A surprising number of films in Cannes’ official selection are without distribution deals in key territories.
Here’s a look at attractive features ready for the right buyer.
The Apprentice
Ali Abbasi’s buzzy drama, The Apprentice, stars Sebastian Stan as the young version of Donald Trump and Jeremy Strong as his consigliere, Roy Cohn. Unspools in competition.
Sales: Rocket Science
Motel Destino
Karim Aïnouz returns to Cannes with this erotic thriller. His
2023 Cannes entry, “Firebrand,” with Jude Law and Alicia Vikander, sold worldwide.
Sales The Match Factory
Bird
Cannes veteran Andrea Arnold’s latest stars Oscar-nominated Barry Keoghan, whose career is hot now, and Franz Rogowski (Passages), another actor finally earning acclaim.
Sales Cornerstone Films
Megalopolis
A lot has been written about Francis Ford Coppola’s self-financed epic, and buyers are circling but may hold off on any deals till its Cannes bow. Coppola’s lawyer Barry Hirsch is courting buyers; French indie distrib Le Pacte is close to securing a deal for France.
The Shrouds
Regular Cannes director David Cronenberg returns with a powerhouse cast — Vincent Cassell, Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce — in a film that has genre fans eager to see. Should elicit lots of distrib interest.
Sales SBS Intl.
Oh, Canada
Paul Schrader secured one of the biggest young stars, Jacob Elordi, alongside veteran Richard Gere in this adaptation of Russell Banks’ novel “Foregone.” Sounds like prestige awards season material for the right buyer.
Sales Arclight/WME
Limonov: The Ballad
Celebrated auteur Kirill Serebrennikov’s offers English-language adaptation of Emmanuel Carrère’s fictionalized biography of radical Russian poet and political dissident Eduard Limonov, played by Ben Whishaw.
The Balconettes
Portrait of a Lady on Fire star Noemie Merlant and her “Fire” director Céline Sciamma co-wrote this fantastical comedy horror movie, directed by Merlant.
Sales MK2
