Top 10 Undistributed Films

Every season IONCINEMA.com takes a look at those who were left in the cold – films that didn’t get picked up for U.S distribution and deserve a second look from the multitude of buyers.

Eric Lavallée

Published on August 21, 2006

Every season IONCINEMA.com takes a look at those who were left in the cold – films that didn’t get picked up for U.S distribution and deserve a second look from the multitude of buyers.

1. Eve and the Fire Horse

Director: Julia Kwan
Showcase: Toronto Film Festival 05’ and Sundance 06’.
Website: site
Production House//Seller: Golden Horse Productions
Ideal Home: Lionsgate films
Suppositions on knock against it: Canadian feature. Subtitles. Child protagonists. Religion.
On the plus side: Won hearts of audiences that have gotten to see it and won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance 2006. If there is a mini market for The Motel there is an even bigger market for this coming-of-age tale.

2. Requiem for Billy the Kid
Director: Anne Feinsilber
Showcase: Cannes film festival 2006.
Website: site
Production House//Seller: Cargo Films
Ideal Home: Sony Pictures Classics
Suppositions on knock against it: It may be difficult to “label” the docu narrative from this first time filmmaker. Has been shown in France, I imagine little have seen the film at Cannes.
On the plus side: Westerns are in. Billy the Kid is a legend. Kris Kristofferson does a great voiceover narration.

3. The Hawk Is Dying
Director:
Showcase: Sundance Film Festival 06’ and Cannes 06’.
Website: site
Production House//Seller: Antidote Films/This Is That Productions
Ideal Home: Picturehouse Films
Suppositions on knock against it: Depression and suicide treated in an extremely dark matter. Sundance cut was a tad too long.
On the plus side: Paul Giamatti delivers another great performance in an particularly difficult role.

4. Time
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Showcase: Was well-received at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
Website: site
Production House//Seller: Happinet Pictures // Kim Ki-Duk Film
Ideal Home: Sony Pictures Classics
Suppositions on knock against it: His last film (The Bow) didn’t get picked up. Have U.S distributors become investment shy of this style of filmmaking?
On the plus side: Master helmer from Korean cinema strokes all his work with originality. A bad Kim Ki-duk film is in some cases the best work for another filmmaker.-

5. C.R.A.Z.Y
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Showcase: All over the world including Toronto film festival.
Website: site
Production House//Seller: Cirrus Communications/Crazy Films
Ideal Home: Weinstein co.
Suppositions on knock against it: Music rights cost a good buck. But not as much as some of the buyers may think.
On the plus side: The gay-themed feature solidly describes generational differences/coming-of-age difficulties. Breaks down language barriers thanks to great soundtrack and has won enough audience awards to demonstrate box-office success.

6. L’Enfer
Director: Danis Tanovic
Showcase: Toronto Film Festival 2005
Website: site
Production House//Seller:
Ideal Home: Paramount Classics
Suppositions on knock against it: This being the second installment to a trilogy which commenced with underappreciated Cate Blanchett starrer – Heaven.
On the plus side: Extremely-well filmed + internationally known cast of French actors + Krzysztof Kieslowski + Danis Tanovic (No Man’s Land) = quality.

7. The Wayward Cloud
Director: Tsai Ming-liang
Showcase: Berlin Film Festival 2005
Website: site
Production House//Seller: Arena Films/Homegreen Films/arte France Cinéma
Ideal Home: Tartan Films

Suppositions on knock against it: Tsai Ming-liang films are for a select few.
On the plus side: Watermelons and porn. Porn and watermleons

8. Paris, je t’aime
Directors: Just to name a few:
Coens, Cuarón, Payne, Van Sant, Salles and nutty cinematographer Christopher Doyle
Showcase: Cannes Film Festival 06’.
Website: site
Production House//Seller: Celsius Entertainment (sales)
Ideal Home: Warner Independent Pictures
Suppositions on knock against it: Too many stories?
On the plus side: The names attached both in acting and directing. Certainly a few dozen curious in seeing Portman.

9. Allegro
Director: Christoffer Boe
Showcase: The Danes awarded their own.
Website: site
Production House//Seller: AlphaVille Pictures Copenhagen
Ideal Home: IFC First Take
Suppositions on knock against it: Either you like Boe or you don’t – it was certinaly the case with his contribution to Paris Je T’aime.
On the plus side: Helena Christensen graces the silver screen.