Italian sales and production company The Open Reel unveiled a raft of deals including sales of Valentin Merz’s debut feature De Noche Los Gatos Son Pardos (At Night All Cats Are Black) to Matchbox Films for the UK and Ireland, and Out Screen Pty for Australia and New Zealand.
De Noche Los Gatos Son Pardos, which is set during the shoot of a costume drama film in the countryside and follows events taking an odd turn after the director mysteriously disappears, premiered in competition at Locarno and received a special mention from the Locarno Festival’s First Feature jury.
The Open Reel’s Colombian feature Petit Mal, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in June, also sold to Matchbox Films for the UK and Ireland, and Out Screen Pty for Australia and New Zealand. Spanish director Ruth Caudeli’s fifth film is a largely autobiographical story about polyamorous relationships and explores her relationships with the actresses she has worked with the most, Silvia Varón and Ana María Otálora, who also feature in the film.
Spanish title 8 Years, the feature directed by JD Alcázar that narrates the reunion of a former couple returning to their first meeting place a year after having last seen each other, went to TLA Releasing for North America and the UK; Optimale for France; Out Screen for Australia and New Zealand; and GM Films for German-speaking territories.
Out Screen also acquired Spain-Italy co-production A Dice with Five Sides – the Riccardo Tamburini-directed feature narrating a first date between two men being guided by a rolling of dice – for Australia and New Zealand.
Lastly, The Open Reel sold Maja Borg’s documentary Passion, about the filmmaker’s healing process after emerging from a toxic relationship, to Birds’ Eye View for the UK and CPH:DOX’s platform for Denmark.
Source: Screen International
