Rivette in pole position for competition selection (Cineuropa)

One month before Marco Muller unveils the competition titles of the 66th Venice Film Festival (September 2-12), Jacques Rivette’s French/Italian co-production 36 Vues du Pic Saint-Loup (“36 Views from the Pic Saint-Loup”, see news) is tipped to vie for the Golden Lion, according to Cineuropa’s sources in Paris.

This would mark the first Venetian selection for the director (81), who has thrice participated in competition at Cannes – including in 1991, when he won the Grand Jury Prize for La Belle Noiseuse – and twice at Berlin (most recently, in 2007 with Don’t Touch the Axe [trailer]).

Starring Jane Birkin, Sergio Castellitto and Julie-Marie Parmentier, 36 Vues du Pic Saint-Loup was produced by Pierre Grise Productions for €3.53m. This included co-production support from France 2 Cinéma and Italy’s Cinemaundici, an advance on receipts from the National Film Centre (CNC), a pre-sale from Canal + and a grant from the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

International sales are being handled by Les Films du Losange, who will release the title in France on September 9.

Other likely French contenders for a competition slot at Venice include Patrice Chéreau’s Persécution (see news), featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Romain Duris and Jean-Hugues Anglade. Co-produced by Azor Films and Move Movie with backing from Arte France Cinéma, Canal + and an advance on receipts from the CNC, the film is sold internationally by MK2. If selected, Chéreau would return to the Venetian competition in which he participated in 2005 with Gabrielle [trailer].

According to rumours in Paris, Christophe Honoré’s Non Ma Fille, Tu N'iras Pas Danser (“No, My Daughter, You Won’t Go Dancing”, see news) also has a good chance of selection. Thus, the director could discover the Lido after appearing on the Croisette (Un Certain Regard in 2002, Directors’ Fortnight in 2006 and in competition with Love Songs [trailer] in 2007) and at San Sebastian last year (The Beautiful Person [trailer]).

Produced by Why Not Productions for €3.86m, Non Ma Fille… was co-produced by France 3 Cinéma and pre-bought by Canal +. It will be launched domestically on September 2 by Le Pacte, who are also managing international sales.