Last-minute indie buys end this year’s Cannes

Before the top prize at Cannes, the Palme d’Or, was won by Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul and his film called Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives on Saturday night, a flurry of activity sealed the deal for more indie films to get distribution here in the U.S., according to The Hollywood Reporter‘s Risky Business blog:

  • Altitude: Canadian comics artist Kaare Andrews (Astonishing X-Men) is the director of this supernatural thriller which pits a group of teens in a private plane against an unseen horror which threatens to ground them for good. Featuring Jessica Lowndes from the new “90210” series, Anchor Bay Entertainment picked up the U.S. distribution rights.
  • Des hommes et des dieux (aka Of Gods & Men): Sony Picture Classics nabbed the U.S., Australia and New Zealand distribution rights to this “based on a true story” film about Catholic monks lead by Lambert Wilson (the Merovingian in the two Matrix sequels) whose decision to stay within the increasingly dangerous Algerian countryside eventually cost seven of them their lives in 1996. Written/directed by Xavier Beauvois, the film also took home the Grand Prix.
  • Kaboom: The first-ever Queer Palm-winning (yes, I know, but that’s what the award is called) feature from indie darling Gregg Araki stars Thomas Dekker (“The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) as a freshman who trying to enjoy his first year in college (and his hot roommate named Thor) who stumbles into a freaky mystery after witnessing the murder of a mysterious redhead…or does he? It’s been picked up by IFC Films to be released sometime this year.
  • The Princess of Montpensier: A French film by Bertrand Tavernier, it revolves around an heiress (Mélanie Thierry) and the various men who fall in and out of love with her against the backdrop of a war-torn 16th century France. It’s based on the eponymous public domain novel, and will be distributed by IFC Films in the U.S. after its release this November in France.
  • Somos lo que hay (aka We Are What We Are): Just in case you ever wanted to feel empathy towards cannibals, screenwriter/producer Jorge Michel Grau’s directorial debut might be right up your alley as it revolves around a destitute family who only eats humans to survive, not because it gives them any particular pleasure. The horror/dark comedy has also been picked up by IFC Films for distribution.