Francois Ozon, one of Gaul’s bestselling auteurs whose latest film “Young & Beautiful” bowed in competition at Cannes, is set to helm “The New Girlfriend,” a drama toplining Romain Duris (“Chinese Puzzle”), Anais Demoustier (“Therese Desqueyroux”) and Raphael Personnaz (“The Princess of Montpensier”).
Paris based sales shingle Films Distribution has signed international rights to the pic and will start pre-sales at the AFM.
Films Distribution, founded by Nicolas Brigaud-Robert and Francois Yon, has successfuly handled such upscale arthouse pics as “War Witch,” “Monsieur Lazhar,” “Castle in Italy” and “Missing Picture.”
“Girlfriend” is produced by Eric and Nicolas Altmayer at Mandarin Cinema, the outfit behind Ozon’s “Potiche,” “In the House” and “Young & Beautiful.”
Penned by Ozon (pictured above) and based on a novel by British auteur Ruth Rendell,” Girlfriend” turns on Claire, a young woman who falls into depression after her best girlfriend’s death. She eventually finds the strength to embrace life after discovering an unexpected secret about her late friend’s husband.
Rendell’s work has previously been brought to the bigscreen by such acclaimed French directors as Claude Chabrol and Pedro Almodovar.
“Girlfriend” will start shooting in France for an expected delivery summer 2014.
IFC Films will release “Young & Beautiful” in the U.S..
