It's non-stop sales at the festival so far, and the latest feature to get picked up for domestic distribution is the quirky neo-realist film from imaginative director Michel Gondry, The We and the I. In their first deal since public merging, distribution company Paladin-108 Media has acquired all North American rights for Gondry's film after it received its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival Friday night. The film, co-written by the director, plays very loosely with formal structure as it takes place almost entirely on a public bus, where an entire class of students make their way home after the last day of school before summer vacation.
"We are honored and thrilled to be working with Michel Gondry and his team on this totally one-of-a-kind film," announced Mark Urman, President of Paladin in a press release. "Rarely have I seen the energy, anarchy, and enthusiasm of teenagers rendered with so much authenticity and accuracy and with so little moralizing or condescension."
Abhi Rastogi, CEO of 108 Media adds that "this is exactly the kind of film we are looking to distribute–one that combines excellence with entertainment value, and a fresh, distinctive point of view." Meanwhile, Gregoire Melin of Kinology - who are selling international rights to the film - says, "I’m very happy and proud to team up with Mark Urman, whom I"ve known for years and who is one of the North American distributors I respect most, on what is certainly Gondry's most compelling work to-date." ~Devin Garabedian
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