Sales and production company Other Angle is hoping to drum up remake interest for upcoming French comedy A Little Something Extra with a screening at the fourth edition of its French Comedy Club in L.A. this weekend.
Actor and comedian Artus directs and co-stars with Clovis Cornillac as father and son bank robbing team, who infiltrate a bus taking a group of disabled youngsters to a holiday camp, in a bid to escape the police. The cast is made up mainly of youngsters with different types of disability.
Other Angle co-founder Olivier Albou suggests the comedic storyline, the disabled cast and sensitive storytelling makes for a rare combination.
“Even if the pitch is not the same, the film has similarity with the Spanish movie Campeones (Champions) which sold really well as an original film and as a remake as well,” he says, referring to Javier Fesser’s drama about...
Actor and comedian Artus directs and co-stars with Clovis Cornillac as father and son bank robbing team, who infiltrate a bus taking a group of disabled youngsters to a holiday camp, in a bid to escape the police. The cast is made up mainly of youngsters with different types of disability.
Other Angle co-founder Olivier Albou suggests the comedic storyline, the disabled cast and sensitive storytelling makes for a rare combination.
“Even if the pitch is not the same, the film has similarity with the Spanish movie Campeones (Champions) which sold really well as an original film and as a remake as well,” he says, referring to Javier Fesser’s drama about...
- 4/26/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
L.A. French cinema lovers were deprived of their annual fall fix of Gallic film culture this year with the cancellation of the American French Film Festival due to the Hollywood strikes.
A handful of the titles originally slated to play at that event will now screen at the third edition of the French Comedy Club, running this weekend at the Lumière Cinema in Beverly Hills.
The two-day showcase opens with The Midwife (Sage-homme) which grossed $4.6 million at the box office in France for Warner Bros. France earlier this year.
Newcomer Melvin Boomer stars opposite Karin Viard as a young man who decides to try out midwifery after he fails his medicine exams.
The program also features A Difficult Year, the latest film from Untouchable directorial duo Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. Pio Marmaï, and Jonathan Cohen co-star as two swindlers opposite Noémie Merlant as an eco-activist.
The film, which...
A handful of the titles originally slated to play at that event will now screen at the third edition of the French Comedy Club, running this weekend at the Lumière Cinema in Beverly Hills.
The two-day showcase opens with The Midwife (Sage-homme) which grossed $4.6 million at the box office in France for Warner Bros. France earlier this year.
Newcomer Melvin Boomer stars opposite Karin Viard as a young man who decides to try out midwifery after he fails his medicine exams.
The program also features A Difficult Year, the latest film from Untouchable directorial duo Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. Pio Marmaï, and Jonathan Cohen co-star as two swindlers opposite Noémie Merlant as an eco-activist.
The film, which...
- 11/28/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Other Angle Pictures was founded by Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg.
France’s Other Angle Pictures has expanded its footprint into the US market with a new Los Angeles-based arm focused on distribution, production and international sales of French features with a focus on crowd-pleasing comedies and more commercial dramas.
The company, founded by longtime French film executive Olivier Albou and his wife Laurence Schonberg in 2008, is looking to tap into its network of US producers and buyers looking for French remakes and original content. The company intends to acquire titles independently and release them in association with US distribution partners in limited theatrical release.
France’s Other Angle Pictures has expanded its footprint into the US market with a new Los Angeles-based arm focused on distribution, production and international sales of French features with a focus on crowd-pleasing comedies and more commercial dramas.
The company, founded by longtime French film executive Olivier Albou and his wife Laurence Schonberg in 2008, is looking to tap into its network of US producers and buyers looking for French remakes and original content. The company intends to acquire titles independently and release them in association with US distribution partners in limited theatrical release.
- 11/7/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
The second edition of the French Comedy Club unfolds at the Lumière Cinéma in Beverly Hills this weekend.
The event, which is open to cinema industry professionals and the public, aims to generate business and raise awareness about French comedy.
Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg at Paris-based sales and production company Other Angle Pictures have spearheaded the initiative, with the support of French export body Unifrance and artists residencies body Villa Albertine.
Over the past decade, their company has brought a raft of French comedies to the international market including Netflix hits Spoiled Brats and The Last Mercenary.
