Is Terrence Malick’s ‘The Tree of Life’ And Ellen Page’s ‘Whip It’ Playing Cannes 2009?

From Screen International magazine via David Borwell’s site:

Summit [Entertainment] is new to the domestic distribution business. But it is a company with vast international experience that plans to handle 10-12 films in the $15m-$45m budget range a year. Its Cannes slate includes Terrence Malick’s drama The Tree of Life, starring Brad Pitt, and it already has output deals for its own productions in France, Germany, UK and Scandinavia.

Then word on Ellen Page’s “Whip It!” which is being directed by Drew Barrymore; surely if this one plays, it will be out of competition.

Mandate, which will be in Cannes with titles including Whip It! featuring rising star Ellen Page, and family animation Alpha And Omega—handles around half of Lionsgate’s domestic slate plus titles from third-party producers.

We’re not sure what’s up with “The Tree of Life” exactly. Summit has produced it, but we’re not sure if they’re distributing it. Either way, the much-anticipated Terrence Malick film has been in the works for years and is scheduled for a regular theatrical release of Fall 2009, so it seems to be a perfect candidate for Cannes 2009. And as for “Whip It!,” well Cannes also screened ‘Indiana Jones And The Crystal Skully Things’ so it’s not like they shy away from big films out of competition to earn some press.

Also hoping to be at Cannes 2009 is Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.” Surely, if he can have the film ready in time the festival will accept him. We could speculate all day long at what other big films could screen at Cannes, but we’ll let someone else do wishful guesses. Someone send us next year, we’d love to attend.