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Germany’s Mmc Studios, which has hosted such recent international productions as Joseph Gordon-Levitt thriller “7500” and Marco Bellocchio’s Cannes competition film “The Traitor,” is changing hands.

Frankfurt-based investment company Novum Capital has acquired the facility in Cologne, one of Germany’s biggest film and TV studios, from Luxembourg private equity fund Lenbach Equity Opportunities I. The transaction was announced Wednesday, a day after its completion. Novum plans to merge Mmc with its subsidiary Crosscast, a production company specializing in live broadcasts.

While Mmc remains a leading studio and financing partner for film producers, it also boasts increasing TV business, with hit shows such as Rtl’s “Let’s Dance” and ProSieben’s “The Masked Singer,” which are both broadcast live from the studio. The company saw 60% growth in show productions last year, from 190 to 320, of which 37 were broadcast live.

“The merger will provide new growth impulses based on the strong existing studio business,...

With more international co-productions in cinemas than ever before and a new crop of high-profile titles this year, Germany’s renown as fertile ground for foreign filmmakers continues to soar.

The number of German-backed cross-border titles in local theaters rose 30% last year to 98 — the most ever — and the trend looks set to continue. This year a slew of German co-productions are vying for Cannes’ Palme d’Or, among them Terrence Malick’s historical drama “A Hidden Life”; Jessica Hausner’s sci-fi thriller “Little Joe”; Marco Bellocchio’s mafia pic “The Traitor”; Corneliu Porumboiu’s “The Whistlers”; and Elia Suleiman’s “It Must Be Heaven.”

Key to the country’s filmmaking allure is a generous system of federal and regional funding sources and a dynamic film industry geared toward international co-production.

Leading companies include Pallas Films, whose credits include “It Must Be Heaven” and Sergey Dvortsevoy’s “Ayka”; Pandora Film, co-producer...

The period drama has sold to France and China.

Scandinavian sales outfit TrustNordisk has closed further deals on The Lion Woman (Løvekvinnen) at Cannes.

First International Production has picked up distribution rights for France, while Chinese outfit Dd Dream International Media has also taken the film.

Previous sales include Benelux (September Film), South America (California Filmes), former Yugoslavia (Cinemania Group), Turkey (Sinema TV Yay. Ve Prod), Czech Republic (Fenix Distribution), Estonia (Estin Film) and Hong Kong (Edko Films Ltd.).

The Norwegian film, based on author Erik Fosnes Hansen’s novel, stars Connie Nielsen (Gladiator) and Rolf Lassgård (The Hunters). Vibeke Idsøe adapted the book and directed.

Set in the years 1912-1937, the story follows a young girl who is born with hair covering her body. Despite the adversity presented by her abnormal physical appearance, she still managed to live an extraordinary life.

John M. Jacobsen, Reza Bahar and Marcus B. Brodersen produced the film for Filmkameratene As and...

Screen rounds up the films from across the globe that could launch at Cannes…

With less than a month to go until the Cannes Film Festival announces its line-up at its annual Paris press conference on April 14, Screen looks at what could make it into Official Selection and the parallel sections of Directors’ Fortnight and Critics’ Week.

UK and Ireland

The UK could have one of its strongest Cannes for years with hot favourites for a competition slot including Andrea Arnold’s Shia Labeouf-starring Us road movie American Honey and Ken Loach’s gritty Northern England-set drama I, Daniel Blake. It would be Loach’s 12th time in competition.

Ben Wheatley is also reportedly gunning for an Official Selection slot for his 1970s Boston-set, gangland thriller Free Fire, potentially Out of Competition or in Midnight Screenings. He was last in Cannes with Sightseers in Directors’ Fortnight.

Other UK hopefuls include Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins and Indian...

Scandinavian sales agent TrustNordisk has closed a raft of deals post-Berlin.

Studiocanal UK has picked up Nicolo Donato’s Second World War drama Across The Waters (Fuglene Over Sundet) [pictured] for the UK.

The film follows a Danish-Jewish family who, when faced with deportation to Germany, flee to safety in Sweden with the Gestapo hot on their heels.

TrustNordisk handles international sales rights to the title, which featured as part of a promo reel at the Efm, and has also sold the film to Turkey (Sinema TV Yay).

The Scandinavian sales outfit has closed a raft of further post-efm deals.

Jesper W. Nielsen’s Lars Mikkelsen-starring drama The Day Will Come has sold to Benelux (Cherry Pickers), Latin America (California Filmes), former Yugoslavia (Cinemania Group) and Turkey (Sinema TV Yay).

Insomnia director Erik Skjoldbjærg’s Pyromaniac has gone to Latin America (California Filmes), adding to previous deals.

Vibeke Idsøe’s The Lion Woman has added Czech Republic...

Period drama starring Connie Nielsen and Rolf Lassgård closes deals in multiple territories.

TrustNordisk has closed multiple sales deals on Vibeke Idsøe’s period drama The Lion Woman (Løvekvinnen).

The Norwegian film, based on author Erik Fosnes Hansen’s novel, stars Connie Nielsen (Gladiator) and Rolf Lassgård (The Hunters).

Deals have closed for: Benelux (September Film Rights), South America (California Filmes), Former Yugoslavia (Cinemania Groupicon), Turkey (Sinema TV Yay. Ve Prod) and Hong Kong (Edko Films Ltd.).

Set in the years 1912-1937, the story follows a young girl who is born with hair covering her body. Despite the adversity presented by her abnormal physical appearance, she still managed to live an extraordinary life.

John M. Jacobsen, Reza Bahar and Marcus B. Brodersen produced the film for Filmkameratene As and Gifted Films West GmbH, in co-production with Tre Vänner, Mmc Movies and The Post Republic.

Support came from The Norwegian Film Institute, The Swedish...

Celluloid Dreams handles Valley of Shadows; Media Luna boards Little Wing; Indie Sales represents The Giant.

The old adage of ‘leaving them wanting more’ was certainly on display at the Works In Progress pitches at Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market this year (full line-up below).

The most-anticipated pitch of the session was Johannes Nyholm’s feature debut The Giant. The director showed several scenes from the film, but refrained from showing footage of the fantastical Giant as he said the VFX was still being worked on.

Also holding back were the producers of Cold Case Hammarskjold, the latest provocative documentary from Mads Brugger (of The Ambassador and The Red Chapel fame), about the death of Swedish diplomat and author Dag Hammarskjold.

Co-producer Andreas Rocksen said the filmmakers had a new theory about how Hammarskjold’s plane went down in 1961, but he said the theory won’t be revealed until the film is ready.

Several of the...

Director Vibeke Idsøe delivers what appears to be a handsomely realized and very unusual period drama with The Lion Woman, which is exactly what it sounds like: The tale of a girl born with her body covered in hair.The Lion Woman is set in the years between 1912 - 1937 and tells the epic and beautiful story of Eva who is born with hair covering her body. Despite the many challenges she is faced with, due to her appearance, she manages to face and overcome them.Rolf Lassgård, Connie Nielsen and Burghart Klaussner star in the Norwegian picture from the producer of Trollhunter. Check out the trailer below....

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