Upcoming French Films to be released in the U.S.

This year, American distributors have already acquired the rights of more than twenty French movies. Most of these features have already been released; others are planned for this year's end or early 2015.

Additional purchases were announced this month; all of them for movies seen at festivals. Until now, there is no powerhouse that could benefit from a wide distribution, as did The Untouchables, France's highest grossing movie ever on the international market. Samba, by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, also screened at Toronto International Film Festival, could possibly be that movie. The two directors have trusted Omar Sy for a role far off from their first collaboration. Broad Green Pictures, a young production and distribution company, bought the American rights to the movie, which is not at all similar to The UntouchablesSamba will be released in France on October 15 and is expected in the US in the second half of 2015.

We've already announced that Cohen Media Group purchased the rights to In the Name of My Daughter, starring Catherine Deneuve.The same distributor acquired the next movie of the French icon, Three Hearts, by Benoit Jacquot. The announcement was made afterits screening at the Venice Film Festival. The movie, released in France in mid-September is planned in the United States for 2015. 

Cohen Media Group also announced the purchase of the rights of François Ozon’s latest movie. Shot under the title I am a Woman, it will be released under the title of the Ruth Rendell’ short story on which it is based on, The New Girlfriend, with Romain Duris in the title role. Out in France on November 5th, it premiered on September 6th at the Toronto Film Festival. At the San Sebastián Festival, the movie received the Sebastiane award that recognizes a movie reflecting the values ​​of the LGBT community. This movie does not yet have a release date in America. 

No release date as well in Europe for La Sapienza by the French director, American born, Eugene Green. The film has only been seen at festivals. Kino Lorber acquired the North American rights and plans a speciality theatrical release in the first quarter of 2015. 

Deserving of an honorable mention is Madame Bovary by the French director Sophie Barthes, her second American film shot entirely in English. The premiere of Madame Bovary was held at the Telluride festival. Millennium Entertainment will distribute it in America.

On the another hand, the other recent adaptation of the novel by Flaubert is a French movie, although its title is in English! Gemma Bovery, by Anne Fontaine, seen at the Toronto festival is adapted from the Posy Simmonds’graphic novel. It was just released in France and will be distributed in the United States by Music Box Films, the American distributor of the series The Returned. No release date yet for Gemma Bovery

Li’l Quinquin has a special fate. The series shot by Bruno Dumont, the first two episodes of which Arte channel just released, is planned for a theatrical release in the USA. Kino Lorber has been seduced at Cannes by this screwball thriller.

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