Cannes: ‘Corsage' Director Marie Kreutzer Wins Investors Circle Prize for ‘Gentle Monster'
Gentle Monster, the new feature project from Austrian director Marie Kreutzer (Corsage), has won the 2025 ArteKino International Prize at this year's Investors Circle in Cannes. Producers Alexander Glehr and Johanna Scherz of Film AG Produktions received the 20,000 euro ($22,000) award during a private pitching session that capped the third edition of the Marché du Film's curated investment platform.
I'm surprised in the most positive way,' said Kreutzer, about her win. 'Filmmaking is a really big mountain, and what happens before the premiere — to get a film made — is a very long climb. So we really need people who want to support cinema and have love for cinema — that's why meeting investors is extremely important. I had great conversations with these investors so far. The script has sparked their interest, and they're eager to learn more about the project.'
More from The Hollywood Reporter
June Squibb on Her Nonagenarian Career High: "A 70-Year-Old Will Say, 'I Want To Be You When I Grow Up!'"
Cannes: Wes Anderson Teases His Next Film
Cannes: Wes Brings The Whimsy in 'Phoenician Scheme' Press Conference
Held at the Plage des Palmes during the 78th Cannes Film Festival, the Investors Circle once again convened top-tier film financiers and equity investors for an exclusive presentation of 10 new auteur-driven projects. The invitation-only event included presentations by several internationally recognized directors, including Jessica Hausner, Sebastián Lelio, Lukas Dhont and Jasmila Zbanić.
Designed to connect bold, creative visions with long-term backers, the event featured projects with budgets ranging from 3 million to over 9 million euro ($3.3 million to $10 million). Each team was supported in their investor preparations by 111 Avocats, a Paris-based law firm specializing in entertainment. This year's selection was overseen by Aleksandra Zakharchenko, head of industry programs at the Marché du Film, alongside a jury that included Remi Burah (ARTE France Cinéma), Serge Hayat, Tamara Tatishvili (Hubert Bals Fund), and Marcin Luczaj (New Europe Film Sales).
In addition to Gentle Monster, the 2025 Investors Circle lineup included Coward from Lukas Dhont (Belgium), produced by Michiel Dhont at The Reunion; Disorder, directed by Giacomo Abbruzzese (Italy), produced by Marco Alessi and Giulia Achilli at Dugong Films; Kamo, directed by Kornél Mundruczó (Hungary), produced by Mike Goodridge at Good Chaos, Ilya Stewart at Hype Studios and Balthazar de Ganay; Motherlove, directed by Eliza Hittman (U.S.), produced by Paul Mezey and Andrew Goldman at Present Company; On Land and Sea, directed by Hlynur Pálmason (Iceland), produced by Katrin Pors at Snowglobe and Anton Máni Svansson at Still Vivid; Poeta Chileno, directed by Sebastián Lelio (Chile), produced by Rocío Jadue, Juan de Dios Larraín and Pablo Larraín at Fabula; Quo Vadis, Aida?: The Missing Part, directed by Jasmila Zbanić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), produced by Damir Ibrahimović at Deblokada; The Puma, directed by Marcela Said (France/Chile), produced by Carole Scotta, Barbara Letellier and Eliott Khayat at Haut et Court; and Toxic, directed by Jessica Hausner (Austria), produced by Johannes Schubert at Schubert and Philippe Bober at Coproduction Office.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
"A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV
The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
'Ballerina' Ana de Armas spills on that explosive 'John Wick' ending
'Ballerina' Ana de Armas spills on that explosive 'John Wick' ending Show Caption Hide Caption Ian McShane talks working with Ana de Armas in 'Ballerina' Ian McShane shares why it was smart to bring Ana de Armas into the "John Wick" franchise in the new film "Ballerina." Spoiler alert! We're discussing important plot points and the ending of 'Ballerina' (in theaters now), so beware if you haven't seen it yet. Ana de Armas goes through snowy hell to find vengeance in 'Ballerina,' and by the end, she winds up a wanted woman. The 'John Wick' franchise spinoff introduces dancer/assassin Eve Macarro (de Armas), who's trained by the same Ruska Roma organization that begat John Wick (Keanu Reeves). She's still a rookie hitwoman when Eve discovers that the mystery men who murdered her father when she was a little girl belong to a killer cult. Eve defies the wishes of the Ruska Roma's Director (Anjelica Huston) and goes after the cult and its leader, the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Along the way, Eve also has to rescue Ella, the young kidnapped daughter of an ex-cult member (Norman Reedus). And before the explosive finale, Eve learns that Lena (Catalina Sandino Moreno), one of the Chancellor's enforcers, is actually her long-thought-dead older sister, though Lena is killed by her own people soon after the revelation. 'She really is alone,' de Armas says of her character. 'So she really now feels like she has nothing to lose except for maybe Ella. Maybe that's what's going to give her some purpose from now on.' Let's dig into the best spoilers from 'Ballerina,' from the very Keanu ending to a mystery awaiting Eve's next mission. What happens in the ending of 'Ballerina'? Eve travels to a little Austrian town full of murderous locals to track down the Chancellor, and as she gets closer to accomplishing her mission, he reaches out to the Director to help deal with his problem. (Because the cult is such a wild card, Ruska Roma and other crime organizations try to keep the peace with them.) The Director sends in the feared 'Baba Yaga,' John Wick (who's still alive at this point in the story, which takes place between the third and fourth 'Wick' movies), to take care of the situation. John gives Eve an out, explaining that her actions have consequences but she can leave peacefully if she wants. She refuses and they tussle, though John doesn't kill her – they have a quite a bit in common, from being orphans to wanting vengeance for loved ones. Wick gives her a half hour to take care of the Chancellor before he needs to take care of her, but just before time runs out, and Eve is confronting the villain, Wick shoots him from a sniper position. Eve returns Ella to her dad and goes to the ballet to see the performance of an old Ruska Roma friend who couldn't cut being an assassin. Eve's phone pings, she sees that there's a $5 million bounty on her head, and she walks out quietly from the theater. 'It is a really good ending,' de Armas says. 'It can go anywhere from here. I do feel like she found herself. She got what she wanted: 'I chose this life, this is what I want to do.' ' Although 'she looks up to John,' de Armas adds, Eve can't take his or anyone else's advice to move on from her loss. 'Literally every person she goes to tells her, 'Stop it. Let it go.' And she can't, it's just stronger than her. There's some relief in her and now she will deal with the consequences. She's not afraid of that and it'll be what it'll be.' Does the new 'John Wick' movie have a post-credits scene? Nope! Although 'John Wick: Chapter 4' had a mid-credits sequence, 'Ballerina' doesn't. What it does boast, however, is the rockin' new Evanescence track 'Fight Like a Girl' (which is a theme in the movie). For those looking for a tease of where Eve could go next, director Len Wiseman says to pay attention to the bounty on Eve at the end of the movie. That was 'a Keanu idea,' the filmmaker says, and it speaks to 'the spirit of the consequences behind this world.' But 'it's ambiguous who put that contract out,' Wiseman adds. And while audiences will have to wait to see who that mystery person is, 'I have my fun, really dark ideas.'
