Art Films takes 'Love,' 'Kon-Tiki'

RIO P JANEIRO -- Art Films, the doyen of Brazilian arthouse marketers, has acquired privileges to South america on Susanne Bier's "You Just Need Love" and "Kon-Tiki," created by Jeremy Thomas' Recorded Picture Co. Both buys were made from the Toronto fest, Art Films topper Ugo Sorrentino stated in the Rio Festival market. Bier's follow-as much as Oscar-winning "Inside A Better World," "Love" stars Pierce Brosnan inside a romantic comedy occur Sorrento, Italia. TrustNordisk handles worldwide sales. Helmed by directorial duo Joachim Roenning and Espen Sandberg ("Max Manus,"), the HanWay-offered "Kon-Tiki" recreates Thor Heyerdahl's epic raft voyage from Peru to Polynesia. Nordisk also produces. Founded in 1931 by Sorrentino's grandfather, Art Films handles about 12 game titles annually, Sorrentino stated. It's delivering three game titles over October-November: Florian Cossen's Argentina-set drama "Your Day I Wasn't Born," which required the crowd and Fipresci award at Montreal this past year Zhang Yimou's "Underneath the Hawthorn Tree," offered by Wild Bunch, which bows next Friday and Julie Gavras' ageing dramedy "Late Bloomers," with John Hurt and Isabella Rossellini. Offered by Gaumont, it opens November. 11. Brazil's swelling middle-classes might appear to spell new existence for arthouse distribution. The truth, Sorrentino stated, is less rosy. Alternative cinema circuits only appear in Rio p Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre. Brazil's modern multiplex chains allow us an idea for "fast-food films": "Delicatessen" films aren't able to find screens, Sorrentino stated. For any multiplex programmer, it's simpler to put six prints of "Captain America" than to test out a Gus Van Sant or European film, he contended. Piracy has devasted Brazil's DVD market, lower 36% this year. One future upside for arthouse distribution could, however, be VOD, Sorrentino added. Bowing August in South america, Netflix stated three million first-month buys in the united states. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com