This year’s line-up includes the Other Angle title Sweet Little Things as well as Alibi.com 2, which is sold by Newen Connect, and How To Survive Without Mum and Stay With Us, which are both handled internationally by Studiocanal.
The showcase opens Saturday with Ludovic Bernard’s How To Survive Without Mum,...
The event, which is open to cinema industry professionals and the public, aims to generate business and raise awareness about French comedy.
Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg at Paris-based sales and production company Other Angle Pictures have spearheaded the initiative, with the support of French export body Unifrance and artists residencies body Villa Albertine.
Over the past decade, their company has brought a raft of French comedies to the international market including Netflix hits Spoiled Brats and The Last Mercenary.
This year’s line-up includes the Other Angle title Sweet Little Things as well as Alibi.com 2, which is sold by Newen Connect, and How To Survive Without Mum and Stay With Us, which are both handled internationally by Studiocanal.
The showcase opens Saturday with Ludovic Bernard’s How To Survive Without Mum,...
- 4/15/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: As international delegates touch down on the Croisette for what feels like the first “real” Cannes market since the pandemic struck, Olivier Albou is getting ready to hit the ground running. The veteran exec, who heads up sales and production house Other Angle with his wife Laurence Schonberg, has four new films on his slate this year that he’s offering up to international buyers.
The company will be showing footage for Mélanie Auffret’s Sweet Little Things (Les Petites Victoires), starring Julia Piaton and Michel Blanc, about a busy young teacher who’s faced with the challenge of a new student in her class – an explosive 60-year-old man who has finally decided to learn to read and write. Then there’s Jennifer Devoldère’s male midwife feature The Midwife (Sage Homme) starring Karin Viard and Melvin Boomer as well as Jonathan Barré’s Serial Driver (Bonne Conduit) starring...
The company will be showing footage for Mélanie Auffret’s Sweet Little Things (Les Petites Victoires), starring Julia Piaton and Michel Blanc, about a busy young teacher who’s faced with the challenge of a new student in her class – an explosive 60-year-old man who has finally decided to learn to read and write. Then there’s Jennifer Devoldère’s male midwife feature The Midwife (Sage Homme) starring Karin Viard and Melvin Boomer as well as Jonathan Barré’s Serial Driver (Bonne Conduit) starring...
- 5/17/2022
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Other Angle is launching sales on Melissa Drigeard’s “Hawaii” with Berenice Bejo and Jeremy Guez’s “Kanun” at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris which is happening this week as an in-person event in the French capital.
“Hawaii”is headlined by an ensemble cast including The Artist” actor Bérénice Béjo. The movie follows nine friends who gather every year in their friend Thomas’ hotel in Hawaii. Following a nuclear attack alert, they believe that their last moments are upon them and their friendly annual meeting turns into shouting match. But after finding out the nuclear threat was a false alert, they have to spend the remaining eight days of vacation together. The movie is produced by Romain Legrand and Vivien Aslanian at Marvelous Productions. Warner Bros. will release it in France.
“Kanun” is a thriller directed by Jérémie Guez whose credits include “Brothers by Blood” and “A Bluebird in My Heart.
“Hawaii”is headlined by an ensemble cast including The Artist” actor Bérénice Béjo. The movie follows nine friends who gather every year in their friend Thomas’ hotel in Hawaii. Following a nuclear attack alert, they believe that their last moments are upon them and their friendly annual meeting turns into shouting match. But after finding out the nuclear threat was a false alert, they have to spend the remaining eight days of vacation together. The movie is produced by Romain Legrand and Vivien Aslanian at Marvelous Productions. Warner Bros. will release it in France.
“Kanun” is a thriller directed by Jérémie Guez whose credits include “Brothers by Blood” and “A Bluebird in My Heart.
- 1/11/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme has begun shooting in France for a Netflix action-comedy called “The Last Mercenary,” Netflix announced Friday.
The film is directed by David Charhon and is a French-language film that stars Van Damme as a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Samir Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Alban Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané wrote the film that co-stars Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou, and the film will debut soon on Netflix. “The Last Mercenary” will shoot in France and Ukraine.
Also Read: Naya Rivera to Appear as Judge on Netflix's 'Sugar Rush' Episode Filmed Before Her Death
“The Last Mercenary” is produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou,...
