Sanjeev Singh, Director of Acquisition and Distribution of Videovision Entertainment announced today that the company has scored a major coup with the early acquisition of some of the hottest films being sold in Cannes. Among the films acquired are Adoration from Maximum Films, Two Lovers, The Burning Plain and The Road, from 2929 International, while The Wrestler was acquired from Wild Bunch.
Adoration directed by Academy Award™ nominee, Atom Egoyan stars Scott Speedman, Rachel Blanchard and Arsinée Khanjian. The film tracks a teenager who translates a news item on terrorism from French to English and is inspired to take the story on-line as his own, using the lives of his family members as a backdrop. The film will be ‘in competition’ in Cannes, premiering on Thursday, May 22.
Commenting on the acquisition of Adoration, Sanjeev Singh said, “We are delighted to have acquired Atom Egoyan’s Adoration prior to its Cannes premiere. Our previous Atom Egoyan acquisitions for South Africa are Where The Truth Lies and The Sweet Hereafter which were also Cannes Film Festival premieres. Our recent acquisitions from Maximum Pictures are Santosh Sivan’s Before The Rains and Jeremy Podeswa’s Fugitive Pieces.”
Two Lovers, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow and directed by James Gray (We Own The Night) has been selected to screen ‘in competition’ in Cannes on Monday, May 19, 2008. It follows a wayward 30-something’s life being turned upside down when he has to choose between a gorgeous, but wild neighbour and the safe girl next door.
The Burning Plain explores the mysterious connection between several characters separated by time and space, who help each other find redemption, forgiveness and love. The film stars Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger and is written and directed by Guillermo Arriaga (the writer of Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel).
The Road tells the story of a father and son trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world and is based on the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men). The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron and is directed by John Hillcoat (The Proposition).
Videovision Entertainment recently produced the 90 second Sun International commercial starring Charlize Theron.
Commenting on the acquisitions from 2929 International, Sanjeev Singh commented, “We are delighted to continue acquiring the slate of films from 2929 International for release in South Africa. Previous acquisitions have been multi Academy Award™ nominated film, Goodnight And Goodluck, Gracie directed by Academy Award™ winner Davis Guggenheim, and We Own The Night, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlburg, Robert Duvall and Eva Mendes, directed by James Gray, which was In Competition in Cannes last year, which was released early this year.”
Acquired from Wildbunch is The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke, Evan Rachel Wood and Marisa Tomei, and directed by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream). The film follows a once hugely successful professional wrestler in the late 80’s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson now ekes out a living performing for diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey. Estranged from his daughter, unable to sustain any real relationships, Randy lives for the thrill of the show, the adrenalin rush of combat and the adoration of his remaining fans.
Videovision Entertainment’s previous acquisitions from Wildbunch are the multi Academy Award™ Nominated film, City Of God directed by Fernando Meirelles; Academy Award™ winners, March Of The Penguins directed by Luc Jacquet and Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and the multi Academy Award™ winner, Pan’s Labyrinth directed by Guillermo Del Torro.
Singh added, “Although The Road, Burning Plain and The Wrestler are not yet complete, we were very impressed with the selected scenes we viewed and immediately acquired the films for distribution in South Africa.
Adoration and Two Lovers, The Burning Plain, The Road, The Wrestler will be released by Videovision Entertainment through United International Pictures in early 2009.
