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Vertigo Releasing is delighted to share the new trailer and artwork for thriller American Star, which is out now in UK Cinemas & on Digital Platforms. Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego, the film, as its name suggests, boasts an all-star cast of Golden Globe Award-Winning actor Ian McShane, Fanny Ardent, Nora Arnezeder and Thomas Kretschmann. American Star is written by Nacho Faerna who wrote the screen play for The Ugliest Woman in the World (Méliès d’Argent 2000 at Fantasporto Festival, “Best Film” at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2000). The film is produced by Michael Elliott, known for Catch Me Daddy (2014) and BAFTA-nominated Jawbone (2017). An assassin on final assignment arrives in Fuerteventura to kill a man he has never met. But the target is delayed. Instead of following protocol he stays, drawn to the island, the people, and a ghostly shipwreck. When the target returns, the world has shifted. Before everything was simple,...

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The trailer is in for Sony Pictures Classics' "Paris 36" (a.k.a. "Faubourg 36") foreign drama starring Gerard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Nora Arnezeder and Kad Merad. The film helmed by Christophe Barratier ("Les Choristes") sees limited theatres on April 3rd this year. The setting is Spring 1936 ; a working-class district in the north of Paris. This neighborhood probably had a name once but now everyone simply calls it The Faubourg. In early May, three residents of the Faubourg - Pigoil, Milou, and Jacky - still sulk over the closing of the Chansonia four months ago. Supported by the locals who live to the rhythm of Monsieur Tsf’s radio, the three friends decide to take hold of their destiny by producing the “hit” musical the Chansonia has always needed. With the help of the town, and the arrival of a mysterious and beautiful young actress named Duce, Pigoil, Milou, and Jacky...

The trailer is in for Sony Pictures Classics' "Paris 36" (a.k.a. "Faubourg 36") foreign drama starring Gerard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Nora Arnezeder and Kad Merad. The film helmed by Christophe Barratier ("Les Choristes") sees limited theatres on April 3rd this year. The setting is Spring 1936 ; a working-class district in the north of Paris. This neighborhood probably had a name once but now everyone simply calls it The Faubourg. In early May, three residents of the Faubourg - Pigoil, Milou, and Jacky - still sulk over the closing of the Chansonia four months ago.

The trailer is in for Sony Pictures Classics' "Paris 36" (a.k.a. "Faubourg 36") foreign drama starring Gerard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Nora Arnezeder and Kad Merad. The film helmed by Christophe Barratier ("Les Choristes") sees limited theatres on April 3rd this year. The setting is Spring 1936 ; a working-class district in the north of Paris. This neighborhood probably had a name once but now everyone simply calls it The Faubourg. In early May, three residents of the Faubourg - Pigoil, Milou, and Jacky - still sulk over the closing of the Chansonia four months ago.

Paris -- Laurent Cantet's "The Class" made the grade once again as the docu-drama took the prize for best French film of the year at the Etoiles d'or de la presse (Golden Star Awards) Monday night in Paris.

After winning the Lumiere award, the awards season and critic favorite will be a competitive contender for the best film Cesar award and the best foreign film Oscar later this month.

Vincent Cassel was once again named best actor for his role in "Mesrine" and Yolande Moreau continued her awards season streak, taking the prize for best actress for "Seraphine."

Arnaud Desplechin was named best director for "A Christmas Tale," and Remi Bezancon took the best screenplay prize for "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life."

Samuel Collardey's "L'apprenti" and Pierre Schoeller's "Versailles" shared the award for best first film, and Agnes Varda's "Les Plages d'Agnes" was named best documentary.

Paris -- Laurent Cantet's Palme d'Or-winner "The Class" is earning high marks among French moviegoers, rising to the top of the Gallic boxoffice with 450,000 tickets sold during its first week in theaters.

"The Class," released on just 368 screens, beat out Christophe Barratier's big-budget musical "Faubourg 36," which sold 438,976 tickets on 594 screens.

"The Class," which averaged 1,215 moviegoers per screen, is France's submission for the 2009 Oscars.

Paris -- DreamWorks' "Eagle Eye" added a soupcon of spark to the foreign circuit during the weekend, but Universal's "Mamma Mia!" dominated overseas for a fourth consecutive frame, grossing an estimated $15.3 million from 4,562 screens in 48 territories.

"Eye," an action-thriller directed by D.J. Caruso and starring Shia Labeouf and Michelle Monaghan as a couple forced to engage in political assassination, opened through Paramount on 1,043 screens in 13 markets and earned $4.2 million, qualifying for the weekend's No. 5 spot. Best of the bows was Australia, where the film snared $1.4 million from 206 situations.

The spectacular foreign run for "Mamma Mia!" continues apace as the smash musical adaptation, starring Meryl Streep, improved 1% from last weekend's international tally. The film's overseas gross stands at $356.4 million, 2 1/2 times its domestic take. Universal predicts the global cume for "Mamma Mia!" will reach a cool $500 million by the middle of this week.

"Mamma Mia!" opened No. 1 during the weekend in Russia ($4.3 million from 436 sites,...