The film is directed by David Charhon and is a French-language film that stars Van Damme as a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Samir Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Alban Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané wrote the film that co-stars Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou, and the film will debut soon on Netflix. “The Last Mercenary” will shoot in France and Ukraine.
Also Read: Naya Rivera to Appear as Judge on Netflix's 'Sugar Rush' Episode Filmed Before Her Death
“The Last Mercenary” is produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou,...
- 7/31/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme is currently shooting action-comedy “The Last Mercenary” in France for Netflix, being directed by David Charhon (“On the Other Side of the Tracks”).
In the French-language film, written by Charhon and Ismael Sy Savane (“Lascars”), Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat and a mafia operation.
The cast also includes Alban Ivanov (“Lucky”), Assa Sylla (“Mortel”) and Samir Decazza (“Valide”).
The film is produced by Jean-Charles Levy and Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures); Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures); David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon and Eponine Maillet (Mony Films); and Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
This is the first time that the Muscles from Brussels is attempting an action-comedy and it is also his...
In the French-language film, written by Charhon and Ismael Sy Savane (“Lascars”), Van Damme plays a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat and a mafia operation.
The cast also includes Alban Ivanov (“Lucky”), Assa Sylla (“Mortel”) and Samir Decazza (“Valide”).
The film is produced by Jean-Charles Levy and Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures); Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures); David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon and Eponine Maillet (Mony Films); and Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
This is the first time that the Muscles from Brussels is attempting an action-comedy and it is also his...
- 7/31/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix is underway in France on Jean-Claude Van Damme action-comedy The Last Mercenary from director David Charhon (The Other Side Of The Tracks).
Also starring in the film are Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Van Damme will play a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
The film is written by David Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané and produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou, Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures), David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon, Eponine Maillet (Mony Films), Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
Van Damme said: “The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and allows me to take on a new genre. I’ve always been...
Also starring in the film are Alban Ivanov, Assa Sylla, Samir Decazza, Patrick Timsit, Eric Judor and Miou-Miou.
Van Damme will play a mysterious former secret service agent who must urgently return to France when his estranged son (Decazza) is falsely accused of arms and drug trafficking by the government, following a blunder by an overzealous bureaucrat (Ivanov) and a mafia operation.
The film is written by David Charhon and Ismaël Sy Savané and produced by Jean-Charles Levy, Nicolas Manuel (Forecast Pictures), Olivier Albou, Laurence Schonberg (Other Angle Pictures), David Charhon, Jakéma Charhon, Eponine Maillet (Mony Films), Olias Barco, Vlad Riashyn (Apple Tree).
Van Damme said: “The Last Mercenary is an incredibly exciting project and allows me to take on a new genre. I’ve always been...
- 7/31/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Other Angle has picked up international sales rights to “Babysplitters,” a U.S. comedy directed by Sam Friedlander (“Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant”) as part of the French company’s move into English-language movies.
“Babysplitters” is a high-concept comedy about two couples who have mixed feelings about having kids and hatch a plan to share one baby. While it initially seems like the perfect compromise, things spiral out of control.
The movie, which stars Danny Pudi, Emily Chang, Maiara Walsh and Eddie Alfano, has already screened at North American festivals, including Santa Barbara and San Diego, where it won awards. It also played at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Variety‘s review of “Babysplitters” said “The trials and travails of impending parenthood are captured through Friedlander’s highly comedic filter, giving birth to enough dazzling wit to sustain the gimmick.”
Friedlander said the film was inspired by his own doubts and fears about parenthood.
“Babysplitters” is a high-concept comedy about two couples who have mixed feelings about having kids and hatch a plan to share one baby. While it initially seems like the perfect compromise, things spiral out of control.
The movie, which stars Danny Pudi, Emily Chang, Maiara Walsh and Eddie Alfano, has already screened at North American festivals, including Santa Barbara and San Diego, where it won awards. It also played at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Variety‘s review of “Babysplitters” said “The trials and travails of impending parenthood are captured through Friedlander’s highly comedic filter, giving birth to enough dazzling wit to sustain the gimmick.”
Friedlander said the film was inspired by his own doubts and fears about parenthood.
- 11/8/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
‘I was extraordinarily lucky to have waited fifty-two years to make this film.’
