'38 Witnesses' to open Rotterdam

BRUSSELS -- Lucas Belvaux's crime drama "38 temoins" (38 Witnesses) will open the Rotterdam Film Festival on Jan. 25, taking its world bow in the process. Based on a novel by Didier Decoin, pic revolves around Louise (Sophie Quinton), who returns home after a business trip to discover her street was the scene of a crime. Initially there appear to be no witnesses, but over time she learns that 38 people heard or saw something that night, including her husband Pierre (Yvan Attal). Pic is the eighth feature from the Belgian helmer, who works mainly out of France. It marks his second collaboration with Attal after the kidnap drama "Rapt" in 2009. World sales are handled by Films Distribution, with Diaphana set to distribute in Gaul. Rotterdam closes on Feb. 4 with "The Hunter," a psychological drama from Australia that premiered this year at the Toronto Film Fest. It stars Willem Dafoe as a mercenary, sent by a shadowy biotech company to hunt the last Tasmanian tiger. Daniel Nettheim directs, working from a novel by "Sleeping Beauty" helmer Julia Leigh. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com