Variety AFM Bumper 2005

MORE OF THE WORLD

Mart sees spike in participation, product and global reach
By Pam McClintock and Patrick Frater (excerpted)

Has the bling returned to the American Film Market? Biz at the upcoming confab looks to be more brisk than usual, with record numbers of first-time exhibs.

Not only will there be a number of fresh faces, but players with higher-profile slates, including sellers such as Bauer Martinez International.

‘When you look at the types of films that were being sold last year, and the years before now, there are bigger projects out there today,’ says Karinne Behr, president of international for Bauer Martinez Studios, which launched a distribution operation in the U.S. this year.

‘We have a higher level of product,’ says Behr, who will be selling Andrew Lau-helmed ‘The Flock,’ with Richard Gere and Claire Danes, and Amy Heckerling’s romantic comedy ‘I Could Never Be Your Woman,’ with Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd. ‘We’re basically positioning ourselves from selling smaller-budget films, which cost anywhere from $5 million to $10 million, to films that cost $30 million to $40 million.’

It seems just in time too.

‘I think the theatrical business is really back, particularly in the U.K., Italy and France. Buyers are seeing the potential for the box office again. Plus, the euro is so strong. People are being much more daring about pre-sales,’ says Shebnam Askin.