Toronto International Film Festival acquisitions this year were sparse which was no surprise given the recent closings of the well funded specialty arms of the studios. The noticeable slowdown in the business at these large festival cum market events (e.g., Toronto) has continued since Cannes although Locarno was happily surprised at the increased number of acquisitions which took place there albeit by international sales agents rather than by distributors. At least it attests to some enthusiasm in what seems to be a lackluster low energy year for the film business. Venice[/link] also created some sales in spite of its never quite becoming the market it might be. Pusan was disappointing leaving buyers and sellers looking toward the upcoming Tokyo International Film Festival and AFM as the place where deals will close. The European sales agents did better selling to the Asian distributors than the Asian sales agents. Bavaria sold 'Into the Great Silence' to Jin Jin of South Korea. Celsius sold 'Vivaldi' to Mirovision for South Korea, and new international sales agent M-Appeal's Maren Kroymann sold 'Trick' to Coral for South Korea.

This is a sample of the Rights Roundup Reports available from [email protected]. For more information on acquisitions in the future you can purchase the Fall Festival and Market RightsRoundup and Rights Roundup Reports for AFM/ American Film Market, Berlin Film Festival and EFM/ European Film Market and Cannes Film Festival and Marche du Film after those events.

In Toronto, Fox Searchlight remained the strong buyer, picking up 'The Wrestler' for the highest sales figure of the market, but still less than $4,000,000 and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, the other hit of the festival. Summit, an A list international sales agent who entered the domestic distribution business this year also acquired ‘Hurt Locker' for U.S.. Both 'The Wrestler' and 'Hurt Locker' were packaged, financed and represented by CAA and both were significant in that only U.S. rights were acquired (without Canada) at a good high price. IFC Films continued its acquisitions activities for IFC in Theaters, its day and date distribution platform making independent films available to a national audience in theaters and on demand simultaneously, buying ‘Flame & Citron’, ‘Fear Me Not’, ‘Everlasting Moments’ and ‘Che’. Sony Pictures Classics was also active acquiring distribution rights to ‘Every Little Step: The Journey of a Chorus Line’, ‘Faubourg 36’ (aka ‘Paris 36’). The micro distributors such as Strand, Kino, Zeitgeist, Panorama, etc. continued business as usual, which generally means hanging back until there are no obvious offers for a film and then coming in with a modest proposal.

Here are the international sales agents whose sales (licensing of distribution rights on behalf of the producers) have been reported thus far:

Bavaria Film International licensed ‘Krabat’ to SPI for Poland and Romania and to Film Depot for Russia ahead of the first public screening. Strong interest is also reported from Spain, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latin America, Japan and USA. ‘The Window’ (aka ‘La Ventana’) sold to Cinemien for Benelux, Imovison for Brazil. A deal with France is expected to close. ‘Cherry Blossoms’ went to Against Gravity for Poland. ‘Empty Nest’ has interest from U.S. as does ‘Restless’.

Celluloid Dreams has acquired all international sales rights to ‘Soul Power’ from Submarine Entertainment who was repping the film. There are offers in major territories soon to close. It also acquired ‘Youssou NDour: I Bring What I Love’ for world sales. Oscilloscope acquired it for U.S. ‘Birdwatchers’ sold to Artificial Eye for the U.K., Filmladen for Austria, Trigon for Switzerland, Pandora for Germany, Cinemien for Benelux, Hopscotch for Australia and New Zealand. ‘Mark Of An Angel’ has sold to Metrodome for the UK, Odeon for Greece, Seville for Canada, Xenix for Switzerland. Diaphana is about to gross $5m with its French theatrical release and Lumiere released in Belgium. ‘Achilles and the Tortoise’ sold to Odeon for France and Maywin for Russia.

Cinema Management Group has closed several territories on ‘The People Speak’ which screened 20 minutes in Toronto FF Special Screening. ‘Zambezia’, ‘Killer Bean Forever’ and ‘The People Speak’ went to Vision Film for Poland and to Film Pop for Turkey.

Elle Driver licensed ’35 Rhums’ to New Wave Films for the U.K.

Fandango Portobello licensed ‘Mid August Lunch' (aka'Pranzo di ferragosto’) to Le Pacte for France, Pandora for Germany, Cinemien for Benelux, Xenix for Switzerland, Filmladen for Austria.

Films Distribution licensed ‘Sea Wall’ to Axiom for the U.K.

Finecut licensed 'Daytime Drinking' to Japan's Eleven Arts who will release it in 30 North American cities. Fortissimo Films signed a six picture deal with Canadian distributor Maximum Films for ‘$9.99’, ‘Laila's Birthday’, ‘Country Wedding’, ‘Serbis’, ‘Native Dancer’, and ‘Tokyo Sonata’. ‘Disgrace’ also went to Maximum. ‘Every Little Step: The Journey of A Chorus Line’ went to Sony Pictures Classics for North America and Australia and New Zealand. ‘Serbis’ and 'Tokyo Sonata' went to Regent for North America.