Paris-based Other Angle Pictures has boarded world sales on French director Claude Lelouch’s The Best Years Of A Life ahead of its Out of Competition premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film reunites Lelouch with legendary actors Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant in the follow-up to his Palme d’Or, Academy Award, Golden Globe-winning 1966 romantic drama A Man And A Woman.
Its storyline revisits the original characters of Anne Gauthier and Jean-Louis Duroc – a script girl and a racing driver who embark on a hesitant...
Paris-based Other Angle Pictures has boarded world sales on French director Claude Lelouch’s The Best Years Of A Life ahead of its Out of Competition premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film reunites Lelouch with legendary actors Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant in the follow-up to his Palme d’Or, Academy Award, Golden Globe-winning 1966 romantic drama A Man And A Woman.
Its storyline revisits the original characters of Anne Gauthier and Jean-Louis Duroc – a script girl and a racing driver who embark on a hesitant...
- 5/8/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Strong sales also on Daniel Auteil’s marriage drama The Other Woman.
Paris-based Other Angle Pictures has announced first sales on French director Julien Leclercq’s action thriller The Bouncer, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, which started shooting last week.
It has sold to Germany (Constantin Film), Italy (Minerva Pictures), Spain (Inopia Films), Latin America (Leda Film), Poland (Monolith Films), Middle East (Falcon Films), Russia (Capella Film), Turkey (Fabula Films), Hungary (Cinetel) and ex-Yugoslavia (Fox Vision).
Van Damme plays a bouncer who is strong-armed by the police into infiltrating a dangerous counterfeiting gang. The $10m production is lead produced by Julien Madon.
The company is also reporting strong interest on Daniel Auteuil’s The Other Woman in which the French star plays a happily married man who starts fantasising about running off with a younger woman.
The film has sold to Italy (Eagle), Canada (Christal Films), Brazil (Immovision), Benelux (Vertigo Films), China (Lemon Tree), Greece (Tanweer), Poland (Canal+) and Israel...
Paris-based Other Angle Pictures has announced first sales on French director Julien Leclercq’s action thriller The Bouncer, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, which started shooting last week.
It has sold to Germany (Constantin Film), Italy (Minerva Pictures), Spain (Inopia Films), Latin America (Leda Film), Poland (Monolith Films), Middle East (Falcon Films), Russia (Capella Film), Turkey (Fabula Films), Hungary (Cinetel) and ex-Yugoslavia (Fox Vision).
Van Damme plays a bouncer who is strong-armed by the police into infiltrating a dangerous counterfeiting gang. The $10m production is lead produced by Julien Madon.
The company is also reporting strong interest on Daniel Auteuil’s The Other Woman in which the French star plays a happily married man who starts fantasising about running off with a younger woman.
The film has sold to Italy (Eagle), Canada (Christal Films), Brazil (Immovision), Benelux (Vertigo Films), China (Lemon Tree), Greece (Tanweer), Poland (Canal+) and Israel...
- 2/17/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Paris-based sales agent launches new company. First films include Heaven Knows What.
Paris-based Nathan Fischer - one of Screen’s Future Leaders at Cannes last year - has launched a new sales company called Stray Dogs on the eve of Unifrance’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris.
“The focus is on young, international talents,” said Fischer. “I want want to work with filmmakers and for filmmakers to be an asset to their films.”
“I will be working on theatrical sales, of course, but will also look at innovative distribution strategies with an emphasis on strong festival and digital rollouts,” he added.
Stray Dogs’ debut slate features Ben and Joshua Safdie’s Heaven Knows What starring Arielle Holmes as a young heroin addict who finds mad love on the streets of New York.
Fischer will accompany the film to the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) where is screening in the Spectrum section.
The Us-French...
Paris-based Nathan Fischer - one of Screen’s Future Leaders at Cannes last year - has launched a new sales company called Stray Dogs on the eve of Unifrance’s Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris.
“The focus is on young, international talents,” said Fischer. “I want want to work with filmmakers and for filmmakers to be an asset to their films.”
“I will be working on theatrical sales, of course, but will also look at innovative distribution strategies with an emphasis on strong festival and digital rollouts,” he added.
