Flurry of small-scale activity at Cannes

Web Exclusive: IFC leads charge, buys five films -- North American buyers lay low on the Croisette this year, cherry-picking the best of the fest. While more conservative buyers held back, a flurry of small-scale activity was led by IFC Films, which bought five films: critics' fave and Un Certain Regard opener, "Hunger" from Brit rookie Steve McQueen, about a grisly 1981 IRA hunger strike, Arnaud Desplechin's competition entry "A Christmas Tale," Olivier Assayas' "Summer Hours," Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," and Anna Melikyan's "Mermaid." (link)