This is van Vugt’s feature fiction debut after several award-winning documentaries.
Amsterdam-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has snapped up international sales rights to Dutch director Jacqueline van Vugt’s Dutch feature Crossing, now in post-production.
This is van Vugt’s feature fiction debut after several award-winning documentaries, among them Borders (2014) and Up To G-cup (2022). It will be introduced to buyers at the European Film Market (EFM).
Crossing is an ensemble drama set in real time on a ferry crossing from Morocco to Spain as.a couple and their two sons travel home from their holiday, the ferry captain smuggles...
Amsterdam-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has snapped up international sales rights to Dutch director Jacqueline van Vugt’s Dutch feature Crossing, now in post-production.
This is van Vugt’s feature fiction debut after several award-winning documentaries, among them Borders (2014) and Up To G-cup (2022). It will be introduced to buyers at the European Film Market (EFM).
Crossing is an ensemble drama set in real time on a ferry crossing from Morocco to Spain as.a couple and their two sons travel home from their holiday, the ferry captain smuggles...
- 1/30/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Aspect Ratio and Hope Runs High have struck a deal to give North American theatrical and non-theatrical releases to dystopian German film “We Might as Well Be Dead,” from first-time filmmaker Natalia Sinelnikova.
The 2023 theatrical distribution of the film in the U.S. and Canada will be a partnership between the two companies and be followed by a digital release later in the year. Jordan Mattos of Aspect Ratio will oversee the non-theatrical distribution. The rights deal was struck with the film’s Amsterdam- and Beijing-based sales agent Fortissimo Films.
The film, which focuses on the residents of an apartment block situated on the edge of a forest and the inhabitants’ increasingly paranoid behavior, had its world premiere in February this year in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section of the Berlin film festival. “At the film’s center is the power of fear – a self-replicating system that can shatter social cohesion,...
The 2023 theatrical distribution of the film in the U.S. and Canada will be a partnership between the two companies and be followed by a digital release later in the year. Jordan Mattos of Aspect Ratio will oversee the non-theatrical distribution. The rights deal was struck with the film’s Amsterdam- and Beijing-based sales agent Fortissimo Films.
The film, which focuses on the residents of an apartment block situated on the edge of a forest and the inhabitants’ increasingly paranoid behavior, had its world premiere in February this year in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section of the Berlin film festival. “At the film’s center is the power of fear – a self-replicating system that can shatter social cohesion,...
- 12/9/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
After the exuberance of the Cannes market in May and the disappointment that some experienced at Toronto, this week’s American Film Market is expected to settle into a much more familiar range.
If “new normal” is one of those phrases that has lost its meaning through overuse, the AFM this year is expected to operate at something approaching “near normal.”
“Cannes was an experiment for many folks. This is the market that people are coming to in order to do business. You can feel it in the way that we’re approaching it,” says Jean Prewitt.
“Everybody is still enthusiastic. And for problem areas, they’ll tell you that costs are going up. They’re not sure about whether or not they can have a theatrical release. But the rules are still the same. You have to have the quality of content and the talent. And somebody’s going to want to buy it.
If “new normal” is one of those phrases that has lost its meaning through overuse, the AFM this year is expected to operate at something approaching “near normal.”
“Cannes was an experiment for many folks. This is the market that people are coming to in order to do business. You can feel it in the way that we’re approaching it,” says Jean Prewitt.
“Everybody is still enthusiastic. And for problem areas, they’ll tell you that costs are going up. They’re not sure about whether or not they can have a theatrical release. But the rules are still the same. You have to have the quality of content and the talent. And somebody’s going to want to buy it.
- 11/1/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Film will world premiere next month in competition at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
Amsterdam-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has snapped up international sales rights for Ducks – An Urban Legend, an Israeli comedy by Shahar Rozen which world premieres in competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival early next month.
The deal for Fortissimo to handle the title was struck between the film’s producer, Oren Rogovin of Rogovin Brothers, and Fortissimo Films’ general manager Amsterdam Gabrielle Rozing. Fortissimo will present the film to buyers at the American Film Market.
Backing for the project came from United King Films,...
Amsterdam-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has snapped up international sales rights for Ducks – An Urban Legend, an Israeli comedy by Shahar Rozen which world premieres in competition at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival early next month.
