Banderas
MALAGA -- Antonio Banderas' Green Moon Producciones and Antonio Perez's Maestranza Films have greenlit Javier Gutierrez's "El verano de la roca," the first pic to roll under the shingles' new production alliance.
The co-venture, which was unveiled at the Berlinale, focuses on projects by upcoming helmers and talent from Banderas' native Andalusia, in Southern Spain.
Gutierrez sprang to attention in Spain with multi-prized short "Brazil," a flamboyantly shot, acidic tale of ingenious revenge.
Screenplay on the $2 million feature is by Juan Velarde. Film is casting.
Perez and Green Moon topper Antonio Meliveo inked the co-production agreement on "Verano" Monday at the Malaga Spanish Film Festival, whose early emphasis has been on new talent.
Though no single film drew thunderous applause, first weekend competish standouts have been first-timer Jaime Marques' "Ladrones" (Thieves), a polished romancer between a young pickpocket, played by Juan Jose Ballesta ("7 Virgins"), and a rich-teen apprentice (Maria Valverde, "Melissa P."), and Rodrigo Cortes' debut "El concursante" (The Contestant).
A pungent satire of TV gameshows and the world's banking systems, "Contestant's' frenetic post-production effects split critics. Most recognized, however, that Cortes is a talent to track.
Antonio Hernandez's Carmen Maura starrer "El menor de los males" (The Lesser Evil), a drama with darkly comic overtones about a ruthless politicos attempts to cover up his adulterous affair with a feisty teen, also drew plaudits.
The major draw over fest's first stretch in its Zonazine showcase for DV-shot pics was another first feature, Antonio Munoz de Mesa's wry comedy "Los amigos de Jesus." With echoes of early Jim Jarmusch, "Jesus" has three friends organizing a trip to New York to help Jesus get over a failed relationship.
The major early Malaga industry event was Saturday's press conference by Pedro Perez, prexy of Spain's FAPAE producers' association, in which he presented a draft film law that will regulate and strengthen TV financing for pic production and create a national movie agency similar to France's CNC.
This is a matter of some urgency: If a draft law is not approved by Spain's Council of Ministers before April 13, Perez said, it will not be passed by parliament before next year's elections.
Perez also called on Spain's ministry of culture to support the introduction of tax breaks for film production in Spain, similar to the system employed in Ireland.
Spain's biggest festival for local movies, Malaga also produces an stream of industry announcements. Early fest news included:
* Maestranza is teaming with L.A.-based Julio Bove on Spain-Argentina co-production "Pots and Pans," helmed by Juan Carlos de Sanzo, about Argentina's recent run on the banks.
* Imagina Intl. Sales, the agency formed by Imagina out of the merger of Arbol and Mediapro last year, has taken overseas handling rights on Malaga competish player "Cafe solo o con ellas." Pic, a sexed-up twentysomething comedy produced by Drive Cine, screens Monday.
* Filmax Ent. has taken international rights on Malaga opener "Lola: The Movie," part of a two-pic deal between Filmax and Antena 3 production unit Ensueno Films. Other pic is "The Borgias." With Antena 3 marketing muscle behind it, "Lola" has obvious Spanish domestic potential -- where DeAPlaneta distributes theatrically. Overseas, "Lola's" Spanish dance scenes could prove a select draw in flamenco-fascinated territories such as Japan.
Malaga fest runs March 9-17.
John Hopewell in Madrid contributed to this report.
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