11/02/2012

As the European Film Market at the 62nd Berlinale enters its first (and only) weekend, sales outfits at the market venues – the Martin-Gropius-Bau and the Marriott Hotel – reported of “brisk business”, as predicted by market director Beki Probst (see news).

This year’s festival opener, French director Benoît Jacquot’s Farewell My Queen [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benoît Jacquot
film profile] (pictured - news) has proved a strong card for French international sales company Elle Driver, which has so far signed more than 20 countries including the US (Cohen Media Group), Canada (Christal), Germany (Telepool), Benelux (Lumière), Australia (Transmission), Middle East (Shooting Stars), Japan (Gaga), and Argentina/Paraguay/Uruguay/Chile (Warvich).

Denmark’s TrustNordisk arrived with recent deals for Danish Oscar-winning director Susanne Bier’s first romantic drama in 12 years, All You Need Is Love, covering Australia (Madman), China (Universal Full Band), Japan (Longride), Cyprus, Greece (Rosebud), Romania (ProRom), Baltics (Incognito Films), Thailand (STG Multimedia) and Latin America (Leda Films). The Pierce Brosnan-Trine Dyrholm starrer has now been licensed to more than 35 territories.

Also Swedish production outfit Tre Vänner’s €32 million The Fjällbacka Murders franchise – two theatrical features, 10x90mins television films - has sold well to - among others - Germany (ZDF), France (France 3), Benelux (Lumière), Australia, New Zealand (Rialto). Swedish actors Claudia Galli and Richard Ulfsäther have landed the lead roles in the series based on Swedish author Camilla Läckberg’s bestselling thrillers, which has been in production since last summer.

Before the Berlinale Special Launch of UK director Barnaby Southcombe’s I, Anna, with Charlotte Rampling in the lead, Germany’s Global Screen – new joint venture of Bavaria Media and Telepool – signed contracts for Germany, Austria (NFP), the UK (Artificial Eye), Benelux (ABC, Cinemien), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Sweden (TriArt), South Korea (Challan) and Greece (Strada Films).