As of April 14, over 3,000 companies from 80 contries have confirmed their participation in the Marche du Film (Cannes film market), an event taking place simultaneously with the festival that is focused on the international motion picture business. 10,000 attendees will participate in the market's financial and artistic montage of films and negotiation of co-production contracts. Over 1,500 screenings will also be offered at the market. In addition, this year's Producers Network will once again work with producers developing their projects. The program brings together more than 500 producers from five continents. The producers meet every morning around 16 thematic roundtables where professional guests offer their insights in production and international financing. New this year to the Producers Network program are two "speed-dating" sessions slated for Thursday May 17 and Friday, May 18. Participants will meet groups of five to six producers from various countries to exhange ideas and discuss their projects. [Brian Brooks]

Sony Pictures Classics confirmed that it has indeed acquired Michael Haneke's "Cache" (Hidden). The film is considered a front-runner for the Cannes Palme d'Or which will be awarded tomorrow. The film was hotly pursued by numerous, including many of New York's independent distribution companies, with the studio specialty division ultimately closing the pact.

[Cannes Dispatch by Eugene Hernandez, photo by Brian Brooks]

The closest thing to a real nail-biter bidding war among U.S. based buyers here in Cannes is the battle for Michael Haneke's "Cache" the Cannes competition entry that first screened a week ago. One insider told indieWIRE that some half-dozen offers are in as companies wait to see who the winner will be.

What's especially unique about this rights fight is that it is being waged by the real indie companies, studio specialty divisions are understood to be sitting this one out, concerned that the film is just too small. So some of the companies understood to have offers on the table are IFC Films, Samuel Goldwyn, ThinkFilm, Wellspring, and others.

Sony Pictures Classics has nabbed that Cannes competition entry "Joyeux Noel" (Merry Christmas) for distribution in the U.S., U.K., Italy and Latin America, according to Screen International. The pact marks the first Cannes official selection acquisition to close during this year's festival. Christian Carion's film is set during the first World War and was eyed by numerous buyers.

Palm Pictures has announced a pair of acquisitions here at the Marche du Film in Cannes. The company has acquired North American and Caribbean rights to Asia Argento's "The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things" and Michael Almereyda’s "William Eggleston: In the Real World". Both deals were closed this week at the Cannes Market.

Film critics were left cold by early showings at the Cannes Film Festival this year, but things finally warmed up with the return of tried and tested veterans at the world's top cinema showcase. Informal gradings by writers and commentators, which are not always a reliable guide to what jurors think, reveal a less-than-impressive lineup by the end of the first weekend. Reuters reports.

In Cannes today, ThinkFilm announced its acquisition of Steven Silver and Andrew Quigley's "Diameter of the Bomb", a film described as "focusing on a suicide bomb that shook Jerusalem one summer morning in June 2002." The Cannes Market title includes forensic footage, Hamas military video, and home movies, as well as unprecedented access inside prisons, commando units refugee camps and hospitals.

Participant Productions, the Los Angeles based entertainment company founded in 2004 by eBay pioneer and philanthropist Jeff Skoll, has acquired North American rights and taken an equity stake in the upcoming film, "Fast Food Nation" from HanWay Films, which is handling international sales, it was announced today by Participant Productions President Ricky Strauss.

Bob and Harvey Weinstein are proving there is life after Disney. The Hollywood powerbrokers' new company, formed when they agreed in March to split from Disney's Miramax Films, has come to the annual Film Festival in Cannes with deals in mind. The Weinstein Co., as it is known, has snapped up North American rights to a $40 million movie project "Stormbreaker," based on the fictional hero of Anthony Horowitz's series of novels about 14-year-old superspy Alex Rider. Michael Davidson reports in Reuters.

The tough reality of European cinema is that about 70 percent of ticket sales here are for American movies. And despite a few recent cross-border successes such as "The Chorus" or "A Very Long Engagement," the figures are not budging. Politicians at the Cannes Film Festival are now focusing on one small-scale idea of to remedy the situation: promoting the Internet distribution of homegrown films. The Associated Press reports.

Mexican competition entry "Batalla En El Cielo" (Battle In Heaven) from filmmaker Carlos Reygadas has been acquired by Tartan USA, according to trade reports in Variety and Screen today. Screen indictated that Tartan had already pre-bought the film for UK distributon and other regions have been selling as well.

[Cannes Dispatch by Eugene Hernandez]

Buyers have been buzzing about Woody Allen's latest, "Match Point", since its premiere here in Cannes on Thursday. The head of one studio specialty division told me that evening that the price for the film, however, may simply be too high for a Woody Allen movie. Variety's Ian Mohn reports today that HanWay, which is handling the movie, is asking some $7 million for U.S. rights to the movie.

"It's great to be involved with the Trigger Street gang in a effort to make a truly great film that revolves around a pile of Sasquatch poo," said "Napoleon Dynamite" producer Jeremy Coon, in announcing a deal with TriggerStreet Independent for his a new film.

Plans have been unveiled for "The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang", a new production from Trigger Street, marking the first film to go into production from the Trigger Street Independent Banner. The project, to be directed by Tim Skousen, is a partnership with Crazy Dreams Productions. It is described as "a comic tale of several converging groups searching for proof of the legendary Sasquatch" and will begin shooting in Oregon later this month.

Each day in Cannes, insiders pop into the lobby of one of the many grand hotels here to pick up one of the many festival dailies printed here at the festival. Screen International, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and other papers distribute morning papers with buzz and news. Here's highlights from the first three editions of the various fest dailies published so far in Cannes, including news of new projects from Lars Von Trier, David Lynch, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu and others.

This morning in Cannes, Bob Berney and the founders of the new HBO/New Line venture unveiled plans for their new venture. The company has been named Picturehouse. Its first feature release is Gus Van Sant's "Last Days", the first production is the Diane Arbus' bio, "Fur" by Steven Shainberg. Raymond De Felitta’s "The Thing About My Folks" and Giddi Dar's "Ushpizin" have been acquired.

Announcing a second deal in less than 24 hours, The Weinstein Company is making its presence known in Cannes. The Weinsteins have nabbed the $40 million production, "Stormbreaker," to be directed by Geoffrey Sax, making it the first acquisition of a new production for the company.

Killer Films will produce Helen Hunt's directorial debut "Then She Found Me", described as a story about "identity, connection, the meaning of betrayal and the happy accidents that ultimately define our lives. The film is set to shoot this fall. Odyssey Entertainment will handle worldwide sales and distribution.

[Cannes Dispatch by Eugene Hernandez]

With the Cannes Film Festival kicking off tonight here in France, insiders are already buzzing about the emergence of two new companies. The new Weinstein Company, Harvey and Bob Weinstein's post-Miramax company, has made a first acquisition and Bob Berney will step into the spotlight as the head of the new specialty division from HBO Films and New Line later this week.

Paris based international sales company Celluloid Dreams has acquired all international rights for Kyle Henry’s American drama "Room," it was announced today by producer Jesse Scolaro. "Room" was recently announced as an official selection of Directors’ Fortnight at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival next month and North American sales will be represented by Chris Pizzo of Carmichael Films. The film had its U.S. bow as an official selection of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival in January. For more information, visit the Celluloid Dreams website.