Karma nabs 'Right One'

Film distributor acquires rights to film

By EMILIANO DE PABLOS

MADRID -- Distrib Karma Films has acquired all Spanish rights to Swedish helmer Tomas Alfredson's romantic horror film "Let the Right One In," being sold by Bavaria Intl.

Competing in the world narrative feature category at the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival, "Right One" concerns a lonely 12-year-old boy who befriends a young girl, who happens to be a vampire. It is based on a bestselling novel by Sweden's John Ajvide Lindqvist.

"Right One" inaugurates a new line in acquisitions at the Madrid-based distrib.

Since it launched in 2003, Karma has bought left-of-field pics, including standout arthouse titles such as Philip Gronning's "Into Great Silence."

"This new pickup marks a turning point in our traditional acquisition policy," said Karma founder Miguel Angel Perez, "but we'll keep on buying small titles and try to make them bigger."

Other recent buys include Eric Guirado's dramatic comedy "The Grocer's Son," acquired from Paris-based sales agent Les Films du Losange.

French thesps Nicolas Cazale and Clotilde Hesme star in this story about a city slicker who returns to his rural roots.

In June, Karma will release Liu Jie's Chinese drama "Courthouse on Horseback," winner of the Horizons Award at the 2006 Venice Film Festival.

Karma operates in France via its Paris-based boutique Medula Films. On May 4, Medula will make a limited bow of road-movie "Que tan lejos" (How Much Further), the debut of writer-director Tania Hermida.