Berlin-based sales agency M-Appeal has closed multiple deals for Cannes Film Festival titles “Power Alley” by Lillah Halla, and “Let Me Go” by Maxime Rappaz, which are both female-led films.
Cannes Critics’ Week title “Power Alley,” set in Brazil, follows talented volleyball player Sofia who discovers she is pregnant on the eve of a career-defining game. Seeking an abortion, which is illegal in Brazil, she is confronted by a fundamentalist group who become fixated on stopping her. The film puts sisterhood and collective resistance at the forefront of the story.
“Power Alley” has been sold to Njuta Films, which will distribute in Sweden, September, which will handle the release in Benelux, Cineworx for Switzerland, and Leopardo Filmes for Portugal. The film was already sold to AX1 Films (U.K. and Ireland), and Øst for Paradis (Denmark).
M-Appeal also closed further deals for Cannes Acid title “Let Me Go,” starring Jeanne Balibar. The film is set in a remote Swiss mountain village, where Claudine lives a life dedicated to taking care of her son. Every Tuesday, she has an afternoon to herself and goes to a nearby hotel to meet men passing through. She pursues her desires in a carefully controlled way, but when she meets Michael (Thomas Sarbacher) everything changes.
Njuta Films has secured distribution for Sweden, Edko Films will release “Let Me Go” in Hong Kong and Macau, and Just Wanted has bought the rights for Italy. Distribution deals have already been closed for Germany (Alamode Film), Brazil (Imovision), Japan (Mimosa Film), and Korea (Scene & Sound).
Maren Kroymann, managing director of M-Appeal, said: “Both ‘Let Me Go’ and ‘Power Alley’ really stand for M-Appeal’s vision, to move audiences and challenge existing norms, particularly when we are promoting films that deal with the empowerment of women. In the center of each of the films is a women who stands up for her right to take her own decisions”
“Let Me Go” is screening at the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur this week.
“Power Alley” will screen this month at Festival du nouveau cinema Montréal (Canada), BFI London Film Festival (U.K.), FICValdilvia Film Festival (Chile), Festival Do Rio (Brazil), and Morelia Film Festival (Mexico). The film took home the best film award at Biarritz Film Festival last week.
