07/07/2006

Summer is traditionally the time of year in which distributors programme the release of typically feel-good movies and openly commercial titles. Spain's Filmax distribution company makes no exception and today is releasing Los Managers.

Produced by Altube & Cuervo, Estudios Picasso and Filmax Los Managers brings back actor Fernando Guillén Cuervo behind the cameras six years after his directorial debut Año Mariano.

This time Cuervo blends two genres – the road movie and musical comedy – in a film about two friends, Maca and Rena, who want to become rich and, in order to get achieve their goal, will soon become the managers of two young popular singers called Los Reys del King (“The Kings of the King”). Inspired by the life of Kiko Veneno and his locally famous music tours, the film stars popular actors Enrique Villen and Manuel Tafalle as the two managers and features Paco León and Fran Perea as two promising singers.

In keeping with light summer comedies, Premium cine is distributing the French/Spanish title People by Fabien Onteniente, starring José García, Rupert Everett, Ornella Muti and Rosi di Palma.

Nevertheless, more serious Europeans film are also hitting screens this weekend: Austrian documentary Workingman's Death by Michael Glawogger (distribution: Sagrera TV), French arthouse title To Paint or to Make Love by Arnaud & Jean-Marie Larrieu (Golem – see focus), and Roberto Benigni’s latest opus, The Tiger and the Snow (distribution: Hispano Foxfilm).

The non-European releases of the weekend are US titles Junebug and House of D, Argentinean documentary Amando a Maradona and Disney/Pixar animated film Cars, which, unlike Scary Movie 4, another title released by Buena Vista International two weeks ago, will not be the target of a campaign led by local exhibitors. An agreement was reached earlier this week between the distribution company and Spain’s main exhibition chains.