Latido links up with Wanda

Company takes '14 Kilometers'

By EMILIANO DE PABLOS, JOHN HOPEWELL

MADRID — In one of a string of loose-knit alliances restructuring Spain’s art film biz, sales consortium Latido has inked with producer Wanda Vision to take international rights on Gerardo Olivares’ “14 Kilometers.”

“Kilometers,” which follows two men from Southern Niger and a girl from Mali as they cross the Tenere Desert in Northern Africa heading for Spain, won Valladolid’s Golden Spike last November.

The Latido-Wanda deal comes after Latido has inked a series of deals on its films.

Cetera Intl. and Only Hearts have taken Japanese rights to “Rough Winds,” “Idiot Love,” “Syndrome” and “Heartlift.”

Greece’s 7 Films has closed on “Fados,” “Running with Arnold,” “De profundis,” “Animal Crisis” and “Dream Costs Nothing.”

Poland’s Vivarto has licensed “Fados.”

On “Kilometers,” Wanda could have repped international itself, as on many other titles in the past. Instead, it’s gone with Latido. Both partners are looking beyond a single deal.

“It’s the first time with Wanda. I hope it will be the first of many,” said Latido’s Massimo Saidel.

In further moves, Latido has taken worldwide outside Spain on Jose Luis Lopez Linares’ Berlinale Special player “The Chicken, the Fish and the King Crab.”

Described as a gastronomic thriller, “Chicken” is produced by Antonio Saura’s Zebra Producciones, a Latido partner. Spanish distribution will be handled by Wanda.

Faced by ever more demanding domestic and overseas markets, companies are honing sales and production strategies.

Latido continues to spread its net for choice new films.

A third Berlin pickup is gay comedy “Manuela & Manuel,” Latido’s first Puerto Rican pic. “It forms part of our ecumenical search for titles,” Saidel explained.

Swept by a kudos tide on Sunday — Wanda’s “Solitary Fragments” won picture and director Goyas, and “XXY” won for foreign Spanish-language film — Wanda is focusing on production and Spanish distribution.

“It’s a question of time and priorities. I have to concentrate on production,” said Wanda’s Jose Maria Morales.