Marie Kreutzer’s “Gentle Monster” emerged as the big winner at the third edition of the Cannes Film Market‘s Investors Circle, scooping up the ArteKino International Prize with its €20,000 ($22,500) purse.
The Austrian project, produced by Alexander Glehr and Johanna Scherz of Film AG Produktions GmbH, was selected from among 10 film projects presented to VIP investors at the high-profile Cannes financing event.
“I’m surprised in the most positive way,” Kreutzer said following 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.”
Held at the Plage des Palmes – the festival and market’s official beachside venue – during the Cannes Film Festival, the third edition of the financing forum showcased 10 film projects that had never been publicly revealed before. The event featured industry panels followed by a private pitching session with acclaimed filmmakers.
The high-wattage director lineup included Cannes competition regular Jessica Hausner (“Little Joe,” “Club Zero”), Academy Award-winner Sebastián Lelio (“A Fantastic Woman,” “Disobedience”), Grand Prix and Caméra d’Or recipient Lukas Dhont (“Close,” “Girl”) and Oscar-nominated Golden Bear winner Jasmila Žbanić (“Quo Vadis, Aida?”).
All projects featured budgets between €3 million ($3.3 million) and €9 million ($10.1 million) and were selected for their commercial potential and creative ambition.
Aleksandra Zakharchenko, head of industry programs at the market, oversaw the selection process alongside a committee including ARTE France Cinéma MD Remi Burah, media entrepreneur Serge Hayat, Hubert Bals Fund head Tamara Tatishvili (who also moderated the pitching session), and New Europe Film Sales’ head of acquisitions Marcin Łuczaj.
Investors at the gathering had the opportunity to be the first to discover these anticipated projects, with legal support from entertainment industry specialists 111 Avocats provided to filmmakers ahead of one-on-one investor meetings.
“The Investors Circle is a rare and valuable event,” said Celine Dornier, VP financing and acquisitions at Logical Pictures Group, who attended as a selected investor. “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.”
The complete roster of projects unveiled at the 2025 Investors Circle includes:
“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 and Giulia Achilli at Dugong Films
“Gentle Monster” directed by Marie Kreutzer (Austria), produced by Alexander Glehr and 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 and 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, and 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, and Eliott Khayat at Haut et Court
“Toxic” directed by Jessica Hausner (Austria), produced by Johannes Schubert at Schubert and Philippe Bober at Coproduction Office
