The list of titles confirmed include motion pictures from Miramax International, Lions Gate Films, Good Machine International (Focus) and several others. These are universally deemed as some of the leading and most influential international independent film producers.
Prior to the awards ceremony on Sunday night, SKP closed deals on would-be winners SWEET SIXTEEN and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE.
Acclaimed British director Ken Loach's (MY NAME IS JOE - 1999) latest, SWEET SIXTEEN (from UK-based The Works), won the award for Best Screenplay by Paul Laverty. The film is a glimpse at working-class social realism in a tough Glasgow district and Loach's first film in decades to focus on an adolescent. Newcomer Martin Compston, who recently started his career as a professional soccer player, delivers a standout performance in the leading role.
Winner of the Special 55th Anniversary Prize, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE (from Alliance Atlantis), will also be distributed by SKP in SA. Its a hard-hitting cinematic essay on the issues surrounding guns and violence in America, and was the first documentary selected to play in competition at Cannes in 46 years.
Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, the highly anticipated film version of CHICAGO (from Miramax) boasts an all-star cast. It is headed by Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Queen Latifah, Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs.
The second highlight from Miramax is Oscar-winning Italian director Roberto Benigni's version of Carlo Collodi's classic fable PINOCCHIO. This is Benigni's first film since the record-breaking success of Academy Award-winning LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (1998), which was also distributed by SKP locally.
A homage to the best of spaghetti westerns and kung-fu thrillers, KILL BILL features Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox and Darryl Hannah. This hotly tipped new film by cult director Quentin Tarantino (PULP FICTION - 1994) was also bought from Miramax.
George Clooney will be making his directorial debut with Miramax' CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND, a dramatic comedy produced by Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh (TRAFFIC - 2001; ERIN BROKOVICH - 2000). The film will star Clooney, Drew Barrymore & Sam Rockwell.
Stephen Frears' (HIGH FIDELITY - 2000; THE GRIFTERS - 1990) latest DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, starring AMELIE-lead, Audrey Tautou, also forms part of the slate of Miramax- acquired feature films.
True to their reputation, Good Machine International had on offer an impressive set of movies including acclaimed director Lisa Cholodenko's (HIGH ART - 1998) latest LAUREL CANYON, and the Mandy Moore coming-of-age romantic comedy HOW TO DEAL. LAUREL CANYON stars Frances McDormand, Christian Bale & Kate Beckinsale. The film centres around an eccentric & free-spirited record producer and the influence she has on the people around her.
CONFIDENCE, a stylish crime thriller brimming with plot twists, seduction and intrigue, was picked up from Lions Gate Films. Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman, Edward Burns (15 MINUTES - 2002), Andy Garcia and Rachel Weisz (THE MUMMY - 1999) will star.
Up-and-coming actor Hayden Christensen - fresh from LIFE AS A HOUSE (for which he received a Golden Globe nomination) and STAR WARS EPISODE 2 - headlines Lions Gate's SHATTERED GLASS. The film is based on the true story of the rise & fall of one of the most envied and controversial journalists of our time, Stephen Glass. His shocking fall from grace rocked the foundations of his profession and exposed his deception of the public.
Says Pieter Geldenhuys, Acquisitions Manager - Independent Films for SKP: "The outstanding line-up of films acquired at Cannes this year represents the great variety and quality of filmed entertainment that Ster-Kinekor Pictures has become synonymous with. We are confident that the South African public will be just as excited as we are about these forthcoming releases!"