The deal for Fortissimo to handle the title was struck between the film’s producer, Oren Rogovin of Rogovin Brothers, and Fortissimo Films’ general manager Amsterdam Gabrielle Rozing. Fortissimo will present the film to buyers at the American Film Market.
Backing for the project came from United King Films,...
- 10/24/2022
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Dark Star Pictures has acquired the North American distribution rights to the crime thriller Missing as part of its ongoing collaboration with Bloody Disgusting, we’re excited to announce today.
After screening at several prestigious festivals including Busan International Film Festival, Fantasia, and the forthcoming Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, Missing will open in theaters on November 4, 2022, before making its way to VOD platforms on November 18th and Blu-ray on December 6th.
In the film…
“Depressed and in debt following the death of his wife, Santoshi (Jiro Sato) tells his young daughter he has found a way out. Pointing to a reward note, he vows to find the infamous serial killer ‘No Name’ (Hiroya Shimizu) and cash in, claiming to have seen the man in the flesh a few days earlier. Kaeda (Aoi Ito) cannot take her aloof father seriously. But when he goes missing without a trace, she starts...
After screening at several prestigious festivals including Busan International Film Festival, Fantasia, and the forthcoming Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, Missing will open in theaters on November 4, 2022, before making its way to VOD platforms on November 18th and Blu-ray on December 6th.
In the film…
“Depressed and in debt following the death of his wife, Santoshi (Jiro Sato) tells his young daughter he has found a way out. Pointing to a reward note, he vows to find the infamous serial killer ‘No Name’ (Hiroya Shimizu) and cash in, claiming to have seen the man in the flesh a few days earlier. Kaeda (Aoi Ito) cannot take her aloof father seriously. But when he goes missing without a trace, she starts...
- 9/13/2022
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
After the third virtual Filmart, some may wait until this autumn before travelling again.
Buyers and sellers at this year’s Hong Kong Filmart Online (March 14-17) have told Screen they found virtual meetings have gotten more efficient – even if locking down deals tends to take longer with the absence of the pressure-cooker atmosphere that in-person markets cultivated.
Many are looking forward to physical Cannes while others say they are waiting for Asian festivals this autumn to start travelling again.
While Asia’s largest film market took place online for a third time, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers report...
Buyers and sellers at this year’s Hong Kong Filmart Online (March 14-17) have told Screen they found virtual meetings have gotten more efficient – even if locking down deals tends to take longer with the absence of the pressure-cooker atmosphere that in-person markets cultivated.
Many are looking forward to physical Cannes while others say they are waiting for Asian festivals this autumn to start travelling again.
While Asia’s largest film market took place online for a third time, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers report...
- 3/18/2022
- by Jean Noh
- ScreenDaily
“Inu-Oh,” the acclaimed Japanese animation that debuted in Venice and Toronto last year, has been sold widely by Fortissimo Films and Asmik Ace.
Amsterdam and Beijing based Fortissimo is collaborating with Tokyo-based Asmik Ace on two titles, “Inu-oh” by Yuasa Masaaki and “Missing” by Katayama Shinzo, a former assistant director to “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho on “Mother.”
Rock musical animation “Inu-Oh” was licensed to Sun Distribution for Latin America, to Rapid Eye for Germany, Front Row in the Middle East and Cinemaran in Spain. Asmik Ace handles Asian territories, North America, France, U.K. and Benelux. The theatrical release in Japan will be early Summer, followed by all other territories.
“Missing,” which premiered in Busan’s New Currents section, has sold to Dark Star Pictures for North America. It will have a limited theatrical release and festival screenings before being released in other windows. With Asian sales handled by...
Amsterdam and Beijing based Fortissimo is collaborating with Tokyo-based Asmik Ace on two titles, “Inu-oh” by Yuasa Masaaki and “Missing” by Katayama Shinzo, a former assistant director to “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho on “Mother.”
Rock musical animation “Inu-Oh” was licensed to Sun Distribution for Latin America, to Rapid Eye for Germany, Front Row in the Middle East and Cinemaran in Spain. Asmik Ace handles Asian territories, North America, France, U.K. and Benelux. The theatrical release in Japan will be early Summer, followed by all other territories.
“Missing,” which premiered in Busan’s New Currents section, has sold to Dark Star Pictures for North America. It will have a limited theatrical release and festival screenings before being released in other windows. With Asian sales handled by...
