French mini-major Pathé has acquired Les Films des Tournelles, the production company founded by Anne-Dominique Toussaint whose recent credits include Louis Garrel‘s Cesar-winning “The Innocent.”
Besides Garrel, Les Films des Tournelles has worked with a flurry of auteurs on some of their most successful films, including Riad Sattouf’s “The French Kissers,” which won the Cesar for best first film in 2010; Nadine Labaki’s “Caramel”; Emanuele Crialese’s “Respiro”; Valeria Golino’s “Miele”; and Mona Achache’s “The Hedgehog.” “The Innocent” won two prizes at last year’s Cesar Awards and screened at Cannes on the 75th anniversary of the festival.
Toussaint has also worked with Philippe Le Guay and Emmanuel Carrère. Toussaint, whose career spans over three decades, has produced 27 films so far, including iconic French movies such as Martine Dugowson’s “Mina Tannenbaum.”
As part of the deal, Pathé is acquiring Films des Tournelles’ full library while Toussaint will continue producing via another banner, Tournellovision, and already has several projects in the pipeline.
“We’re very happy and proud that Anne-Dominique Toussaint is entrusting us to pursue the formidable work she’s accomplished and to keep the films she produced alive for many years to come,” Pathé Films president Ardavan Safaee said. “The quality of her library reflects her talent and commitment to discover rising auteurs and accompany them throughout their careers.”
Along with producing movies, Toussaint is also involved in art curation. She is the founder of Galerie Cinema, an exhibition space showcasing collections of photographs connected to the film world. Created 10 years ago, the Galerie Cinema has exhibited the work of artists such as Romain Duris, Michel Franco and Cedric Klapisch.
Toussaint said Pathé will “take good care of my catalogue of films, which I cherish.” She continued, “Pathé loves cinema and patrimony and my films will be protected in the best possible conditions and will continue to live.”
Pathé, which recently delivered some of the biggest-budgeted French movies in recent history like “The Three Musketeers” two-part saga and “Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom,” has restored more than 100 films since 2012. These include classics such as Marcel Carné’s “The Children of Paradise,” Luchino Visconti’s “The Leopard” and Jean-Pierre Melville’s “The Godson.” Pathé Films is also present in this year’s Oscar race with Matteo Garrone’s “Io Capitano,” Italy’s Oscar entry that has been nominated for best international feature.
