Ascot Elite grabs 'Marilyn'

BERLIN -- German-Swiss distrib Ascot Elite has acquired all German-speaking territory privileges to Simon Curtis' "My Week With Marilyn." The group's Munich-based distrib arm Ascot Elite Filmverleih will release The Weinstein Co. title, which won Oscar noms for Michelle Williams' starring role as Lana Turner and Kenneth Branagh's perf as Laurence Olivier, in April. Ascot Elite's release slate in Germany includes David Wnendt's significantly acclaimed neo-Nazi drama "Kriegerin" (Combat Women) Shaun Nichols' Cannes award-champion "Take Shelter," starring Michael Shannon ("Guy of Steel"), which hits local screens in March, and Ken Scott's Canadian box-office hit "Starbuck," which opens this summer time. Ascot Elite lately acquired a slew of high-profile game titles for Swiss release, including Ron Howard's F1 drama "Hurry" Derek Cianfrance's "The Area Past the Pines," starring Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper and Allen Hughes' "Damaged City." The distrib also nabbed Swiss privileges to Louis Leterrier's "You Now See Me," Steve McQueen's "Twelve Years a Slave," and also the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer's "Cloud Atlas." Ascot Elite Europe loved one its most powerful years this year, achieving a 13.6% share of the market in the united states. Contact Erectile dysfunction Meza at staff@variety.com