Marie Kreutzer’s upcoming feature Gentle Monster has clinched the 2025 ArteKino International Prize at the Cannes Market’s third Investors Circle event, with the prize money going to the producers Alexander Glehr and Johanna Scherz for development of the project.
Kreutzer’s latest film after Corsage with Vicky Krieps, Gentle Monster will take the spectator on the unsettling journey of an internationally renowned pianist who moves her family from Munich to the countryside and uncovers life-shattering truths about her partner.
It was one of 10 projects pitched at the third Investors Circle event on May 18, aimed at connecting elevated arthouse projects with investors.
The festival has also unveiled details of the projects, which were under wraps until the event was over, which include new films by Belgium’s Lukas Dhont, whose second film Close shared Cannes Grand Prix; Hungarian festival regular Kornél Mundruczó, who won the Un Certain Regard Prize for White God, as well as Austrian Cannes regular Jessica Hausner. (scroll down for full list).
“I’m surprised in the most positive way,” said director Marie Kreutzer about her win.
“Filmmaking is a really big mountain, and what happens before the premiere – to get a film made – is a very long climb. So we really need people who want to support cinema and have love for cinema – that’s why meeting investors is extremely important. I had great conversations with these investors so far. The script has sparked their interest, and they’re eager to learn more about the project.”
Celine Dornier, VP Financing & Acquisitions at Logical Pictures Group and one of the selected investors invited to attend the event, also praised the event.
“The Investors Circle is a rare and valuable event,” she said. “It’s truly designed with investors in mind, which makes all the difference. The selection of projects is consistently high-level, with prestigious and diverse filmmakers that match what I’m looking for.”
Full-list of projects:
Coward (working title)
Directed by Lukas Dhont (Belgium)
Produced by Michiel Dhont at The Reunion
Disorder
Directed by Giacomo Abbruzzese (Italy)
Produced by Marco Alessi, Giulia Achilli at Dugong Films
Gentle Monster
Directed by Marie Kreutzer (Austria)
Produced by Alexander Glehr, Johanna Scherz at Film AG Produktions GmbH
Kamo
Directed by Kornél Mundruczó (Hungary)
Produced by Mike Goodridge at Good Chaos, Ilya Stewart at Hype Studios and Balthazar de Ganay
Motherlove
Directed by Eliza Hittman (US)
Produced by Paul Mezey, Andrew Goldman at Present Company
On Land and Sea
Directed by Hlynur Pálmason (Iceland)
Produced by Katrin Pors at Snowglobe and Anton Máni Svansson at STILL VIVID
Poeta Chileno
Directed by Sebastián Lelio (Chile)
Produced by Rocío Jadue, Juan de Dios Larraín, Pablo Larraín at Fabula
Quo Vadis, Aida – The missing part
Directed by Jasmila Žbanić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Produced by Damir Ibrahimović at Deblokada
The Puma
Directed by Marcela Said (France/Chile)
Produced by Carole Scotta, Barbara Letellier, Eliott Khayat at Haut et Court
Toxic
Directed by Jessica Hausner (Austria)
Produced by Johannes Schubert at Schubert and Philippe Bober at Coproduction Office
