‘Conclave’ Producer Michael Jackman Joins ‘Mansour’ as France TV Distribution Launches ‘Ducks’ at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)

France TV Distribution is bringing Romuald Boulanger’s “Mansour” back to Cannes with added production weight, as “Conclave” producer Michael Jackman boards the biopic of Iranian-born tennis player and showman Mansour Bahrami.

The package has also been reinforced by casting director Constance Demontoy (“Titane,” “Stillwater”) and Paris-based Alambic Production, which has joined as an associate production partner.

Related Stories

Paramount Faces Suit From Streaming Subscribers Seeking to Block Warner Bros. Deal

Paramount Skydance Defends WBD Merger by Arguing That Neither Paramount+ nor HBO Max Could 'Catch Up' to Netflix, Disney or Amazon on Their Own

The commercial and sales arm of French public broadcaster France Télévisions is also launching worldwide sales on French-Cambodian filmmaker Neary Adeline Hay’s “Ducks,” an intimate story of grief, return and heritage.

“Mansour” stars Amir Jadidi, best known internationally for Asghar Farhadi’s Cannes Grand Prix winner “A Hero.”

Jackman arrives on “Mansour” off a major awards run with Edward Berger’s “Conclave,” winner of both BAFTA best film and BAFTA best British film in 2025, as well as a best picture nominee at the Academy Awards.

His broader career spans development, production and global distribution, with credits including “Arrival” and “The Good Nurse,” as well as work on films by Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone.

“I’m thrilled to be joining ‘Mansour.’ Besides being a fan of the man himself since I was a child, the script by Dawn McDaniel is inspiring and entertaining,” Jackman said.

“Biopics can sometimes feel stuck in time but because of both the quality of the writing and the story’s topical nature, ‘Mansour’ feels current and relevant and our director Romuald brings a clear point of view.”

Jackman also singled out Jadidi’s casting, calling him “born to play this role” as both “an acclaimed Iranian actor and a semi-pro tennis player,” while praising the creative leadership of screenwriter-producer Dawn McDaniel and Boulanger.

Directed by Boulanger, whose credits include “On the Line,” starring Mel Gibson, “Mansour” is written by McDaniel, with Philippe de Lyon as co-scribe. The film is produced by R-Lines Productions (“On the Line,” “Like Me,” “Haters”) and McDaniel’s Unconditional Pictures, with Jackman now joining as producer.

The project has also added Demontoy as casting director, further strengthening its international profile. Demontoy has worked with directors such as Denis Villeneuve, Jean-Marc Vallée, Cédric Klapisch and Paul Verhoeven, with recent credits including the Palme d’Or-winning “Titane,” “Annette” and “Stillwater.” She is also French casting director on Season 4 of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” currently shooting in France.

Alambic Production has boarded “Mansour” as an associate production partner. Led by Taha and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Alambic’s credits include the Oscar-winning short “Two People Exchanging Saliva.” Zar Amir Ebrahimi won best actress at Cannes for “Holy Spider” and co-directed “Tatami.”

Spanning 1950s Tehran and later Paris, “Mansour” charts Bahrami’s journey from a child barred from tennis courts, who fashioned a makeshift court in an empty swimming pool and used a frying pan as a racket, to a stateless immigrant in France who eventually fulfilled his dream of playing at Roland Garros.

After fleeing Iran following the Revolution, Bahrami arrives in Paris penniless and without legal status, sleeping in the locker room of Roland Garros while trying to find his way back to tennis. His flair, determination and unmistakable style of play eventually turn him into a crowd favorite and multi-generational tennis legend.

“We are delighted to embark on ‘Mansour,’ a project filled with positive energy and strong international appeal,” said Julia Schulte, SVP international sales at France TV Distribution. “Mansour’s extraordinary journey is a powerful and uplifting story of resilience, determination, and hope. We believe ‘Mansour’ has all the ingredients to resonate with audiences worldwide.”

‘Ducks’ Takes Flight

France TV Distribution is also launching worldwide sales at Cannes on “Ducks,” written and directed by Neary Adeline Hay. Starring Mellina Boubetra and Visal Sour, the film is produced by Special Touch Studios and Katuh Studio.

“Ducks” follows Kerya, a successful Paris DJ of Cambodian origin who has never visited her family’s homeland. After her father’s death, she travels to Cambodia to scatter his ashes, only for circumstance to leave her responsible for 300 ducks raised by her uncle, a duck herder.

Accompanied by her 11-year-old cousin Samnang and the flock, Kerya crosses a country she does not know, gradually discovering its landscapes, culture and her own family history. The journey moves from mourning into self-discovery, as Kerya’s return becomes a first real encounter with her Asian heritage.

Schulte described “Ducks” as “a heart-warming and uplifting story.” She added that the film is “emotionally and visually outstanding,” driven by Kerya’s passage through Cambodian landscapes while caring for the ducks.