Paris Wallpapers

Paris-based Backup Media, a film consultancy and investor, has unveiled the first financing deals put through on three titles by B Media Global. Launched last year by Backup, B Media Global is a film fund aimed at bringing Gallic financial know-how and clout to non-French movies made around the globe. In one of its earliest... Read more »

Most French film folk have come to Cannes from Paris. Director Jean-Jacques Annaud came from Ulaghai, Inner Mongolia. You would expect no less from Annaud, a helmer who shot “The Lover” in Vietnam, Brad Pitt starrer “Seven Years in Tibet” partly in Tibet, and tiger sibling tale “Two Brothers” in Cambodia. A singular director by... Read more »

Sony Pictures Classics has landed U.S. rights at Cannes to The Past (Le Passe), Iranian helmer Asghar Farhadi’s ambitious drama starring Oscar nominee Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Ali Mosaffa and Tahar Rahim. The film is an early contender for the Palme d’Or, with reaction and reviews very strong after it screened Friday in competition. (Watch the trailer here.) The Memento Films production’s twisting plot involves secrets, lies, deceit, divorce, affairs, comas, pregnancy and other traumatic situations. Bejo stepped into the lead role after Oscar winner Marion Cotillard had to exit due to a scheduling conflict. Paris-based Memento Films International is handling worldwide sales. Michael Barker and Tom Bernard’s SPC also handled Farhadi’s A Separation, which grossed $19.9M worldwide and won the foreign-language film Oscar last year. Related: Cannes: Backup Media, Memento Bring Heat To Fest Helmer Jim Mickle’s ‘Cold In July’ Related: Cannes Analysis: Veterans And Newcomers Mix It Up In Official Selection

Re-enforcing the growing film axis between Chile and France, Paris-based Rezo has re-upped with Chilean director Cristian Jimenez (pictured) and producer Bruno Bettati, tying down international rights to their upcoming “Voiceover.” Laurent Danielou’s Rezo, a Gallic producer-distributor-sales agent that has just boarded Ralph Fiennes starrer “Two Women” will handle international sales. Rezo distributed Jimenez’s “Bonsai,”... Read more »