- 3/14/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Kore-eda’s ‘Air Doll’ Gets First U.S. Release
Exclusive: New York-based distributor Dekanalog has picked up Japanese pic Air Doll, directed by Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda, and will give the film its first U.S. release. Released in Japan in 2009, the film follows an inflatable sex doll who finds that she has grown consciousness and a heart. Wandering Tokyo, she discovers the innate complexities of being human, including the heartbreak of loneliness. The deal was overseen by sales agent Gabrielle Rozing at Fortissimo Films and George Schmalz of Dekanalog. The picture will be released in U.S. cinemas and on VOD in early 2022.
Red Sea Fund First Projects
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund has selected 97 projects it will back as part of its first funding cycle. The projects hail from Saudi Arabia (26), the Arab region (60) and Africa (11) and range from feature films to shorts, animations and series.
Exclusive: New York-based distributor Dekanalog has picked up Japanese pic Air Doll, directed by Palme d’Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda, and will give the film its first U.S. release. Released in Japan in 2009, the film follows an inflatable sex doll who finds that she has grown consciousness and a heart. Wandering Tokyo, she discovers the innate complexities of being human, including the heartbreak of loneliness. The deal was overseen by sales agent Gabrielle Rozing at Fortissimo Films and George Schmalz of Dekanalog. The picture will be released in U.S. cinemas and on VOD in early 2022.
Red Sea Fund First Projects
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Fund has selected 97 projects it will back as part of its first funding cycle. The projects hail from Saudi Arabia (26), the Arab region (60) and Africa (11) and range from feature films to shorts, animations and series.
- 11/30/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Japanese animated musical will premiere in Horizons.
Amsterdam-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has taken all rights outside Asia to new Japanese animated musical Inu-Oh from director Masaaki Yuasa.
Produced by Japanese animation studio Science Saru, the film will have its world premiere in Venice’s Horizons section next month, before showing as a special presentation at Toronto.
The deal was negotiated by Mai Kato, head of international sales at Asmik Ace, and Gabrielle Rozing, general manager at Fortissimo Films. It revives a longstanding relationship between the two companies, which previously co-managed sales on Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood,...
Amsterdam-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has taken all rights outside Asia to new Japanese animated musical Inu-Oh from director Masaaki Yuasa.
Produced by Japanese animation studio Science Saru, the film will have its world premiere in Venice’s Horizons section next month, before showing as a special presentation at Toronto.
The deal was negotiated by Mai Kato, head of international sales at Asmik Ace, and Gabrielle Rozing, general manager at Fortissimo Films. It revives a longstanding relationship between the two companies, which previously co-managed sales on Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood,...
- 8/18/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
“Sexual Drive,” a Japanese film about desire which premiered at January’s Rotterdam film festival, will be released in North America, following a licensing deal between sales agent Fortissimo Films and local distributor Film Movement. The deal was agreed following the recent European Film Market.
Film Movement plans to show “Sexual Drive” at other festivals and also release it theatrically this year. That will be followed by release on all home entertainment and digital platforms. The company has rights for the U.S. and Canada.
Directed by Yoshida Kota, the film is a triptych about sex, aphrodisiac foods and secret desires. The stories track three people; a designer in a sexless marriage, a stricken office worker preparing to reenter the workplace; and an ad executive who wants to break off his existing relationship. In each segment a shabby man appears and reveals a challenging secret that may reinvigorate their love lives.
Film Movement plans to show “Sexual Drive” at other festivals and also release it theatrically this year. That will be followed by release on all home entertainment and digital platforms. The company has rights for the U.S. and Canada.
Directed by Yoshida Kota, the film is a triptych about sex, aphrodisiac foods and secret desires. The stories track three people; a designer in a sexless marriage, a stricken office worker preparing to reenter the workplace; and an ad executive who wants to break off his existing relationship. In each segment a shabby man appears and reveals a challenging secret that may reinvigorate their love lives.
- 3/11/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Directed by Yoshida Kota, the film is described as a triptych about sex, aphrodisiac foods and secret desires.
Fortissimo Films has sold all rights to Japanese filmmaker Yoshida Kota’s Sexual Drive to Film Movement for the US and Canada, concluding the deal at the recent European Film Market (EFM).
Film Movement plans to release the film at festivals and theatrically later this year, followed by home entertainment and digital platforms.
Described as a triptych about sex, aphrodisiac foods and secret desires, Sexual Drive uses sensual close-ups of the characters eating and relishing their favourite Japanese dishes: natto, mapo and ramen.
