TF1 DA, Entertainment One and The Weinstein CompanyAnnounce Partnership on
Suite Fran aise
Michelle Williams, Matthias Schoenaerts and Kristin Scott Thomas
confirmed to star in Saul Dibb's WWII drama
Production on the highly-anticipated 15 M budget project begins in June
London/Toronto - May 19, 2013 TF1 Droits Audiovisuels (TF1 DA) and Entertainment One (eOne) are pleased to announce that they have partnered with The Weinstein Company (TWC) on the highly-anticipated 15 M budget Suite Fran aise. TWC will handle the US rights to Suite Fran aise, as well as distribution rights in Latin America, Australia, Russia and Germany.TF1 DA and eOne, the film's producers, are also pleased to confirm that Suite Fran aise will begin shooting June 24, 2013 in Belgium and Paris.
This inspired project has drawn a very talented team of partners together, said producer Xavier Marchand. Harvey brings an unparalleled savoir-faire and we're absolutely delighted to join forces with The Weinstein Company on Suite Fran aise.
Starring Michelle Williams, Matthias Schoenaerts and Kristin Scott Thomas, Suite Fran aise is set in 1940s France and is based on the international best-selling work of Irene Nemirovsky. Awaiting news from her husband, a prisoner of war, beautiful Lucile Angellier leads a stifled existence with her mean, controlling mother-in-law. Until Parisian refugees pour into their small town, soon followed by a regiment of German soldiers who take up residence in the villagers homes. In the Angellier home, Lucile initially tries to ignore Bruno, the handsome and refined German officer staying with them. But soon, a powerful love draws them together and leads them into the tragedy of war.
Fifty years after her death in a concentration camp, Nemirovsky's unfinished novel, Suite Fran aise was discovered by her daughter. TF1 DA acquired right to the book in 2007 from Denoel Editions and the novel has since been adapted for the screen by Director Saul Dibb (The Duchess) and co-writer Matt Charman.
Irene Nemirovsky thrilled the world when they discovered her novel, said Weinstein. Having worked with Michelle Williams on a number of films including Blue Valentine and My Week with Marilyn I am excited to partner with her once more. I enjoyed working with Xavier Marchand on The King's Speech and Saul Dibbs wrote an exceptional script and I am sure hell direct a brilliant film.
Suite Fran aise is a France/UK/ Belgium coproduction and will be released in France (TF1), while eOne will handle direct distribution in UK, Spain and Canada. Sales agent, TF1 International is in advanced negotiations for other outstanding territories that will be announced later in the festival.
Xavier Marchand will serve as a producer on behalf of eOne, alongside Romain Br mond who will serve as a producer on behalf of TF1 DA. The film is being produced by Qwerty Films' Michael Kuhn and Andrea Cornwell. Harvey Weinstein will serve as an executive producer on Suite Fran aise.
Currently in pre-production, Academy Award-nominated production designer Michael Carlin (The Duchess), Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning costume designer Michael O'Connor (The Duchess), Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning editor Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionnaire) and talented DP Edward Grau (The Awakening, A Single Man) are all on board.
For more information:
Jackie Rubin
Entertainment One
jrubin@entonegroup.com
416.979.7256
Vanessa Kirsch
Cinepresse/ TF1 International
kirschvanessa@cinepresse.fr
00 33 6 11 73 42 06
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company's comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Spain Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 35,000 film and television titles, 2,700 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
About TF1 International
TF1 International is the worldwide distribution arm of TF1 Group ; one of the leading European media groups ; co-investing projects in partnership with French distributor UGC. Years after years, TF1 International has developed close partnerships in all areas of the TV and cinema industry, giving the world sales activity a privileged position on the international market place. TF1 International has enjoyed many successes, including La Vie en Rose starring Marion Cotillard, the Oscar winning actress, Philippe Claudels Ive Loved You So Long, Sarah Polley's Take this Waltz starring Michelle Williams, Claude Miller's Th r se Desqueyroux starring Audrey Tautou and Brandon Cronenbergs Antiviral. TF1 International also runs a library of 800 films, including The Piano, Amelie from Montmartre, les Diaboliques, L'Homme de Rio, and 8000 hours of TV programming.
About The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes. TWC releases took home eight 2012 Academy Awards , the most wins in the studio's hi
