31/08/2009

Every time Mexico’s Guillermo del Toro makes an appearance in Spain, we can expect something momentous.

In 2001, he convinced the Almodóvar brothers to produce The Devil’s Backbone. Five years later, he directed Pan’s Labyrinth [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], which enjoyed worldwide success and won three Oscars.

In 2007, as a producer, he backed J. A. Bayona’s debut film, The Orphanage [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which became the highest-grossing Spanish title of the last five years. He collaborated on the latter with Joaquín Padró and Mar Targarona, of Catalan production company Rodar y Rodar, with whom he will work on Julia’s Eyes.

Del Toro will once again use his reputation as a producer to support a young and little-known director, Guillem Morales, who co-wrote the screenplay with Oriol Paulo. Shooting will start in early October. The role of Julia will be played by Belén Rueda, who stars alongside Lluís Homar (Broken Embraces [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pedro Almodóvar
film profile]).

This new project by Rodar y Rodar, who also produced Morales’ debut feature, The Uncertain Guest, is firmly anchored in the Catalan horror genre that is arousing so much interest in the US. However, it is of note that the cost of these productions is very low for US standards: Julia’s Eyes will cost just over €5m).

Del Toro’s support will propel the project to another, more international level, as proven by the fact that Focus Features (a subsidiary of Universal Pictures) has decided to finance the film, alongside Antena 3 Films, Mes Films and Televisió de Catalunya.

Universal Pictures will release Julia’s Eyes in several key territories, including Spain, Latin America and France, while DeAPlaneta will handle sales for the rest of the world.

(Translated from Spanish)