The European Film Market (EFM) kicks off Thursday in Berlin, showcasing a diverse slate of films with star power attached, including Emma Roberts, Kristen Stewart, Javier Bardem, Daisy Ridley, Kate Hudson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ana de Armas, and Amy Adams.
Among the projects being presented to buyers is “At the Sea,” directed by Kornél Mundruczó and starring Amy Adams, Murray Bartlett, Chloe East, Brett Goldstein, Dan Levy, Redding L. Munsell, Jenny Slate, and Rainn Wilson. The film, which will compete in Berlin, follows a woman returning to her family’s seaside home after rehab, where she confronts buried trauma and questions her identity outside of her career.
Emma Roberts is set to star in “A Body in the Woods,” directed by Stephen Cognetti. The film centers on Alice Lincoln, a woman living in the Marshall Woods, an area steeped in legends of a menacing witch. Left alone to watch over a deceased mine worker, Alice experiences unsettling events that lead her to believe the corpse may not be at rest, and she finds herself trapped in a nightmare.
Michael Shannon will lead the cast of “Doctor Caligari’s Cabinet of Wonders,” a contemporary take on the classic horror film, directed by John Erick Dowdle. The story follows a traveling mesmerist and his sleepwalking companion, leaving a trail of murders in their wake.
“The Exiles,” directed by Midi Z, features Sam Worthington, David Duchovny, and Ke-Xi Wu. Inspired by real-life events, the film depicts a Westerner’s pursuit of a better life in Asia, which spirals into a shocking murder.
Kristen Stewart and Woody Harrelson are set to star in Quentin Dupieux’s “Full Phil.” The film follows a wealthy American businessman attempting to reconnect with his daughter during a trip to Paris, but their plans are disrupted by French cuisine, a classic horror film, and an intrusive hotel employee.
Marina Ziolkowski’s “The Girl” will explore the 1977 sexual assault of Samantha Geimer by Roman Polanski, told through the eyes of the young victim, and is based on Geimer’s memoir. The cast includes Dree Hemingway, Gore Abrams, and Carolyn Kachen.
Daisy Ridley will star in “The Good Samaritan,” directed by Pierre Morel. The film follows a successful entrepreneur whose yacht vanishes and husband is abducted after rescuing a wounded man off the coast of Indonesia, forcing her to rely on a mysterious private military contractor for help.
Javier Bardem and Kate Hudson will appear in “Hello & Paris,” a romantic comedy directed by Elizabeth Chomko. The story centers on an independent landscape architect and a crisis-ridden novelist who connect through books and recipes, questioning whether choosing not to be alone is harder than being solitary.
Benedict Cumberbatch will star in “Last Flight,” directed by Babak Anvari. The film unfolds during the final days of a 20-year war, following an Afghan man’s desperate attempt to secure safe passage for his family before facing certain death, relying on an American stranger for assistance.
“Leviticus,” directed by Adrian Chiarella, tells the story of two teenage boys escaping a violent entity that takes the form of their desires. The cast includes Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, Davida McKenzie, Nicholas Hope, Zahra Newman, and Mia Wasikowska.
Marion Cotillard and Théodore Pellerin star in “Milo,” directed by Nicole Garcia. The film follows a screenwriter who falls for an aspiring director, confronting betrayal and the cost of success as she follows her heart.
Ana de Armas will lead the cast of “Sweat,” directed by J Blakeson, based on a Polish film. The story centers on a fitness influencer whose pursuit of fame leads her into a dangerous arrangement with an obsessive fan.
Keira Knightley, Alicia Vikander, Jamie Dornan, and Erin Kellyman will star in “The Worst,” directed by Simon Woods. The film depicts a gathering of wealthy friends at a chateau in France, where dark secrets and clashes unravel a seemingly idyllic evening.
Finally, “Wildwood,” directed by Travis Knight and produced by Laika, is a stop-motion animated feature about a teenager’s daring rescue mission into an enchanted forest after her baby brother is abducted by crows. The voice cast includes Carey Mulligan, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Awkwafina, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, and Tom Waits.
