Huelva forum bridges overseas partners

Spanish, Latin American co-productions increase

By EMILIO MAYORGA

'Mentiras piadosas'

Running Nov. 20-22, Huelva's ninth Ibero-American Co-Production Forum sees largely Latin American producers pitching Spanish broadcasters and potential co-production partners for coin.

Organized by Spanish producers association Fapae, the forum received 146 project applications this year, a significant increase from an average of 100 in recent editions.

The uptick hints that co-production is poised to become much more of a necessity between Spain and Latin America as producers seek to raise financing on more ambitious projects and offset risk in troubled times.

Of the 23 Spanish co-productions through Aug. 31, 10 partnered with Latin America, says Fapae prexy Pedro Perez.

"There are pics that are natural co-productions due to the plot or a shared-star system, (such as) Agustin Diaz Yanes' 'Solo quiero caminar,'" Perez says.

The forum has seen some past success: Two Competition entries, Argentina's "Mentiras piadosas" and Mexican Alan Jonsson's "Morenita," were pitched in Huelva in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Among the 296 projects selected over eight years, nearly 100 features have been completed and released. Another 60 or so are in various stages of production.

This year, 35 projects from 16 countries made the cut. On paper, standouts among them include:

• "El dragon de fuego," a World War II-era thriller from Spain's Alta Realitat, directed by Ferran Audi ("The Frost").

• Mexican romantic comedy "Las vinas," from Miguel Necoechea.

• "El rey del Orinoco," an adventure romance from Venezuela's Yavita Films.

• Luis Angel Ramirez's six-sketch Spanish comedy "Tenemos que hablar."

• Brazil's "O roubo da chacara do ceu," about one of the thieves who stole Edvard Munch's "The Scream."

• MC Films' "Aurora," from Chile.

• "Antigona," a metaphor for Chileans who couldn't bury their dead.