May 22, 2009–Sony Pictures Classics has acquired multi-territorial rights to the Cannes Competition title “A Prophet.” The movie is set in a prison, where a 19-year-old inmate is tested by a Corsican gang.
The French-Arabic-Corsican-language thriller, helmed by Jacques Audiard, has received a strong critical support at the festival since its first showing last Saturday. Many U.S. distributors had been interested in the film, sales company Celluloid Dreams had attached a steep price tag for the U.S. rights. Audiard's “The Beat That My Heart Skipped” (2005) (2005) won three Cesars (the French Oscars) and a BAFTA. His previous film, Read My Lips” (2001) won a Cesar for screenwriting.
