated from French)