Sam Levinson’s “Another Happy Day,” Tony Kaye’s “Detachment” and Liza Johnson’s “Return” are among the 14 competition pics unveiled by the 37th Deauville American Film Festival on Tuesday.
“Another Happy Day,” which won this year’s script nod at Sundance, and “Detachment,” which played at Tribeca, will have their Euro preems at the fest, set in the seaside town on Gaul’s Normandy coast.
“Day” will be distributed in France by Memento Film Distribution, while “Detachment” will be released by Pretty Pictures.
“Return,” which screened at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight, will be distributed in Gaul by Rezo Films.
Other buzz titles on Deauville’s competition lineup include Jeff Nichols’ psychological drama “Take Shelter,” winner of Cannes Critics Week’s grand prize; David Schwimmer’s thriller “Trust”; John C. Reilly starrer “Terri” and Mike Cahill’s drama “Another Earth,” which nabbed Sundance’s Sloan prize.
Fest’s competition roaster will also feature Amy Wendel’s “All She Can,” Matthew Gordon’s “The Dynamiter,” Maryam Keshavarz’ drama “Circumstance,” Clay Jeter’s “Jess + Moss,” Andrew Okpeaha MacLean’s “On the Ice,” Mark Jackson’s “Without” and Victoria Mahoney’s “Yelling to the Sky.”
Meanwhile, Liz Garbus’ biopic “Bobby Fischer Against the World” has been added to the fest’s documentary section, Uncle Sam’s Docs.
Deauville will also play Gus Van Sant’s “Restless,” Steve Carell starrer “Crazy, Stupid,
Love,” Todd Solondz’ “Dark Horse,” Curtis Hanson’s “Too Big To Fail,” which has been acquired by Gallic network Orange Cinema Series.
Jessica Chastain and Ryan Gosling will be feted with a New Hollywood award, launched this year to “spotlight the rising stars of U.S. cinema and bring new blood to Deauville,” said fest topper Bruno Barde.
Deauville will also give a “Carte Blanche” to French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, who selected Ethan and Joel Coen’s “Fargo,” John Schlesinger’s “Midnight Cowboy” and Frank Capra’s “Arsenic and Old Lace,” among other classics.
The fest is upping its professional presence with Film Corner, a mini-mart created to fast-track distribution deals on films presented at Deauville.
It will also host a round table discussion set up by the Producers Guild of America’s international committee and the French Producers Guild (APC) with the support of the Ile de France Film Commission.
The discussion, which will center on international co-production, new distribution models and mixed financing, will mark the PGA and APC’s first official meeting since signing an agreement in May 2010 to encourage co-operation between French and U.S. producers.
French thesps Nathalie Baye, Chiara Mastroianni, helmer Claire Denis, musician Nicolas Godin, choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, scribe Jean Rolin and actor Bruno Todeschini will sit on helmer Olivier Assayas’ jury.
U.S. scribe Roger Avary, whose credits include “Pulp Fiction” and “Silent Hill,” will give a masterclass on screenwriting.
Luring David Chase and Clyde Phillips in its first edition, Deauville’s second TV spotlight, Season Two, will host the premiere screenings of Tom Fontana’s “Borgia,” Graham Yost’s “Justified” and Shawn Ryan’s “The Chicago Code,” Veena Sud’s “The Killing” and David Crane’s “Episode.”
Tom Fontana will be on hand to give a masterclass, while Ryan, Yost and Gallic scribes Herve Hadmar (“Pigalles”), and Anne Landois will participate in a panel discussion, hosted by French novelist Stephane Foenkinos, centering on the writing of crime dramas.