Fortissimo Films has sold all rights to Japanese filmmaker Yoshida Kota’s Sexual Drive to Film Movement for the US and Canada, concluding the deal at the recent European Film Market (EFM).
Film Movement plans to release the film at festivals and theatrically later this year, followed by home entertainment and digital platforms.
Described as a triptych about sex, aphrodisiac foods and secret desires, Sexual Drive uses sensual close-ups of the characters eating and relishing their favourite Japanese dishes: natto, mapo and ramen.
- 3/11/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
The American Film Market has unveiled its initial speakers, topics and programming calendar for AFM 2020 Online with sessions on Nov. 9-13 alongside the AFM’s marketplace and screenings.
The AFM’s opening conference — The Future of Film — will launch with Mark Gill, president and CEO of Solstice Studios, discussing how independent film, the marketplace and audience consumption will change in the near future. Elissa Federoff, president of distribution for Neon, will then discuss the future of feature film distribution and exhibition.
Gill had the first new film in theaters since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown with “Unhinged,” and Federoff made history for her company with four Academy Awards for “Parasite,” which became the third highest-grossing foreign language film ever released in the U.S.
This year’s lineup will take place wholly online and will bring 200 speakers to two stages for conferences, panels, conversations, workshops, podcasts and presentations. John Cena, SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris,...
The AFM’s opening conference — The Future of Film — will launch with Mark Gill, president and CEO of Solstice Studios, discussing how independent film, the marketplace and audience consumption will change in the near future. Elissa Federoff, president of distribution for Neon, will then discuss the future of feature film distribution and exhibition.
Gill had the first new film in theaters since the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown with “Unhinged,” and Federoff made history for her company with four Academy Awards for “Parasite,” which became the third highest-grossing foreign language film ever released in the U.S.
This year’s lineup will take place wholly online and will bring 200 speakers to two stages for conferences, panels, conversations, workshops, podcasts and presentations. John Cena, SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris,...
- 10/21/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Aside from Iffr, a very happening event, two new and related international sales companies are launching in Berlin. Fortissimo and Nine Film are related genealogically, even to Iffr, because the founder of Fortissimo, Wouter Barendrecht (Rip 2009), came from Iffr where he was an expert on programming films from Asia.Wouter Barendrecht (Jerusalem International Film Festival Photos)
Wouter founded Fortissimo in 1991. Together with partner Michael Werner, another China aficionado, they introduced the west to Asian arthouse cinema. Barendrecht was also instrumental in re-vitalizing the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in 2000. He created a staff and a fanbase whose loyalty and family-like closeness has never been replicated. Today at Iffr, he is commemorated annually by the Wouter Barendrect Award of €5,000 bestowed by CineMart in conjunction with the Wouter Barendrecht Film Foundation to a filmmaker under the age of 35 who has directed three or fewer films. The prize is decided upon by...
Wouter founded Fortissimo in 1991. Together with partner Michael Werner, another China aficionado, they introduced the west to Asian arthouse cinema. Barendrecht was also instrumental in re-vitalizing the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in 2000. He created a staff and a fanbase whose loyalty and family-like closeness has never been replicated. Today at Iffr, he is commemorated annually by the Wouter Barendrect Award of €5,000 bestowed by CineMart in conjunction with the Wouter Barendrecht Film Foundation to a filmmaker under the age of 35 who has directed three or fewer films. The prize is decided upon by...
- 2/3/2019
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Two years after China’s Hehe Pictures rescued it from receivership, former Asian industry powerhouse Fortissimo Films is making a full return to the international film sales business. The revived and revamped company will debut next week at Berlin’s European Film Market, and will also launch an international film marketing services subsidiary.
In its former incarnation, Fortissimo played a major role in growing Asia’s art-house film business and launched the careers of dozens of Asian auteurs. Although it operated out of Hong Kong, the company was legally registered in the Netherlands and filed for bankruptcy there in August 2016. Hehe Pictures backed the acquisition of the company from Dutch bankruptcy administrators in February 2017.
The new Fortissimo will keep its Amsterdam office, but decisions will now be made from Beijing by a team headed by former Im Global executive Clement Magar, Fortissimo’s general manager. Gabrielle Rozing, who was instrumental...
