Sandino Moreno joins 'Che' pics

Soderbergh projects start to shoot July 25

By EMILIANO DE PABLOS

MADRID — Colombian actress Catalina Sandino Moreno, Oscar-nommed for "Maria Full of Grace," has been added to the cast of Steven Soderbergh's two film project about Latin American revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, which begins shooting July 25 in Spain.

Entitled "The Argentine" and "Guerrilla," the two Spanish language-pics have a combined budget of around $70 million. Benicio del Toro toplines as "Che."

Other thesps attached include Julia Ormond, Germany's Franka Potente and Cuban Jorge Perugorria, as well as Spanish actors Jordi Molla, Oscar Jaenada, Eduard Fernandez and Ruben Ochandiano.

U.S.-based Guerrilla has teamed with Spanish production houses Telecinco Cinema and Morena Films to co-produce. Wild Bunch handles international sales.

The Spanish partners contribute 25% of total budget, according to Alvaro Augustin, CEO of Telecinco Cinema, the recently renamed film production division of broadcaster Telecinco.

Shooting begins in Spain's central Castille La Mancha region and will continue in other locations in Madrid and Andalusia for nine weeks.

After putting up majority financing for the $28.8 million Viggo Mortensen starring swashbuckler "Alatriste," a blockbuster in Spain, and Guillermo del Toro's $18.9 million Oscar winner fantasy "Pan's Labyrinth," Telecinco maintains its film ambitions, betting on high-profile, internationally targeted productions.

"We always want to be in big projects that shoot in Spain, and this is an excellent opportunity, which follows up on our previous successful productions," Augustin explained to Daily Variety.