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After a slow start, the European Film Market is picking up pace as it enters the final stretch, with a series of big deals suggesting the upward trend seen at AFM and Sundance will continue in Berlin.

STXfilms closed one of the market's biggest pre-buys, taking rights in North America, Latin America and China for a reported eight-figure sum for the star-studded action thriller Gunpowder Milkshake, inking a deal with Studiocanal and UTA Independent Film Group.

Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett, Paul Giamatti, Carla Gugino and Chloe Coleman star in the film about three generations of female assassins who, over the course of a single night, fight to stop a cycle of violence. Studiocanal has already pre-sold the rest of the world. STX took the film following a promo screening in Berlin.

Studiocanal's Anna Marsh, Anne Cherel and Sophie Leuthreau negotiated the deal with STX's Jordan Lichtman and Carolyn Steinmetz and UTA Independent Film Group.

Navot Papushado directs and co-wrote Gunpowder Millshake with Ehud Lavski. The film marks Papushado's English-language debut as a director following his Israeli breakout film Big Bad Wolves.

Studiocanal financed Gunpowder Milkshake, which Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman's the Picture Company produced. The pair are international action specialists with credits that include Liam Neeson starrers The Commuter and Non-Stop.

STX is thought to be planning a wide theatrical release for the film in the U.S. and will go through the company's existing partners in Canada and Latin America and through a partner distributor in China.

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EXCLUSIVE: In competitive bidding, Netflix closed a deal to acquire U.S. rights to Gunpowder Milkshakefrom STX Films. The female-driven action film is directed by Navot Papushado, and produced by Studiocanal and The Picture Company. Studiocanal fully financed and will retain the international rights where they plan to distribute the film in their home territories with a planned international theatrical roll out around the world. I’ve confirmed that a sequel is already in early development.

As part of a substantial 8-figure deal, STX retains Canada, Latin America, and Chinese distribution rights. Studiocanal will release in the UK, France, Germany, AUZ/NZ. The film sold out worldwide.

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Sam (Karen Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey), an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. Sam was raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother’s footsteps and grown into a fierce hit-woman. She uses her “talents” to clean up The Firm’s most dangerous messes. She’s as efficient as she is loyal.

But when a high-risk job goes wrong, Sam must choose between serving The Firm and protecting the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl – Emily (Chloe Coleman). With a target on her back, Sam has only one chance to survive: Reunite with her mother and her lethal associates: The Librarians (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino). These three generations of women must now learn to trust each other, stand up to The Firm and their army of henchmen, and raise hell against those who could take everything from them.

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