By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com
Sundance Selects Wraps Polanski’s VENUS IN FUR
SUNDANCE SELECTS ACQUIRES U.S. RIGHTS TO ROMAN POLANSKI’S VENUS IN FUR
Film Made Its World Premiere In Competition at 2013 Cannes Film Festival
New York, NY (June 5, 2013) – Sundance Selects announced today that the company is acquiring U.S. rights to Academy Award-winning filmmaker Roman Polanski’s VENUS IN FUR. With a screenplay by Polanski and David Ives, based on the critically acclaimed, Tony award winning stage play by Ives, the film stars Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric, and was produced by Robert Benmussa and Alain Sarde. The film made its world premiere in Competition at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
Set in modern-day Paris, VENUS IN FUR follows writer-director Thomas (Amalric) and a pushy, foul-mouthed actress named Vanda (Seigner) who bursts into auditions in a whirlwind of erratic energy. Vanda’s emotionally charged audition for the gifted but demanding playwright becomes an electrifying game of cat and mouse that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, seduction and power, and ultimately, attraction and obsession.
Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: “VENUS IN FUR proves once more why Roman Polanski is one of the world’s premier auteurs. It is a brilliant cinematic adaptation in every way and features two powerful performances from Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric. We are honored to have the chance to work with Roman, Robert and Alain and everyone involved with this film.”
Polanski won the Academy Award for Best Director in 2003 for his film THE PIANIST. His other acclaimed films include TESS, ROSEMARY’S BABY, CHINATOWN, THE GHOST WRITER and REPULSION.
The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Jeff Berg at Resolution on behalf of the filmmakers.
The film marks the onscreen reunion of Amalric and Seigner who starred opposite one another in Julian Schnabel’s Oscar-nominated film THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY.
In addition to VENUS IN FUR, Sundance Selects acquired other films out of this year’s Cannes Film Festival including Abdellatif Kechiche’s Palme D’Or winner BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR; Kore-eda Hirokazu’s Jury Prize Winner LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; Clio Barnard’s Directors Fotnight title THE SELFISH GIANT; Francois Ozon’s Competition title YOUNG & BEAUTIFUL; and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT starring Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard, which is currently in pre-production.
Sundance Selects is a sister label to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
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About SUNDANCE SELECTS
Established in 2009 and based in New York City, Sundance Selects is a leading U.S. distributor of prestige films focusing on American independents, documentaries and world cinema. Previous releases include Cristian Mungiu’s double Cannes Prize winner BEYOND THE HILLS; David France’s Oscar nominated documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE; Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon’s THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE; Alison Klayman’s AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY; Wim Wenders’ Oscar nominated PINA; Werner Herzog’s CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS; Cindy Meehl’s BUCK; the Dardennes Brothers THE KID WITH A BIKE; Abbas Kiarostami’s CERTIFIED COPY and Adam Leon’s GIMME THE LOOT. Upcoming releases include Alexandre Moors’ BLUE CAPRICE starring Isaiah Washington; Richard Rowley’s DIRTY WARS; and Nick Ryan’s THE SUMMIT. Sundance Selects is a sister label to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
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Michael Kupferberg, Strategy PR/Consulting
Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric – I love this couple, and the guy totally looks like Polanski:
http://judytapapp.com/polanski.php