iW NEWS | IFC Gets "Hunger" in Cannes

IFC Films has announced its latest deal in Cannes, acquiring Steve McQueen's "Hunger" which opened the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section last week. Set in Northern Ireland, the film looks at life in Maze Prison and the 1981 hunger strike led by Bobby Sands. Produced by Laura Hastings-Smith and Robin Gutch as a Blast! Films production for Film4, the film was made in association with Northern Ireland Screen, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Wales Creative IP Fund. IFC's Arianna Bocco and Betsy Rodgers negotiated the deal with Jonathan Page and Ariel Veneziano from Icon Entertainment International and Cassian Elwes of William Morris Independent. IFC has dominated U.S. acquisitions at this year's Cannes festival and market, acquiring Arnaud Desplechin's "A Christmas Tale," Olivier Assayas' "Summer Hours," Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," and Anna Melikyan's "Mermaid." [Eugene Hernandez]