Annecy’s Work-in-Progress Title ‘Death Does Not Exist’ Boarded by Best Friend Forever (EXCLUSIVE)
Brussels-based company Best Friend Forever has boarded international rights to “Death Does Not Exist” (“La mort n’existe pas”) which is being showcased in the work-in-progress section at the Annecy Film Festival.
Currently in production, “Death Does Not Exist” is directed by Félix Dufour-Laperrière who previously helmed “Archipel” which won the Annecy Contrechamps Jury Award in 2021, and ‘Ville Neuve’ which had its premiere at Venice Days 2018.
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“Death Does Not Exist” takes place after young activists fail an armed attack to overthrow figures of the establishment in their sumptuous villa. Helen freezes and abandons her accomplices. Manon, another
member of her group, returns to haunt her. The film’s voice cast includes Zeneb Blanchet, Karelle Tremblay (“The Nature of Love”), Mattis Savard-Verhoeven, Barbara Ulrich and Irène Dufour.
“’Death Does Not Exist’ deals with difficult subjects – violence, commitment, profound convictions – in a way that exposes their underlying tensions, outbursts, dead ends,” said Félix Dufour-Laperrière, who described the project as “a tragic tale, but it’s also a film full of life, friendship and love. A film of adventure and ideas.”
The director said he put a lot of himself into it hopes he’s “touched on some very topical concerns about contemporary social, political and climatic emergencies, about our intimate and collective aspirations, about what’s important to save, about the loyalties we must cherish and the price we must
pay to do so.”
“Death Does Not Exist” is produced by Nicolas & Felix Dufour-Laperrière at Embuscade Films
(“Archipelago,” “This House”) and Emmanuel-Alain Raynal and Pierre Baussaron at Miyu (“Chicken for
Linda!”). UFO Distribution will release the film in France and Maison 4:3 in Canada.
Martin Gondre and Charles Bin, Best Friend Forever co-founders, said “Felix is an auteur in a class of his
own. His films have a unique sensitivity and beauty to them.” “In this new film, he has captured with rare
accuracy the dreams, ambitions and frustration of the next generation, who no longer accept the society
that has been promised to them,” the pair added.
Best Friend Forever Cannes’ roster also includes Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award winner
“Universal Language” by Matthew Rankin, Berlinale Competition entry “Shambhala” by Min Bahadur
Bham and Panorama Selection “The Visitor” by Bruce LaBruce.
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