13/02/2008

Madrid-based sales company Latido Films, headed by Massimo Saidel, has inked several deals in Berlin across its entire catalogue.

From his Cinema from Spain space at the Martin Gropius Bau, Saidel was enthusiastic about his strong visibility in Berlin this year thanks to the selection of the culinary documentary The Chicken, the Fish and the King Crab [+see also:
trailer
film profile] as the closing film of the Berlinale Special section. The film about Spanish chef Jesus Almagro preparing for the Bocuse d’Or was directed by J. Luis López Linares (best known as Carlos Saura’s DoP) for Zebra Producciones and López-Li Films.

Deals were closed with Lady Film (Italy) and Mexico on the Spanish film 14 Kilometers by Gerardo Olivares. The epic journey of immigrants from North Africa to Spain is being released by Wanda Film on 12 screens, supported by rave reviews. The film won Best Feature at Valladolid.

The comedy Manuela & Manuel by Raul Marchand Sánchez (Puerto Rico) was in negotiations with France and the US.

A three deal package was signed with Mexico on Justine, a Woman for Sale, the animated film Animal Crisis and 14 Kilometers. Japan, with which Saidel has established strong relationships, was very active at the market, with Aya picking up Justine....

Among the projects presented as promo-reels, The Good Life from the director of Machucha, Andrés Wood, was pre-sold to Greece (Ama Film) and the former Yugoslavia (MCF). Set in a hair salon, it tells the story of three couples from different social classes in Santiago, Chile.

Overall, Saidel said the market this year is just turning into an “AFM for Europeans” as many sellers from Europe do not attend the Los Angeles market and wait for the EFM to present their newest titles.