Greenwich, Rialto Team on U.S. Rights to ‘My Donkey, My Lover & I’ With ‘Call My Agent!’ Star Laure Calamy (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentNew York-based distributor Greenwich Entertainment and Rialto Distribution have teamed up to picked up U.S.

rights to Caroline Vignal’s “My Donkey, My Lover & I,” a heartwarming French romantic comedy headlined by “Call My Agent” breakout star Laure Calamy.The company was co-created by Ed Arentz, co-founder and former managing director of Music Box Films, and Edmondo Schwartz, co-founder of Cohen Media Group, in September 2017 with the goal of handling high-end theatrical movies.Sold by Playtime, “My Donkey, My Lover & I” was part of Cannes 2020’s official selection and went on to be nominated for eight César Awards, earning best actress for Calamy.

The film was previously acquired by top distributors in key markets and played particularly well in English-speaking markets, including in the U.K.

for Curzon and in Australia/New Zealand for Palace. “‘My Donkey, My Lover & I’ has a sunny, light-hearted appeal in the COVID era of travel bans as audiences have enjoyed a vicarious Cévennes-trekking holiday,” said Arentz, adding that he film was also a “vehicle for Calamy’s emerging stardom in the English-speaking world as audiences had became aware of her via the international TV hit ‘Call My Agent.'”Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Travels With a Donkey in the Cévennes,” the film stars Calamy as the impetuous love-lorn school teacher Antoinette who is looking forward to a romantic summer escape with Vladimir, her married lover who is the father of one of her students.