AMSTERDAM — Sales agent Fortissimo Film Sales and Amsterdam-based production house Circe Films are joining forces to work on European co-productions, the duo said Tuesday at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
The aim of both companies is to produce high-quality art house titles in Europe. Up until now, Fortissimo Film primarily produced Asian and U.S. independent titles such as Penek Ratanaruang’s “Invisible Waves,” John Cameron Mitchell’s “Shortbus” and “Mysterious Skin” by Gregg Araki.
Circe Films concentrates mainly on Dutch films, with titles including Nanouk Leopold’s “Guernsey” and “Wolfsbergen.”
Circe director Stienette Bosklopper hopes to profit from the sales experience offered by familiar market face Fortissimo, in exchange for a first look deal on Circe’s projects.
For his part, Fortissimo co-founder Wouter Barendrecht plans to get more involved in Dutch productions.
The first co-production both companies will work on is “Face,” the new film by Tsai Ming-Liang, set up by production banner JBA from France, together with the Louvre museum in Paris.
