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NEWS DAY 4
20 May 2022
HIGHLAND FILM
CANNES Q&A:GROUP TAKES ON
WORLDWIDE SALES FRANÇOIS TRUFFART
TO BIOPIC TAURUS
Highland Film Group is representing (FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND PROGRAMMER)
international distribution rights to
Taurus, it was announced today. Written & ANOUCHKA VAN RIEL
and directed by Tim Sutton this
cautionary tale stars actor and musician (DEPUTY DIRECTOR)
Colson Baker and Maddie Hasson, Scoot
McNairy, Ruby Rose, Megan Fox, THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL (FORMERLY COLCOA)
Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., Lil TJay François Truffart © DR
and Naomi Wild. Why has the festival rebranded with Cannes back in May this year,
Featuring original music by Machine Gun itself? and as the pandemic eases, we were able
Kelly,Taurus is produced by Jib Polhemus, Colcoa becomes The American French to schedule the Festival back to earlier fall
and Rivulet Media’s Rob Paris and Mike Film Festival as we want our dates in October.
Witherill. The executive producers are name to acknowledge the mission
Sutton, Baker and Gul Karakiz. of the creator and producer of the The change of name comes with a
Taurus world premiered at the 2022 festival: The French American Cultural new formula?
Berlin Film Festival and will make its Fund (FACF), a partnership of the DGA, We wouldn’t change a winning formula,
North American debut at the Tribeca Film MPA, SACEM and WGA West. After 26 just the name to celebrate it! Our
Festival. Highland Film Group will screen years, this Festival has established itself commitment is still to bringing unseen
the film for buyers and will be launching as THE place to promote both French French films and series to the American
sales at the Marché du Film. RLJE Films films and series in North America, and as screens with the hope of receiving wider
has recently acquired North American a unique platform to connect industry distribution, and remains steadfast. We
rights to the film and is planning a members from France and the United will continue to strive to find new
theatrical release in the fall. States, in the heart of Hollywood. audiences in the US for the best French Anouchka van Riel © DR
“I’ve always been fascinated with cinema and television, and for French
musicians’ lives, their creative process, as What are the dates of the next creators to meet American creators and development programmes last year but
well as their struggles with the industry, edition? audiences. And of course we will remain this year we will be able to return to our
fame and vice.With Taurus, I wanted to The Festival’s 26th edition will take place an in-person competition to premieres at commitment to cross-cultural initiatives.
on October 16, 2022. We moved to the the Directors Guild of America. The DNA of the Festival is to foster
make something completely authentic
but also entirely unique — a world unto fall in 2019 to sync up with the start of cultural exchanges via work sessions and
itself.Through Colson’s spirit, artistry and Awards Season in Los Angeles and elevate How was the 25th edition last year educational exploration with writers,
our premieres and red-carpet events for and what have you prepared for directors, distributors, producers, actors
guts, we did just that,” Sutton said.
“We are very excited to screen this films and series in selection. Our the 26th? and composers; we will keep initiating
project for our international partners at American French Film Festival Awards We were one of the first in-person film artistic development through workshops
the Cannes Market. Collaborating once generate interest from producers, events to take place in Los Angeles last and meetings with industry leaders. We
again with Colson Baker is fantastic. Our distributors and sales companies as they year with an effective COVID safety and celebrated our 25th anniversary with
last film with him was One Way, he has acknowledge French films that are protection policy in place. As a incredible partners that included BNP
true star power and lights up the screen,” gaining recognition upon screening at the result, more than 14,000 festival goers Paribas/Bank Of The West and L’Oréal,
Directors Guild of America. The awards attended with enthusiasm and a shared which makes the Festival a whole lot
said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne
Fraser. are juried by American critics, passion for films on the big screen more fun and substantially adds to the
A work of fiction, Taurus examines the professionals and general audiences that for seven days — after 18 months of community outreach and effectiveness of
interplay of fame, addiction, the artistic are made up mainly of industry lockdown. For the first time Awards were our mission of Americans discovering
professionals representing most of the announced during a ceremony in French cinema, television and culture at
process and the music industry. Cole
(Baker) is a rising musical star performing motion picture guilds in the US. In 2021, Paris. Due to pandemic restrictions we The American French Film Festival. ✦
to sellout crowds. Despite the adulation the Festival took place in November, but scaled down some of our artistic
Vincent Le Leurch
of his fans, Cole’s sense of loneliness is
heightened when his ex-wife (Fox)
decides to keep their daughter from
Dog detective features in Sentient line-upseeinghim.HispersonalassistantIlana
(Hasson) acts like a protective older sister
but can’t watch over him every hour of ENTIENT Pictures International a dangerous threat to its drug-smuggling and Alison Brie. It has also announced
the day. Seeking solace in his music, the (SPI) has added action- operation — a decorated police dog new films going into production
troubled star’s search for the inspiration thriller Sombra and the responsible for the seizure of some 2,000 including: Last Meals starring Boyd
supernatural- kilos of cocaine. When Sombra becomes Holbrook and Delroy Lindo, which SPI is
Sfor one last song pushes him deep into
the void.✦ thriller Merciless to its the Gulf Clan’s number-one enemy, they producing alongside Morgan Freeman’s
Liza Foreman Marché du Film slate. set about kidnapping her. Sombra’s Revelations Entertainment; and Renny
SPI is handling international sales on the handler must beat the odds to rescue his Harlin’s latest horror-thriller Carrier,
titles; domestic rights on both films are beloved companion from Colombia’s starring Kate Bosworth and Lin Shaye.
