PARIS — As part of a push into the English-lingo commercial market, Paris-based Celluloid Dreams is handling international sales on the $12 million ghost story “Jindabyne” from “Lantana” helmer Ray Lawrence.
An adaptation of the Raymond Carver story “So Much Water so Close to Home,” “Jindabyne” stars Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney as a couple whose lives are affected by the man’s discovery of a woman’s body during a fishing trip.
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Pic, in the final stages of shooting, is the first production of Philippa Bateman and Garry Charny’s Australian April Films.
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Village Roadshow has acquired the film for Australian distribution.
” ‘Jindabyne’ is the perfect vehicle to take Celluloid Dreams into the world of commercial movies. We’ve been waiting for a film like this,” Celluloid Dreams topper Hengameh Panahi said Wednesday.
Pic is Celluloid’s third commercial English-lingo pic after taking on Julianne Moore starrer “Savage Grace,” one of the hot titles at the last Berlin Film Market, and helmer Lone Scherfig’s “Good” with Hugh Jackman.
Always a strong presence at Cannes, Celluloid Dreams this year has at least nine films in the fest’s selections and sidebars, including four pics in competition: fest opener “Lemming,” Masahiro Kobayashi’s “Bashing,” “The Child” by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne and “Election” by Johnnie To.
The company has also picked up overseas rights to Kyle Henry’s drama “Room,” which is set to screen in Cannes’ Directors Fortnight section.
Kyle Henry’s pic follows the midlife crisis and self-discovery of a working-class American woman (Cyndi Williams). It was exec produced by Jim McKay, Michael Stipe, John Leisenring and Randy B. Fields, and produced through the Gotham-based 7th Floor shingle.
“Room” is seeking a U.S. distrib deal through the Carmichael Films banner.
