New York, NY (November 23, 2010) – IFC Films, the leading American distributor of independent and foreign films, announced today that the company is acquiring the U.S. rights to Pierre Thorentton’s French documentary YVES SAINT LAURENT L’AMOUR FOU. Produced by Kristina Larsen of Le Films du Lendemain and Hugues Charbonneau of Les Films de Pierre, the film will be released by IFC In Theaters in 2011.
Upon Yves Saint Laurent’s death, his life companion Pierre Berge decided to sell their private art collection, a sale considered to be "the auction of the century". Each object and art piece seemed to tell a story about their personal lives. This film, filled with rare material archives and exclusive images of their homes, tells their story through this "auction": a story of love, art and ethics.
President of IFC Films Jonathan Sehring said, "All of us at IFC Films were intrigued by the story told in this film. While it documents a glamorous icon, it also carries themes of love and success, elements to make it a picture that appeals to all."
Films Distribution’s Nicolas Brigaud Robert said: "Films Distribution has been involved in this project since its very beginning and we are extremely happy to have found IFC Films as our U.S. partner. They are the right people for this unique film which we know will touch the U.S. audience as it has touched people around the world already."
The deal was brokered by Elizabeth Nastro, Director of Acquisitions & Co-Productions for IFC with Nicolas Brigaud Robert of Films Distribution.
The documentary took home the Fipresci International Critics Prize for Special Presentations at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010.
About IFC Films
Established a decade ago, IFC Films – a division of Rainbow Media’s IFC Entertainment – is the leading U.S. distributor of independent and foreign film. Its unique day and date distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them simultaneously in theaters as well as on cable’s On Demand platform and through Pay-Per-View, reaching nearly 50 million homes. IFC Films’ "IFC Midnight" label, launched in 2010, offers the very best in international genre cinema, including horror, sci-fi, thrillers, erotic arthouse, action and more. Some of the company’s successes over the years have included My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Touching the Void, Me and You and Everyone We Know, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Gomorrah, Che, Summer Hours, In the Loop, Antichrist, The Human Centipede, Cairo Time, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, and Wordplay. IFC Films has worked with established and breakout auteurs, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noe, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, as well as more recent breakouts such as Andrea Arnold, Mia Hansen Love, Corneliu Porombiou, Joe Swanberg, Barry Jenkins, Lena Dunham, Aaron Katz, Daryl Wein and Abdellatif Kechiche.