Story perspectives

Anton Launches Cannes Sales for “Pumping Black” Starring Portman, Bailey

5/8/2026

Summary

Anton Launches Sales

Anton will launch international sales for the psychological thriller Pumping Black at Cannes in France.
Natalie Portman and Jonathan Bailey will co-star as leads in the film.
Production will begin this Fall with financing from Anton.
The film is produced by Stacey Sher, Sébastien Raybaud, Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas.

Summary

Portman Boosts PumpingBlack

The producers are positioning Pumping Black as an awards contender, leveraging Natalie Portman's Oscar background and Mimi Cave’s thriller expertise.
Stacey Sher’s filmography has generated nearly $2.7 billion worldwide, underscoring the financial weight behind Pumping Black.
Haley Hope Bartels’ screenplay ranked second on the 2022 Black List, reflecting strong industry acclaim before production.
Natalie Portman recently executive-produced Apple TV’s “Lady in the Lake,” adding television credentials to her producer résumé.

History

Historical Context

When Quentin Tarantino won the Palme d’Or for *Pulp Fiction* at Cannes in May 1994, the film’s $200 million worldwide gross and seven Oscar nominations proved that a Cannes debut could launch an indie-era awards campaign, a model later used by Miramax under Harvey Weinstein. Today Anton’s *Pumping Black* follows that same Cannes-to-Oscar strategy, leveraging Natalie Portman’s Oscar pedigree.

1 of 3

Anton Launches Sales

Anton will launch international sales for the psychological thriller Pumping Black at Cannes in France.
Natalie Portman and Jonathan Bailey will co-star as leads in the film.
Production will begin this Fall with financing from Anton.
The film is produced by Stacey Sher, Sébastien Raybaud, Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas.

1 / 3