Bac Films has acquired Helen Merlin’s first feature film, “Cassandre,” and the pricey collection is set to launch international sales at next week’s Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris.
Set in a rural area during the summer of 1998, the drama stars rising star Billie Blaine (“The Animal Kingdom”) opposite screen star Szabo Bretman (“The New Look”), and follows a teenage girl as she forms… . A new sense of self after puberty.
The description read: “In the small family mansion, her parents and older brother noticed that her body had changed.” “Fortunately, Cassandre is passionate about horses, and joins a small riding center for the holidays, where she is embraced as a quirky but lovable character. Here she discovers a different kind of normalcy, one that gradually frees her from the family dynamic that threatens to engulf her…”
“We are thrilled to welcome the premiere of Helen Merlyn,” says Vincent Lobel of Bac Films. “We were fascinated by the script from the start, and seeing the finished product confirmed our hunch. Working on a first film is always both a challenge and a privilege, and this bet has paid off. Given the results, we hope to develop a strong bond with this director.”
This latest acquisition begins a period of more robust activity for the sales group, which has been focusing on four to five acquisitions per year since the pandemic. Going forward, Bac Films now aims to almost double these numbers; They will launch two titles at next month’s EFM show in Berlin while eyeing two more, and will attend Cannes with a similar mission.
“The company’s acquisition strategy is shifting from a more compact approach to a more aggressive approach,” Lobel says, noting that Bac Films is looking above all to acquire first or second features and help emerging auteurs break into the arthouse market.
“The goal in the next two years is to have seven to eight titles a year, all while adhering to the doctrine of discovering new French and international art authors,” adds Lebel. “So we’re looking for a lot of projects, especially ones that showcase new talent – very similar to Helen Merlyn.”