Stray Dogs’ debut slate features Ben and Joshua Safdie’s Heaven Knows What starring Arielle Holmes as a young heroin addict who finds mad love on the streets of New York.
Fischer will accompany the film to the International Film Festival Rotterdam (Iffr) where is screening in the Spectrum section.
The Us-French...
- 1/14/2015
- ScreenDaily
Our International Sales Agent (Isa) of the Day coverage resumed for this year's Cannes Film Festival. We feature successful, upcoming, innovative and trailblazing agents from around the world (during and after the festival) and cover the latest trends in sales and distribution. Beyond the numbers and deals, this segment will also share inspirational and unique stories of how these individuals have evolved and paved their way in the industry, and what they envision for the new waves in global cinema.
Other Angle Pictures is a fresh and energetic film sales and acquisitions company with a welcoming boutique approach and an unparalleled and eclectic slate. Based in Paris, it was started by the husband and wife team of Laurence Schonberg and Olivier Albou.
It's impressive that Other Angle Pictures has only been around for five years; this family style company has been on a steady climb and has scored great success with films that most thought would never succeed. At last year's Cannes Film Festival, cop comedy “On the Other Side of the Tracks" starring Omar Sy of "The Untouchables", sold to over 40 territories and was picked up by The Weinstein Co.
This year, sales have also been solid with Asia Argento’s Un Certain Regard entry "Incompresa" starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, "Babysitting", the second highest grossing French comedy of the year, and "Go Go Boys", a documentary about legendary producers Menachem Golam and Yoram Globus (which was in Cannes Classics and is getting ready for a solid international rollout).
Other Angle Pictures intends to develop its slate with more English language projects moving forward. The company is also producing its first film "The Beggars," which is in a similar vein as "The Band's Visit". It will star "Monsieur Lazar's" Fellag and will be directed by Daniel Cohen who directed "Le Chef" (recently released by Cohen Media).
General Manager Laurence Shonberg and head of Sales and Acquisitions Nathan Fischer took time to share their backgrounds, success and intentions moving forward...
Laurence: We decided to create our company because we had the vision of bringing something new to the market. Since then, we decided to focus on finding films that no one expected to break out. We started with a comedy called "The French Kissers", which was in the Cannes Director’s fortnight in 2009. It sold two million tickets in France and was distributed worldwide.
This year is a breakout year for us. We had three movies in Cannes. Two were chosen for Un Certain Regard, and one was a Cannes Classique. We're a small family company, and we're very excited and proud of this. It has a lot of heart, and that's what Other Angle is looking for - films with heart, films that aren't expected to do well in the beginning, films that are going to be something special to the audience, and films that are funny, moving and sincere. Our films speak to what's important in life.
We are leading in French comedies, but we're definitely moving towards more international, director-oriented films. We hope to be a magnet for international directors looking for co-production opportunities. I think that's really the way to evolve right now, and getting involved in sales at an early stage.
We also have French mainstream comedies that are great potential remake movies, like Babysitting, or "The Last Diamond", by Barbier Eric, which was recently acquired by Cohen Media. My First Star is a story of a family on a ski trip for the first time. It's based on a true story of a guy from Martinique who came from a poor family. We sold the remake rights to Chris Rock, and he's working on it right now. It's a very funny and moving story.
Nathan: I first lived in Los Angeles when I was 20 and worked as a production assistant for Anonymous Content. It was a great place, and I realized that I only wanted to be in film. I kept doing internships, and started doing international sales with Wild Bunch. They had "The Artist", "Polisse" and a number of great films that broke out of Cannes. This is how I learned how exciting international sales could be. After this time, I traveled in Asia for a year, before coming back to Los Angeles where I had stints with Endgame Entertainment, Voltage Pictures, and went on to work for the producers of The Lunchbox.
This gave me a better understanding of the leading markets. I think that international sales are great when you're passionate about film, but you also have to be passionate about your distributors and your territories.
Laurence: Olivier started with Ugc as the head of international sales, and sold "Amelie" worldwide. Following this, he was hired to work at Warner Bros as the director of international distribution in the Us for three years and then moved on to be the director of acquisitions at TF1 in France.
We care about our films. It's not just one more film; we have strong relationships with our producers, and keep them updated every step of the way. We form a community with our clients and treat them like family. It's more than a business for us; it's our life.
