EXCLUSIVE: Neon is nearing a deal for North American rights to Cannes competition entry Perfect Days from The Match Factory in a deal pegged in the mid-to-high six figures.
The parties declined to comment.
Wim Wenders’ well-received Japan-set movie debuted today on the Croisette. The official synopsis for the movie reads: “Hirayama seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his very structured everyday routine he enjoys his passion for music and for books. And he loves trees and takes photos of them. A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveal more of his past.”
Starring are Koji Yakusho (Babel), newcomer Arisa Nakano, Tokio Emoto (Norwegian Wood), Yumi Aso (Carnation), Sayuri Ishikawa (Run, Truck Rascal, Run!), Tomokazu Miura (Adrift in Tokyo), Aoi Yamada (Netflix series First Love) and veteran actor and dancer Min Tanaka (The Twilight Samurai).
Producers are Koji Yanai, alongside filmmaker Wenders and co-writer Takuma Takasaki (Honokaa bôi). Lead actor Yakusho serves as executive producer.
We hear the North America deal was negotiated by Neon’s Jeff Deutchman with The Match Factory’s Thania Dimitrakopoulou.
Neon is so far leading the way among North American buyers at this year’s Cannes, having already picked up rights to Justine Triet’s Competition feature Anatomy of a Fall, and last week announcing a deal for Pablo Berger’s animated Cannes title Robot Dreams. Tom Quinn’s outfit has acquired the three previous Palme d’Or winners: Triangle of Sadness, Titane and Parasite.
The Match Factory has a company-record four films in Cannes Competition this edition. Perfect Days played alongside the lauded duo of Fallen Leaves by Aki Kaurismäki and Kidnapped by Marco Bellocchio, while La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher debuts tomorrow.
Wenders is also in Cannes with the Special Screening of documentary Anselm, a portrait of German artist Anselm Kiefer.
Three-time Oscar nominee Wenders (Wings Of Desire, Buena Vista Social Club) has debuted 12 movies on the Croisette, previously winning the Palme d’Or for Paris, Texas.
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