09/12/2024
This week on Le Film Français :
House on fire: the sacred fire
Vincent Wang's production company launches new projects, drawing tomorrow's talent from Latin America, Europe and Asia, while continuing to work with established independents. By VINCENT LE LEURCH.
“I produce contemporary projects that speak to today's world; these are the kind of films that matter.” At the head of his company House on Fire, Franco-Taiwanese producer Vincent Wang is embarking on a new production cycle, having recently co-produced Abderrahmane Sissako's "Black Tea", unveiled at the last Berlinale. High on his list of projects is "Beauregard", Pascal Tessaud's third feature, which goes into financing early next year, with a provisional budget of €2.5m. This comedy-drama tells the story of a teenager living on a housing estate in western Paris. His passion for skateboarding enables him to navigate between the world of his housing estate and that of his city's affluent neighborhoods. It is co-produced by Frédéric Bellaïche of Dalva.
In addition, thanks to the Produire au Sud workshop, hosted by the Festival des 3 continents in Nantes, which focuses on independent authors from various regions of the world, Vincent Wang has chosen to highlight young talent from South America. This is the case of Martina Juncadella, whose first feature, "Inside the Noise", is also in the process of being financed, with a budget of between €700,000 and €800,000. The film follows a 42-year-old writer in Buenos Aires. She has to finish a book about her recently deceased mother. Grief-stricken and questioning her own motherhood, she gradually adopts her mother's identity. Una Presencia (Argentina), Monarca (Uruguay), Vitrine Filmes (Brazil) and Smarthouse (Netherlands) are the other production companies involved. A first Colombian film set in the Amazon is also on the program, co-produced with Colombia and Brazil.
Vincent Wang, who has long produced Tsai Ming-liang, has not forgotten Asia. He is currently developing "Lanfang Republic" by Japanese filmmaker Katsuya Tomita (whose 2016 film "Bangkok Nites" was presented at Locarno), a musical comedy “about Taiwan's hip-hop scene as seen through the eyes of a Japanese director”, explains the producer. The film, developed with Taicca, is co-produced by Japanese company Kozuko on a budget of €1.5 million. A little to the east, House on Fire is collaborating with indian director Gitanjali Rao to produce her project "Lost and Found”, which passed through the Critics' Week Next Step II program this year.
ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENT
Still in development, with a budget of €4 million, this will be Vincent Wang's first foray into animation, as the film will be 60% animation and the rest live-action. "Lost and Found" tells the story of an antique store owner who stumbles across a century-old painting and discovers the life of Aranyani, who brings the last animals back to life through his oil paintings.
Another Indian film is currently in post-production at House on Fire. It's Turtle's Gaze on Spying Stars by Vimukthi Jayasundara (Caméra d'or in 2015 for La terre abandon-née). This comedy-drama, starring Indira Tiwari, Hidaayath Hazeer, Kaushalya Fernando, is in co-production with Films Council Production (Sri Lanka), Eleeanora Images (India) and Orlando Studio (France) on a budget of €500,000. The film's partners are HBF + Europe and Aide aux cinémas du monde. It was shot in Sri Lanka this autumn. The pitch is as follows: after living abroad for many years, Anandi returns to Sri Lanka. She is immediately quarantined in a mysterious hotel, where her past catches up with her. She flees and takes refuge with a mother and her tr*******al daughter. She's going to get rid of her fears and free herself.
The other title in post-production is “Against the Flow” by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Tao, co-written by the director and Jérémie Dubois. This €1m social drama is co-produced by Les Films Fauves (Luxembourg), Terratreme Films (Portugal), Fasad (Sweden) and Butong Pictures (China). And finally, Vincent Wang, who co-produced the last two parts of Wang Bing's “Youth” trilogy, has indicated that he will continue to work with the Chinese director on future projects.
