05/07/2021 - The company's lineup features the Palme d'Or contender from Joachim Lafosse and Clara Sola in Directors’ Fortnight, but also new films from Claire Simon, Seman Nacar and Yuri Ancarani

After a very active online EFM in the wake of Natural Light [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dénes Nagy
film profile] from Hungarian Dénes Nagy (Directing Silver Bear in Berlin) and Moon, 66 Questions [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacqueline Lentzou
film profile] from Greek filmmaker Jacqueline Lentzou (discovered at Encounters), the French international sales company Luxbox directed by Fiorella Moretti and Hédi Zardi will appear well armed at the Marché du Film (from 6 to 15 July) at the 74th Cannes Film Festival.

Distinguishing themselves in the lineup are in particular a candidate for the 2021 Palme d’Or: The Restless [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Lafosse
film profile] by Joachim Lafosse. For the first time in his rich career, the Belgian filmmaker reaches the highest selection level of the Croisette (Loving Without Reason [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Lafosse
film profile] in Un Certain Regard in 2012, Private Lessons [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacques-Henri Bronckart
interview: Joachim Lafosse
film profile] and After Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Lafosse
film profile] in Directors’ Fortnight 2008 and 2016) even though he’s already been in competition in Locarno, Venice and San Sebastian. Interpreted by Leïla Bekhti and Damien Bonnard, his new opus centres on Leïla and Damien, who are deeply in love. Despite his bipolarity, Damien tries to carry on his life with her, all the while knowing that he may never be able to give her what she desires. Production was led by the Belgians of Stenola Productions with their compatriots from Prime Time, the French from KG Production and the Luxemburgers from Samsa Films. The release in French cinemas next 20 October is handled by Les Films du Losange.

Luxbox has a second asset to display: Clara Sola [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
film profile], the first feature from Swedish-Costa Rican filmmaker Nathalie Álvarez Mesén which will have its world premiere in Directors’ Fortnight. Winner of the Work in Progress at the Arcs, the film dives into a remote village in Costa Rica where Clara, a withdrawn 40-year-old woman, experiences a sexual and mystical awakening while she begins on a journey to liberate herself from the repressive religious and social conventions that have so far dominated her life. The film is produced by the Swedes from Hobab with the Americans of Resolve Media, the Belgians of Need Productions and the Costaricans of Pacifica Grey, with in coproduction the Germans of Laïdak Films and the Film Capital Stockholm Fund. French distribution has been acquired by Epicentre Films.

In Marché, Luxbox will be preselling I Want to Talk about Duras [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Claire Simon
film profile] which marks Claire Simon’s return to fiction (in post-production with Emmanuelle Devos and Swann Arlaud headlining - read the news).

Another title in post-production is Between Two Dawns [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Selman Nacar
film profile] by Seman Nacar. Produced by the Turks of Kuyu Film, Fol Film and Karma Films, and coproduced by the French of Arizona Productions, the Romanians of Libra Film Productions, the Spanish of Nephilim Producciones and the TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation), the feature centres on Kadir who, after a worker has been badly injured in the family business, is forced into making a moral decision that will have an impact on his dreams, his family and the life of the injured worker’s wife. The cinematography is handled by Romanian DoP Tudor Panduru.

Also in post-production is the documentary Atlantide [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Yuri Ancarani
interview: Yuri Ancarani and Marco Ale…
film profile] by Italian filmmaker Yuri Ancarani (special Cinéastes du présent jury prize in Locarno in 2016 with The Challenge [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), a production by Dugong Films and Luxbox set in Venice where, between the gondolas, the canals and the palaces, tourists pour in as residents head out. The local population has fallen to fewer than 50 000 inhabitants, less than the daily tourist visits. And yet, next to the historical centre, there is a hidden and silent lagoon, circled by small invisible villages – a parallel universe where inhabitants resist, living a unique life, right in front of Venice. This is where young people bump into little boats sailing at full speed with their prow rising towards the sky. They call them “barchini” - small, colourful, fast with souped-up engines, these motorboats are driven by Venitian teenagers as if they were scooters.

Finally, Luxbox will continue the sales of The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be Quiet by Argentinian filmmaker Ana Katz (in competition in Sundance and Big Screen Award in Rotterdam) in Cannes.

(Translated from French)