being handled jointly by SPI and UTA most notorious criminal organisation. SPI has also added to its network of
Film Independent. In Merciless, when his wife is possessed global distribution partners to support its
Juan Pablo Raba (Peppermint, Narcos) by a malevolent spirit, a top government growing slate, closing a first-look deal
and Daniela Melchior (The Suicide interrogator seeks vengeance on those with leading Latin American distributor,
Squad) head the cast of Sombra, who were closest to the entity in its CDC. Earlier the company announced
directed by Antoni Negret previous life, to drive it out of her body. similar deals with Italia in the Middle
(Hightown, Overdrive). A global media company with offices in East, Greece, Turkey and India; Leonine
© JORGE CORTEZ Frank Grillo (Kingdom, Hitman’s London and Los Angeles, SPI recently in Germany, Switzerland and Austria;
Wife’s Bodyguard) is to play the lead in wrapped principal photography in Volga in Russia and CIS; Empire in South
Taurus Liam O’Donnell’s Merciless. Colombia on the action- Africa; and Vertical Distribution in
In Sombra, a Colombian cartel is facing comedy Freelance, starring John Cena
Eastern Europe.✦ Julian Newby
4 NEWS
20 May 2022
HIGHLAND FILM
CANNES Q&A:GROUP TAKES ON
WORLDWIDE SALES FRANÇOIS TRUFFART
TO BIOPIC TAURUS
Highland Film Group is representing (FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND PROGRAMMER)
international distribution rights to
Taurus, it was announced today. Written & ANOUCHKA VAN RIEL
and directed by Tim Sutton this
cautionary tale stars actor and musician (DEPUTY DIRECTOR)
Colson Baker and Maddie Hasson, Scoot
McNairy, Ruby Rose, Megan Fox, THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL (FORMERLY COLCOA)
Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., Lil TJay François Truffart © DR
and Naomi Wild. Why has the festival rebranded with Cannes back in May this year,
Featuring original music by Machine Gun itself? and as the pandemic eases, we were able
Kelly,Taurus is produced by Jib Polhemus, Colcoa becomes The American French to schedule the Festival back to earlier fall
and Rivulet Media’s Rob Paris and Mike Film Festival as we want our dates in October.
Witherill. The executive producers are name to acknowledge the mission
Sutton, Baker and Gul Karakiz. of the creator and producer of the The change of name comes with a
Taurus world premiered at the 2022 festival: The French American Cultural new formula?
Berlin Film Festival and will make its Fund (FACF), a partnership of the DGA, We wouldn’t change a winning formula,
North American debut at the Tribeca Film MPA, SACEM and WGA West. After 26 just the name to celebrate it! Our
Festival. Highland Film Group will screen years, this Festival has established itself commitment is still to bringing unseen
the film for buyers and will be launching as THE place to promote both French French films and series to the American
sales at the Marché du Film. RLJE Films films and series in North America, and as screens with the hope of receiving wider
has recently acquired North American a unique platform to connect industry distribution, and remains steadfast. We
rights to the film and is planning a members from France and the United will continue to strive to find new
theatrical release in the fall. States, in the heart of Hollywood. audiences in the US for the best French Anouchka van Riel © DR
“I’ve always been fascinated with cinema and television, and for French
musicians’ lives, their creative process, as What are the dates of the next creators to meet American creators and development programmes last year but
well as their struggles with the industry, edition? audiences. And of course we will remain this year we will be able to return to our
fame and vice.With Taurus, I wanted to The Festival’s 26th edition will take place an in-person competition to premieres at commitment to cross-cultural initiatives.
on October 16, 2022. We moved to the the Directors Guild of America. The DNA of the Festival is to foster
make something completely authentic
but also entirely unique — a world unto fall in 2019 to sync up with the start of cultural exchanges via work sessions and
itself.Through Colson’s spirit, artistry and Awards Season in Los Angeles and elevate How was the 25th edition last year educational exploration with writers,
our premieres and red-carpet events for and what have you prepared for directors, distributors, producers, actors
guts, we did just that,” Sutton said.
