09/02/2007

Independent UK distribution company Artificial Eye, co-managed by Pam Engel and Robert Beeson, has just acquired Pascale Ferran’s award-winning Lady Chatterley [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] in Berlin.

The French film, sold by Films Distribution, recently won the prestigious Prix Louis Delluc and is nominated in nine categories for the upcoming César Awards in France, including Best Film and Best Director. The UK release is scheduled for next September.

One of the best customers of French cinema in the UK, Artificial Eye has no less than six other French films or co-productions in its 2007 line-up. First to open is Abderrahmane Sissako’s Bamako [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (February 23), followed by Christophe Honoré’s Dans Paris [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (May 4), Otar Iosseliani’s Gardens in Autumn [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (June), Stéphane Brizé’s Not Here To Be Loved [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (June), Alain Resnais’ Private Fears in Public Places [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (July) and Xavier Giannoli’s The Singer [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile].

Other European titles on the company’s programme are Paolo Sorrentino’s Italian film The Family Friend (March 16) and Lights in the Dusk [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Finnish star filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki.

Artificial Eye co-founder Andi Engel recently passed away at the age of 64 in Lübeck, Germany. He and Pam Engel set up the company in the late 1970s and their dedication to and passion for foreign language films (in particular French films) have been crucial in broadening film culture in the UK.

The company and its two London cinema flagships (the Chelsea and the Renoir) were acquired by the Act Entertainment Group (owner of the Curzon cinemas) and Knatchbull Communications Group last May.

A memorial for Andi Engel will be held in London on March 7 at the Renoir Cinema.