EXCLUSIVE: Paris-based Pulsar Content has acquired world sales rights for Lola Bessis and Ruben Amar’s U.S. road movie Silver Star, co-starring Grace Van Dien and Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, for a launch at the upcoming EFM.
The production sees French duo Bessis and Amar reunite behind the camera for the first time since their 2013 SXSW breakout Swim Little Fish Swim, having first sparked attention with 2011 short film Checkpoint.
Johnson (Totally Killer, Let’s Scare Julie) plays a young African-American Civil War reenactor freshly out of jail, who learns that the lives of her estranged parents are at risk and tries to help them by robbing a bank.
In her botched robbery attempt, she takes a hostage named Franny (Van Dien), who turns out to be a charmingly impulsive pregnant teenager with nothing left to lose.
Together, they embark on a twisted electric chase through scenic American landscapes, clashing and struggling for common ground in hopes for a brighter future.
The film, which shot in the U.S., is currently in post-production.
“We are delighted to support Lola and Ruben on their new feature. We had an absolute crush on this road trip movie and its two main characters. It’s fun, pacy and heartwarming but also says a lot about American society. We’re convinced the film’s energy will conquer a large audience,” said Pulsar Content co-founders Gilles Sousa and Marie Garrett.
The feature is produced by Les Films De La Fusée and Middlemen.
Les Films De La Fusée is Amar and Bessis’s company under which they also produced Nathan Silver’s 2027 feature Thirst Street.
Middlemen is the Paris-based production company founded in 2022 by Philippe Imhaus and Simon Lefort, teaming up with French hit makers Trésor Films and Première Heure. Silver Star is its first U.S. production
“We are delighted to be able to work alongside Pulsar on this new project and we are convinced that they are the best partner to allow the film to reach the widest possible audience,” said Amar and Bessis.
The Pulsar Content EFM line-up also includes David Moreau’s single shot horror feature Mads, Michele Placido’s Eternal Visionary and musical The Opera! starring Vincent Cassel, Fanny Ardant, Caterina Murino and Rossy De Palma.
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