“We are very excited to screen this films and series in selection. Our the 26th? and composers; we will keep initiating
project for our international partners at American French Film Festival Awards We were one of the first in-person film artistic development through workshops
the Cannes Market. Collaborating once generate interest from producers, events to take place in Los Angeles last and meetings with industry leaders. We
again with Colson Baker is fantastic. Our distributors and sales companies as they year with an effective COVID safety and celebrated our 25th anniversary with
last film with him was One Way, he has acknowledge French films that are protection policy in place. As a incredible partners that included BNP
true star power and lights up the screen,” gaining recognition upon screening at the result, more than 14,000 festival goers Paribas/Bank Of The West and L’Oréal,
Directors Guild of America. The awards attended with enthusiasm and a shared which makes the Festival a whole lot
said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne
Fraser. are juried by American critics, passion for films on the big screen more fun and substantially adds to the
A work of fiction, Taurus examines the professionals and general audiences that for seven days — after 18 months of community outreach and effectiveness of
interplay of fame, addiction, the artistic are made up mainly of industry lockdown. For the first time Awards were our mission of Americans discovering
professionals representing most of the announced during a ceremony in French cinema, television and culture at
process and the music industry. Cole
(Baker) is a rising musical star performing motion picture guilds in the US. In 2021, Paris. Due to pandemic restrictions we The American French Film Festival. ✦
to sellout crowds. Despite the adulation the Festival took place in November, but scaled down some of our artistic
Vincent Le Leurch
of his fans, Cole’s sense of loneliness is
heightened when his ex-wife (Fox)
decides to keep their daughter from
Dog detective features in Sentient line-upseeinghim.HispersonalassistantIlana
(Hasson) acts like a protective older sister
but can’t watch over him every hour of ENTIENT Pictures International a dangerous threat to its drug-smuggling and Alison Brie. It has also announced
the day. Seeking solace in his music, the (SPI) has added action- operation — a decorated police dog new films going into production
troubled star’s search for the inspiration thriller Sombra and the responsible for the seizure of some 2,000 including: Last Meals starring Boyd
supernatural- kilos of cocaine. When Sombra becomes Holbrook and Delroy Lindo, which SPI is
Sfor one last song pushes him deep into
the void.✦ thriller Merciless to its the Gulf Clan’s number-one enemy, they producing alongside Morgan Freeman’s
Liza Foreman Marché du Film slate. set about kidnapping her. Sombra’s Revelations Entertainment; and Renny
SPI is handling international sales on the handler must beat the odds to rescue his Harlin’s latest horror-thriller Carrier,
titles; domestic rights on both films are beloved companion from Colombia’s starring Kate Bosworth and Lin Shaye.
being handled jointly by SPI and UTA most notorious criminal organisation. SPI has also added to its network of
Film Independent. In Merciless, when his wife is possessed global distribution partners to support its
Juan Pablo Raba (Peppermint, Narcos) by a malevolent spirit, a top government growing slate, closing a first-look deal
and Daniela Melchior (The Suicide interrogator seeks vengeance on those with leading Latin American distributor,
Squad) head the cast of Sombra, who were closest to the entity in its CDC. Earlier the company announced
directed by Antoni Negret previous life, to drive it out of her body. similar deals with Italia in the Middle
(Hightown, Overdrive). A global media company with offices in East, Greece, Turkey and India; Leonine
© JORGE CORTEZ Frank Grillo (Kingdom, Hitman’s London and Los Angeles, SPI recently in Germany, Switzerland and Austria;
Wife’s Bodyguard) is to play the lead in wrapped principal photography in Volga in Russia and CIS; Empire in South
Taurus Liam O’Donnell’s Merciless. Colombia on the action- Africa; and Vertical Distribution in
In Sombra, a Colombian cartel is facing comedy Freelance, starring John Cena
Eastern Europe.✦ Julian Newby
4 NEWS
