Toronto 2012: Robust U.S. Film Sales Reported as Fest Draws to a Close

8:48 PM PDT 9/15/2012 by Etan Vlessing

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Place Beyond The Pines Toronto Film Still - H 2012

TIFF organizers point to 29 indie titles finding U.S. distribution this year as acquisition titles like "Place Beyond the Pines," "Imogene" and "What Maisie Knew" secured buyers.

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High-profile deals during the Toronto International Film Festival had organizers on Saturday touting a robust film market this year.

In all, TIFF reported that 29 of its film titles sold into the U.S. market.

That included The Place Beyond the Pines selling to Focus Features, Millenium Entertainment grabbing Writers and Julianne Moore’s What Maisie Knew, and Samuel Goldwyn taking the James Cromwell-starrer Still.

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Also selling at Toronto’s unofficial film market is Thanks for Sharing, Imogene, the historical epic Emperor and Much Ado About Nothing going to Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, Dangerous Liaisons landing with Well Go U.S.A., Roadside Attractions taking Stories We Tell for itself, and The End of Time going to First Run Features.

Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, which bowed in Venice before screening in Toronto, went to Annapurna, and IFC Films busily picked up Neil Jordan’s vampire pic Byzantium, Something in the Air and Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist for North America.

Other Toronto titles nabbing U.S. distribution included the North American rights to The Brass Teapot going to Magnolia, Magnet taking John Dies at the End, and Love, Marilyn going to HBO Doc Films.

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In all, 40 TIFF titles this year sold internationally, and more agreements are expected in the lead-up to AFM, as Toronto fest organizers touted the gains of its film market over the last nine days leading up to Sunday, when the festival wraps its 37th edition.

“It’s been a particularly robust year for sales and we’re happy that the festival’s official selection will reach film lovers across the world,” Justin Cutler, senior manager of TIFF’s sales and industry office, reported Saturday.

Toronto will next hand out its audience and jury awards on Sunday afternoon.