Fox Sports
8 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Reports: Bayern agrees deal with Leverkusen to take Tah to Club World Cup
Associated Press MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich has reportedly agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to take Germany defender Jonathan Tah to the Club World Cup. Kicker magazine and other media outlets reported Saturday that Bayern, which had announced Tah's signing 'without a transfer fee' on May 29, has agreed to pay Leverkusen up to 4 million euros ($4.6 million) for the player to take a full part in the Club World Cup starting in the United States on June 14. Tah's contract with Leverkusen ran to the end of June, meaning he could only join Bayern on a free transfer from July 1 – unless the clubs came to an agreement beforehand. There was little goodwill between the clubs after Bayern's failed attempt to sign Tah – Leverkusen's captain – last season, when Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro lashed out against Bayern's Max Eberl. Bayern's public pursuit of Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz this season further inflamed tensions between the rival clubs. Any agreement to let Tah join Bayern before his Leverkusen contract ends would suggest pragmatism has won out at Leverkusen. Real Madrid set the precedent by paying a reported fee of up to 10 million euros ($11.4 million) to get England right back Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his Liverpool contract one month before it was due to expire so he could play at the Club World Cup, rather than waiting to sign him with a transfer fee. Bayern will also need to reach agreement with Hoffenheim if it wants to take Tom Bischof to the tournament. Leverkusen faces a summer of rebuilding following Xabi Alonso's departure as coach, Tah and wing back Jeremie Frimpong 's departures for Bayern and Liverpool, respectively, and Wirtz's expected transfer to Liverpool. Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka suggested Friday he would be open to a switch amid reported interest from AC Milan, a change from his previous position. Leverkusen hired former Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag to replace the Real Madrid-bound Alonso, while it has also signed highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from second-division club Hertha Berlin, and 21-year-old defender Tim Oermann from relegated Bochum before promptly loaning him to Austrian champion Sturm Graz. It also loaned promising midfielder Francis Onyeka to Bochum for next season in the second division. ___ AP soccer: recommended
San Francisco Chronicle
8 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Reports: Bayern agrees deal with Leverkusen to take Tah to Club World Cup
MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich has reportedly agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to take Germany defender Jonathan Tah to the Club World Cup. Kicker magazine and other media outlets reported Saturday that Bayern, which had announced Tah's signing 'without a transfer fee' on May 29, has agreed to pay Leverkusen up to 4 million euros ($4.6 million) for the player to take a full part in the Club World Cup starting in the United States on June 14. Tah's contract with Leverkusen ran to the end of June, meaning he could only join Bayern on a free transfer from July 1 – unless the clubs came to an agreement beforehand. There was little goodwill between the clubs after Bayern's failed attempt to sign Tah – Leverkusen's captain – last season, when Leverkusen chief executive Fernando Carro lashed out against Bayern's Max Eberl. Bayern's public pursuit of Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz this season further inflamed tensions between the rival clubs. Any agreement to let Tah join Bayern before his Leverkusen contract ends would suggest pragmatism has won out at Leverkusen. Real Madrid set the precedent by paying a reported fee of up to 10 million euros ($11.4 million) to get England right back Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his Liverpool contract one month before it was due to expire so he could play at the Club World Cup, rather than waiting to sign him with a transfer fee. Bayern will also need to reach agreement with Hoffenheim if it wants to take Tom Bischof to the tournament. Leverkusen faces a summer of rebuilding following Xabi Alonso's departure as coach, Tah and wing back Jeremie Frimpong 's departures for Bayern and Liverpool, respectively, and Wirtz's expected transfer to Liverpool. Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka suggested Friday he would be open to a switch amid reported interest from AC Milan, a change from his previous position. Leverkusen hired former Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag to replace the Real Madrid-bound Alonso, while it has also signed highly rated teenager Ibrahim Maza from second-division club Hertha Berlin, and 21-year-old defender Tim Oermann from relegated Bochum before promptly loaning him to Austrian champion Sturm Graz. It also loaned promising midfielder Francis Onyeka to Bochum for next season in the second division.
