Cinetic Takes Sales on Cantona Cannes Doc
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Cinetic will handle international sales on "Cantona," a Cannes Special Screening and one of only three UK films in the festival's official selection
- David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas — the duo behind sports docs "Pelé" and "El Caso Figo" — directed and produced the film over four years, shooting between Manchester and the south of France
- The documentary features new and archive interviews with Eric Cantona and Alex Ferguson, plus David Beckham, Cantona's parents, and other managers
- Stevan Riley ("Fire in Babylon," "Listen to Me Marlon") wrote and produced, with an original electronic score by dance-music veteran Paul Hartnoll of Orbital
- Cantona won four league titles in five years at Manchester United as "King Eric" before a 1995 assault conviction earned him an eight-month ban and a shock retirement at 31
- After soccer, Cantona moved into acting with roles in "Elizabeth," "Looking for Eric," and "The Killer," and also stars in Cannes drama "Les Matins Merveilleux" at this year's festival
- Pitch Productions ("Pelé") and Object Studios ("Pistorius") produced the documentary
Why it matters: Cinetic lands a prestige Cannes sales title with a built-in global audience: a charismatic football icon, Manchester United's dynasty era, and a director team that already delivered "Pelé." Four years of access — including joint testimony from Cantona and the famously press-shy Ferguson — gives international buyers rare archival value.