More about Other Angle Pictures:
Other Angle Pictures is an international sales and acquisitions company involved in features films from France and other countries. We are not handling more than 10 films a year for foreign sales, in order to provide filmmakers and our clients with the best possible care and service. We also acquire foreign films for France, and are involved in international co-productions...
Other Angle Pictures is a fresh and energetic film sales and acquisitions company with a welcoming boutique approach and an unparalleled and eclectic slate. Based in Paris, it was started by the husband and wife team of Laurence Schonberg and Olivier Albou.
It's impressive that Other Angle Pictures has only been around for five years; this family style company has been on a steady climb and has scored great success with films that most thought would never succeed. At last year's Cannes Film Festival, cop comedy “On the Other Side of the Tracks" starring Omar Sy of "The Untouchables", sold to over 40 territories and was picked up by The Weinstein Co.
This year, sales have also been solid with Asia Argento’s Un Certain Regard entry "Incompresa" starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, "Babysitting", the second highest grossing French comedy of the year, and "Go Go Boys", a documentary about legendary producers Menachem Golam and Yoram Globus (which was in Cannes Classics and is getting ready for a solid international rollout).
Other Angle Pictures intends to develop its slate with more English language projects moving forward. The company is also producing its first film "The Beggars," which is in a similar vein as "The Band's Visit". It will star "Monsieur Lazar's" Fellag and will be directed by Daniel Cohen who directed "Le Chef" (recently released by Cohen Media).
General Manager Laurence Shonberg and head of Sales and Acquisitions Nathan Fischer took time to share their backgrounds, success and intentions moving forward...
Laurence: We decided to create our company because we had the vision of bringing something new to the market. Since then, we decided to focus on finding films that no one expected to break out. We started with a comedy called "The French Kissers", which was in the Cannes Director’s fortnight in 2009. It sold two million tickets in France and was distributed worldwide.
This year is a breakout year for us. We had three movies in Cannes. Two were chosen for Un Certain Regard, and one was a Cannes Classique. We're a small family company, and we're very excited and proud of this. It has a lot of heart, and that's what Other Angle is looking for - films with heart, films that aren't expected to do well in the beginning, films that are going to be something special to the audience, and films that are funny, moving and sincere. Our films speak to what's important in life.
We are leading in French comedies, but we're definitely moving towards more international, director-oriented films. We hope to be a magnet for international directors looking for co-production opportunities. I think that's really the way to evolve right now, and getting involved in sales at an early stage.
We also have French mainstream comedies that are great potential remake movies, like Babysitting, or "The Last Diamond", by Barbier Eric, which was recently acquired by Cohen Media. My First Star is a story of a family on a ski trip for the first time. It's based on a true story of a guy from Martinique who came from a poor family. We sold the remake rights to Chris Rock, and he's working on it right now. It's a very funny and moving story.
Nathan: I first lived in Los Angeles when I was 20 and worked as a production assistant for Anonymous Content. It was a great place, and I realized that I only wanted to be in film. I kept doing internships, and started doing international sales with Wild Bunch. They had "The Artist", "Polisse" and a number of great films that broke out of Cannes. This is how I learned how exciting international sales could be. After this time, I traveled in Asia for a year, before coming back to Los Angeles where I had stints with Endgame Entertainment, Voltage Pictures, and went on to work for the producers of The Lunchbox.
This gave me a better understanding of the leading markets. I think that international sales are great when you're passionate about film, but you also have to be passionate about your distributors and your territories.
Laurence: Olivier started with Ugc as the head of international sales, and sold "Amelie" worldwide. Following this, he was hired to work at Warner Bros as the director of international distribution in the Us for three years and then moved on to be the director of acquisitions at TF1 in France.
We care about our films. It's not just one more film; we have strong relationships with our producers, and keep them updated every step of the way. We form a community with our clients and treat them like family. It's more than a business for us; it's our life.
More about Other Angle Pictures:
Other Angle Pictures is an international sales and acquisitions company involved in features films from France and other countries. We are not handling more than 10 films a year for foreign sales, in order to provide filmmakers and our clients with the best possible care and service. We also acquire foreign films for France, and are involved in international co-productions...
- 8/8/2014
- by Erin Grover
- Sydney's Buzz
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