MUMBAI: The recent Slumdog phenomenon has forced Bollywood to believe that to expand a film’s audience base beyond the Indian diaspora internationally, filmmakers have to strategically join hands with international marketers who exhibit a better understanding of the overseas cinematic landscape. Slumdog was marketed and distributed by Fox Searchlight.

And now taking a hint from this, The Indian Film Company (TIFC) has roped in LA-based world sales company, American World Pictures (AWP), to handle the international sales of its first international feature presentation Little Zizou.

Little Zizou, Sooni Taraporevala’s first directorial venture, is a Mumbai-based film that is presented by TIFC and Mira Nair (of Monsoon Wedding and Vanity Fair fame).

“We look forward to our association with AWP who will be enabling Little Zizou to reach out to audiences in countries across the world,” said IFC CEO Sandeep Bhargava.

In a bid to attain global recognition that would help international marketers to push the film across the global region, Zizou was showcased at the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York and at the Asia-Pacific Festival of First Films, held in Singapore.

Said AWP Sr VP – international Sales Jeffrey Goldmann, “We fell in love with Little Zizou on watching it. It is a simple, sweet and well-intentioned comedy with a message of tolerance at its heart. We introduced the film to buyers at EFM (Berlin) and will continue to do so at the upcoming markets to lock distribution.”

Initially, Studio 18 will undertake a selective Indian theatrical release of Little Zizou on 13 March and depending on the film’s audience response, the company will expand the number of releases further.

The film stars Boman Irani, Sohrab Ardeshir, Zenobia Shroff, Shernaz Patel, Mahabanoo Mody- Kotwal, Imaad Shah, Kunal Vijaykar, Kamaal Sidhu in pivotal roles and introduces Jahan and Iyanah Batlivala. It also features John Abraham in a guest appearance.