Playtime Launches Sales On Emmanuel Courcol’s ‘The Marching Band’ – Unifrance Rendez Vous In Paris

Playtime will launch sales on Emmanuel Courcol ’s new social comedy The Marching Band , about two brothers separated by fate and reunited by music, at the upcoming Unifrance Rendez vous in Paris next week. The €6.5M production, which is currently in post production, is actor director screenwriter Courcol’s third theatrical feature after Ceasefire and The Big Hit .

Benjamin Lavernhe, seen recently in Maïwenn’s Jeanne du Barry, stars as successful orchestra conductor Thibaut Désormeaux, who is hoping his sister is a compatible bone marrow donor to treat a rapidly progressing leukaemia. Related Stories News France's Playtime Reveals Why It Made Sense To Join New European Studio Vuelta Group News Euro Studio Vuelta Group Launches With Acquisitions Of France's Playtime, Germany's SquareOne & Denmark's Scanbox; Italy, Spain & Benelux To Come Read Deadline's Exclusive Interview With The French Founders His DNA results reveal instead that he is adopted.

On confronting his mother, he discovers he has a younger brother, played by Pierre Lottin, who was raised in more modest conditions and is now a factory worker. This brother shares his musical talent and is a member of the local marching band. Thibault decides to nurture this gift and help his brother and the village band to win a regional contest.

“Emmanuel Courcol is an amazing storyteller,” said producer Marc Bordure at Agat Film. “This a movie about music and sibling hood, the tale of two brothers separated by fate who will reunite through music. It’s smart, touching and funny at the same time. And we feel Playtime shares our ambition for the film.

» Playtime co founder and CEO noted that the company had worked with Courcol in the past having sold the 2009 adventure drama Welcome , which he wrote. “T he Marching Band is a rare example in French cinéma of a social comedy that delivers a heartwarming story with characters true to life. I have no doubt that the film will be a market darling,” he said.

Bordure is producing alongside Agat films partner, director Robert Guédiguian. Diaphana Distribution has pre bought French rights..