Floria Sigismondi To Helm ‘The Delivery Man’; Fortissimo Finds ‘Closet Monster’ – Cannes Briefs

The Runaways helmer Floria Sigismondi has been lined up to direct The Delivery Man, which Highland Film Group is financing and introducing to buyers here in Cannes. Based on the 2008 novel by Joe Mcginniss Jr, it’s being adapted by Jonathan Lemond, whose 2006 script The Professors, made the Black List. The Delivery Man is set against the surreal excess of Las Vegas and centers on a group of childhood friends whose lives have been affected by growing up there. Be True Productions’ John Domo (Broadway’s American Idiot, Big Fish) and Braxton Pope (The Trust) will produce.

Fortissimo Films has boarded international rights on Stephen Dunn’s coming-of-age drama, Closet Monster. The English-language Canadian feature is currently in post-production and sales will begin this week at the Cannes Film Market. This is Dunn’s debut feature after winning prizes for his shorts in Toronto and Tribeca. Produced by Rhombus Media and Best Boy Entertainment, Closet Monster follows the life of Oscar Madly, a creative and imaginative teenager who has spent years destabilized by his dysfunctional parents, unsure of his sexuality and haunted by horrific images of a childhood trauma. A talking hamster (voiced by Isabella Rossellini), a vivid imagination and the prospect of love help him confront his surreal demons and discover his true identity. Connor Jessup (Falling Skies) stars.

Shanghai Media Group Pictures has acquired The Stone Forest for China. From Southern Light Films Queensland CMW and Arclight Films, the action romance fantasy will be directed by Bait 3D helmer Nicholas McCallum. McCallum and Shayne Armstrong teamed on the script about an Australian university student who travels to China and falls in love with a local girl who, they soon learn, is living with an ancient curse. Pre-production starts in July 2015 for a June 2016 delivery. Arclight is handling international sales outside the Middle Kingdom.