In its former incarnation, Fortissimo played a major role in growing Asia’s art-house film business and launched the careers of dozens of Asian auteurs. Although it operated out of Hong Kong, the company was legally registered in the Netherlands and filed for bankruptcy there in August 2016. Hehe Pictures backed the acquisition of the company from Dutch bankruptcy administrators in February 2017.
The new Fortissimo will keep its Amsterdam office, but decisions will now be made from Beijing by a team headed by former Im Global executive Clement Magar, Fortissimo’s general manager. Gabrielle Rozing, who was instrumental...
- 1/28/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The relaunched company is headed by former Im Global exec Clement Magar.
Amsterdam and Beijing-based international sales outfit Fortissimo Films, now backed by China’s Hehe Pictures, which is part-owned by Alibaba Pictures, has added a trio of new Chinese projects to its European Film Market (Efm) slate.
It has picked up worldwide rights to Jianyu Gan’s crime thriller Vortex, starring Da Peng, which is about the kidnapping of a young girl, and two directorial debuts a drama called The Return by actress-director Hailu Qin, and magical realist story Emile directed by Zihao Liao, about a young teacher who...
Amsterdam and Beijing-based international sales outfit Fortissimo Films, now backed by China’s Hehe Pictures, which is part-owned by Alibaba Pictures, has added a trio of new Chinese projects to its European Film Market (Efm) slate.
It has picked up worldwide rights to Jianyu Gan’s crime thriller Vortex, starring Da Peng, which is about the kidnapping of a young girl, and two directorial debuts a drama called The Return by actress-director Hailu Qin, and magical realist story Emile directed by Zihao Liao, about a young teacher who...
- 1/28/2019
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
New festival director Orwa Nyrabia reveals his priorities.
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (Idfa), opens with the world premiere of Aboozer Amini’s Kabul, City In The Wind today (November 14), and is the first festival to start reporting on how it is measuring up to the gender pledge it signed earlier this year.
The pledge, organised by French initiative 5050x2020, commits the festival to equal representation for women and men across the festival and is a key goal of new festival director Orwa Nyrabia. “It is a very serious commitment,” says Nyrabia.
“It is a big issue that our industry is...
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (Idfa), opens with the world premiere of Aboozer Amini’s Kabul, City In The Wind today (November 14), and is the first festival to start reporting on how it is measuring up to the gender pledge it signed earlier this year.
The pledge, organised by French initiative 5050x2020, commits the festival to equal representation for women and men across the festival and is a key goal of new festival director Orwa Nyrabia. “It is a very serious commitment,” says Nyrabia.
“It is a big issue that our industry is...
- 11/14/2018
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Xin Yukun’s arthouse drama revolves around two missing children.
Newly rebooted Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights to Chinese filmmaker Xin Yukun’s Wrath Of Silence, which is playing as the closing film of this year’s First International Film Festival (July 21-30).
Set in China’s Northeast, the arthouse drama revolves around two missing children in a region where coal-hungry corporations are eyeing the few remaining plots on a mine-rich mountain.
Starring Jiang Wu (A Touch Of Sin) and Song Yang (The Grandmaster), the film is produced by Bingchi Pictures, Hehe Pictures, Taihe Zeruo Culture Investment and Khorgos Taihe Digital Entertainment Cultural Development Co.
As previously reported, Hehe Pictures is in the process of acquiring Fortissimo although it remains unclear whether the financing on the deal has been completed at a time when Chinese authorities are clamping down on capital leaving the country.
“Fortissimo has always championed young Asian filmmakers and we are very...
Newly rebooted Fortissimo Films has picked up international rights to Chinese filmmaker Xin Yukun’s Wrath Of Silence, which is playing as the closing film of this year’s First International Film Festival (July 21-30).
Set in China’s Northeast, the arthouse drama revolves around two missing children in a region where coal-hungry corporations are eyeing the few remaining plots on a mine-rich mountain.
Starring Jiang Wu (A Touch Of Sin) and Song Yang (The Grandmaster), the film is produced by Bingchi Pictures, Hehe Pictures, Taihe Zeruo Culture Investment and Khorgos Taihe Digital Entertainment Cultural Development Co.
As previously reported, Hehe Pictures is in the process of acquiring Fortissimo although it remains unclear whether the financing on the deal has been completed at a time when Chinese authorities are clamping down on capital leaving the country.
“Fortissimo has always championed young Asian filmmakers and we are very...
- 7/19/2017
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
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