This second edition of the Forum will run for 3 days-23, 24 and 25 September- to coincide with Films in Progress, dates on which San Sebastian will celebrate an enormous coming together between members of the audiovisual industry. 16 projects in development from 15 countries will participate in the II Forum. The 16 projects have been selected from among the total of 160 submitted from 24 countries, mostly in Latin America. The Selection Committee made specific mention of the high standard of ...

As the Marche du Film at the 63rd International Cannes Film Festival comes to a close, here are some of the final deals: Protagonist Pictures continues to make deals for Garreth Edwards "Monsters" for distribution in different countries. Cinecitta Luce bought the Italian rights to Romainian directer Andrei Ujica's "The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceausescu" from Mandragora International. Wide sold "Gigola" to K-Films Amerique for an early 2011 release in C...

According to an article in "The Hollywood Reporter: The Cannes Daily," this years Cannes Marche du Film was a quiet one, with limited headline grabbing deals. Between buyers being more selective and sellers working to create profits in a difficult economy, deals are taking longer to be worked out. Typical big North American buyers such as IFC Films, Phase 4 Films and Sony Pictures Classics went through Tuesday without making any deals. Newcomers Red Flag Releasing and Oscilloscope La...

Emmanuel Benbihy, producer of the "Love Cities" series currently including "Paris, Je t'aime" and "New York, I Love You," is taking the production of film project "Love Berlin - How We Met" to trial for copyright infringement and unfair competition, according to "The Hollywood Reporter: The Daily Cannes."  The principles on "Love Berlin," Visitor Pictures, Sherazade Films, and the Very Useful Co., are filing a countersuit.  One can ...

Focus Feature's new movie "Hanna" was sold to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition Group, which is quickly becoming a major buyer of independent films.  Sony made an aggressive move purchasing distribution rights for every territory that it could, except for the following places that Focus retains the rights for: US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Israel, Middle East, and CIS.  This marks the largest market deal so far here in Cannes, according to "The Variety."  &qu...

  Marche du FilmAs always, the Marche du Film is located in the Palais des Festivals. Only after treading through the melee of tourists and cinema lovers gathered outside trying to obtain tickets and in queuing to see films, one can enter the main entrance.      Down the stairs past the Business Center and Short Film Corner, one will start to see specific country booths representing their cinema. Japan Booth               Tiawan Cinema Indonesi...

Marche du Film      When walking into the Marche du Film, business appears to be booming.  It's day two into the festival and deals are already in the works and bidding wars over distribution rights to films have begun.  Though despite the Marche's surface appearance, many cannot ignore the current uncertainty of the European Independent film industry.  This uncertainty stems from the recent signs of the sector taking a hit similar to that of the American Independent...

 Friday, May 23------The whooshing sound that you hear is the rapid departure of film professionals leaving in droves as the Cannes Film Festival enters its final weekend. In fact, professionals have been leaving en masse since Wednesday, with film sales offices at the Marche du Film and the local hotels virtual ghost towns. The American distribution contingent, which were on the Croisette in great numbers, have left Cannes without many major acquisitions. The tepid Cannes market continued what...