Deals are being made left, right and center at this week's American Film Market in Los Angeles. Production companies and distributors from around the world have converged to shell out or pick up new product and filmmakers are using the opportunity to announce their new projects. Amongst the last two days of dealing according to The Hollywood Reporter:
Lions Gate Films has acquired North American rights to Italy's submission for the best foreign-language Oscar, "Le chiavi di casa" (The Keys to the House) which also won best film at the Venice Film Festival.
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Michael McGowan's comedy "Saint Ralph." Campbell Scott, Adam Butcher, Jennifer Tilly and Gordon Pinsent star in the comedy about Catholic schoolboy who sets out to save his mother's life by making a miracle.
Fortissimo has gained worldwide rights excluding Asia to Tsui Hark's $18 million martial arts epic "Seven Swords," which he is directing for Mandarin Films. The deal marks Fortissimo's first foray into the martial arts genre.
Director Nick Palumbo is at AFM seeking local and overseas distribution for the $2.2 million "Murder-Set-Pieces," about a serial killer who preys on women and children in the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas. The film is so violent that Technicolor Labs refused to process it.
First Look Media will do the kids animation tale "The Easter Egg Escapade," with director John Michael Williams. Brooke Shields, James Woods, Joe Pantoliano, Sandra Bernhard, Eli Wallach and Nancy Kerrigan will voice characters and Natalie Cole is performing several songs on the soundtrack.
Roger Moore, Molly Shannon, Tom Kenny and Christopher Lloyd have been cast as voice characters in the Classic Media CG-animated feature "Peter Cottontail: The Movie." The film is due for release in the spring.
Thanks to 'KarlChilders'.