Hanway Films licensed ‘Of Time and City’ to Strand Releasing for all U.S. rights. ‘Genova’ went to ThinkFilm for North America just before Toronto. Wanda acquired all rights for Spain.

Maximum licensed ‘Sugar‘ to Axiom for the U.K.

Momento licensed ‘Goodbye Solo’ to Imagine for Benelux, Axiom for the U.K. and Xenix for Switzerland. It also has offers from France, Portugal, Greece and Italy among others.

MK2 licensed ‘24 City’ to The Cinema Guild for U.S.

Pathe licensed ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ to Warner Bros. and Fox Searchlight for North America. ‘Faubourg 36’ (aka ‘Paris 36’) went to Sony Pictures Classics for U.S., Australasia, and Scandinavia just before Toronto.

Rai Trade licensed ‘Il Papa di Giovanna’ to Paradis for France, ABC for Benelux, Palace of Australia and New Zealand, MFD for Switzerland.

Roissy has licensed 'Seraphine' to Metrodome for U.K. and Ireland and to Rialto for Australia and New Zealand.

Sahamonkol licensed 'Chocolate' to Magnet for North America.

The Match Factory licensed ‘Flame & Citron’ to IFC Films for U.S. ‘Teza’ went to Trigon for Switzerland and Ripley’s Film for Italy.

TrustNordisk licensed ‘Fear Me Not’ and ‘Everlasting Moments’ and 'Heaven's Heart' to IFC Films for North America. Visit Films licensed five titles including ‘Hannah Takes The Stairs’, ‘LOL’, and ‘Kissing on The Mouth’, ‘Dance Party USA’ and ‘Quiet City’ to Beyond Entertainment for Australia/ New Zealand.

Voltage licensed ‘The Hurt Locker’ to Summit for U.S.

Wild Bunch licensed ‘Che’ to IFC Films. ‘Ponyo’ went to Lucky Red for Italy.

New York -- Sony Pictures Classics has acquired U.S., Australian, New Zealand and Scandinavian rights to Christophe Barratier's upcoming Toronto fest special presentation, "Paris 36 (Faubourg 36)."

The French-language feature chronicles a trio of stage workers in the mid-1930s who decide to stage a show in their recently shuttered dance hall.

The film reunites Barratier with producers Jacques Perrin and Nicolas Mauvernay and stars Gerard Jugnot and Kad Merad, who collaborated on the 2005 best foreign language film Oscar nominee "The Chorus."

"Paris" screens in Toronto on Sept. 6 and will be released by Pathe Distribution on Sept. 24th in France.

Muriel Sauzay and Mike Runagall negotiated the deal for Pathe International.

Montreal -- The Montreal World Film Festival got off to a tuneful start Thursday night with the world premiere of French director Christophe Barratier's "Faubourg 36" from Pathe Distribution.

Barratier strode up the red carpet to the "Chariots of Fire" theme, to introduce his drama about three Parisian dance hall veterans -- played by Gerard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac and Kad Merad -- who mount their own show amid a workers' revolt.

Declaring the fest's financial struggles of recent years behind him, festival director Serge Losique praised "Faubourg 36" as representative of "great cinema" and memorable music.

After the Montreal jury -- led by U.S. director Mary Rydell -- was introduced, festival co-director Danielle Cauchard thanked corporate sponsors who have thrown the event a lifeline.

The festival also paid tribute to veteran Hollywood producer Alan Ladd Jr., whose credits include the aforementioned "Chariots."

With Montreal bumping up against Toronto and Venice,...

The Toronto International Film Festival keeps bringing the pain with the announcement of 20 new films as part of it's special presentations lineup. I really wish I could hit the fest, but ahh well. The films which really interest me are John Crowley's (Boy A) Is There Anybody There? which is about " an unlikely friendship between a scruffy former magician and a little boy with a morbid streak. Ten year-old Edward has become increasingly obsessed with death and the afterlife since his parents turned their house into a retirement home. Edward's is a lonely and peculiar existence – until he meets Clarence who introduces him to wonders in the here-and-now." Hints of Harold and Maude? Next is Bruno Baretto's Last Stop 174 , about "young Sandro who lives in the slums of Rio de Janeiro where corruption and violence are the norm. Orphaned, alienated and fearing for his life, Sandro falls into a life...

Toronto -- French director Christophe Barratier is set to open the Montreal World Film Festival with his musical drama "Faubourg 36" (Paris 36).

The Pathe International film about three Parisian dance hall veterans who stage a musical as France's Popular Front comes to power in 1936 is Barratier's first feature since his 2004 success "Les Choristes."

Jacques Perrin and Nicolas Mauvernay share producer credit on "Faubourg 36," which Pathe shopped at Cannes.

The Montreal world premiere comes ahead of a Sept. 24 theatrical release date for the French drama in Belgium and France.

Alliance Vivafilm will release "Faubourg 36" in Quebec.

The Montreal festival, which will unveil its full lineup Tuesday, also will give lifetime achievement awards to two Hollywood veterans -- actor Tony Curtis and film producer Alan Ladd Jr. -- during its Aug. 21-Sept. 1 run.