EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based distribution powerhouse Wild Bunch International (WBI) has unveiled the bulk of its French schedule for the first half of 2023 as it prepares for the Unifrance Rendezvous in Paris, which takes place January 10-17.
New titles on the list include Jean-Bernard Marlin’s Marseille gangland fantasy sell about a former mobster who believes his daughter is the only one who can save his community from an apocalyptic curse from a rival mobster’s dying breath.
sell is Marlin’s second film after the dark romance Scheherazade. This drama, also against the background of Marseille
debuted at Cannes in 2018 and won France’s César 2019 for best first film and most promising actress and actor for his big screen debut Kenza Fortas and Dylan Robert.
The new film, currently in post-production, is a co-production between Bruno Nahon’s Unité and Vatos Locos Productions, Marlin’s company with Romain Daubeach and Marine Bergère.
WBI has a track record of finding first and second French feature films of high quality to secure festival awards, including Ladj Lys Oscar-nominated 2019 Cannes Jury winner Les MisérablesJulia Ducournaus winner of the Cannes Palme d’Or 2021 titanium, by Audrey Divan happen Winner Golden Lion Venice 2021, and Alice Diops winner of Venice’s Best First Film and Grand Jury Prize Holy Omer.
Other new titles on the list include Stephan Castang’s zombie tale Vincent must diestarring Karim Leklou as a man who wakes up one morning and is suddenly attacked by random strangers.
The film is produced by the French companies Capricci, Bobi Lux and the Belgian Frakas Productions. It is one of the first feature films made by Wilde Weste, the production company jointly founded by Capricci and WBI to produce more French genre films for a younger generation.
WBI will also unveil Bruno Podalydes’ new comedy Wow! set against the real estate world and with a cast led by the director and actor that includes Karin Viard, Victor Lefebvre, Sabine Azema and Eddy Mitchell.
Other new titles include the documentary by Jean-Gabriel Leynaud of mud and blood, follows the hard life of the village of Numbi in the Congo Mountains, where residents make a living by mining coltan, an important raw material found in many of today’s technological products.
The documentary was co-produced by Valdes, Borsalino Productions and Pallas Films and is currently in production.
In addition to its French title, WBI recently won the Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Competition title Heroic by Mexican director David Zonana.
The drama, produced by award-winning director Michel Franco, follows an 18-year-old local boy who enters Heroic Military College in hopes of a better future, where he encounters a rigid and institutionally violent system.
This is Zonana’s second film since then workforce which debuted in Toronto in 2019 and then in San Sebastian.
The WBI company will also screen a series of films at the Unifrance RDV.
Highlights include a special performance for Jean-Albert Lievre whale nation. Inspired by Heathcote Williams’ book of the same name, the work, which explores the complex society and life of humpback whales, is narrated by Oscar winner Jean Dujardin.
The company is also releasing editor-in-chief Héloïse Pelloquet’s first feature film wild sea with Cecile de France as a woman who works with her fisherman husband (Gregoire Monsaingeon) on an island on the French Atlantic coast.
Her happy existence is threatened by the arrival of an intern, played by Félix Lefebvre, who is best known internationally for his role in François Ozon summer 85.
The film is produced by Why Not Productions and Bac Films is gearing up for a December 28 release in France.
Other market premieres include that of actor and director Chad Chenouga The service provider with Roschdy Zem as Deputy Principal, who will do everything to ensure that his beloved son gets top marks in important exams. The cast also includes Yolande Moreau.
The film is another Why Not production co-produced with Zem’s Hole In One. The French release of Le Pacte is scheduled for May 10, 2023.
WBI will also continue to sell a handful of previously announced titles expected to make a splash at Cannes this year, including Maiwenn’s period love story Joan of Barrywhich she also plays as a courtesan opposite Johnny Depp as Louis XV and in Ken Loach’s cross-cultural drama The old oak treerevolves around an old village pub in North East England.
Other festival candidates are those of Valerie Donzelli Just the two of usstarring Virginie Efira as a woman whose passionate love story takes a dark turn when she falls into the clutches of a possessive and dangerous man, played by Melvil Poupaud, as well as Kim Chapiron. Gracefulness.
High quality titles in pre-production including Olivier Masset-Depasse’s action thriller The price of money and Audrey Diwans winner of the Venetian Golden Lion Emmanuelle Reboot starring Léa Seydoux.
Diwan is currently writing the script for the latter with Rebecca Zlotowski, and the film is expected to go into production in late 2023.
Author: Melanie Goodfellow
Source: Deadline
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