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Exclusive: Mad Distribution, the theatrical arm of Cairo-based studio Mad Solutions, has acquired Mena rights to Tunisian director Amel Guellaty’s coming-of-age road movie Where The Wind Comes From ahead of its world premiere in Sundance.

The movie – described by Mad Distribution as “a refreshing comedic ode to Tunisia’s youth” – revolves around fearless Alyssa and sensitive artist Mehdi, who have been best friends since childhood and feel cramped in their life on the outskirts of the capital of Tunis.

When Alyssa discovers an artist contest in Djerba that might be their ticket out, she pulls Mehdi into a fantastical journey across Tunisia which will put their friendship to the test.

The film, which was previously called Tunis-Djerba, will world premiere alongside nine other titles in Sundance’s World Dramatic Competition, which has previously spotlighted films such as Girls Will Be Girls, Scrapper, The Souvenir, Yardie and The Nile Hilton Incident.

Films Boutique has picked up international rights to Amel Guellaty’s “Where the Wind Comes From” (formerly known as “Tunis-Djerba”), ahead of its world premiere in Sundance’s World Dramatic Competition.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam will host the European premiere of the coproduction between Tunisia, France and Qatar, which is Guellaty’s first feature.

In the film, fearless spirit Alyssa and sensitive artist Mehdi, best friends since childhood, feel cramped in their life on the outskirts of Tunis. When Alyssa discovers an artist contest in Djerba that might be their ticket out, she pulls Mehdi into a fantastical journey across Tunisia that will put their friendship to the test.

Gabor Greiner, COO and head of acquisitions at Films Boutique, said: “We immediately connected to Amel’s heartwarming, quirky and entertaining film about two best friends from a Tunisian generation full of hope for a better future. This heartfelt and...

Vincent Maraval’s Goodfellas has seized the worldwide sales rights to Galapagos adventure doc “Lions of the Sea,” which wrapped principal photography in mid-January.

“Sea” is the latest from Italian-Ecuadorian explorer-filmmaker Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodonico, best known by his nom de cinéma, Jamaicanoproblem, and whose film “A Son of Man” was Ecuador’s official selection for the 2019 Academy Awards.

Described by the filmmaker as “a fictional account grounded in science,” “Lions of the Sea” is set in the Galapagos Islands where a young sea lion struggles to fend for himself in the face of food scarcity and after losing his mother while fleeing from illegal fishermen. Determined, he sets out to find a new sanctuary. “I hope to call attention to the problems that beset the islands, not only from climate change but from over-fishing on the perimeters of the archipelago and other factors that have led to the...

Exclusive: Production is underway in the Galápagos Islands on Lions of the Sea, a documentary described as “an immersive journey into the compelling lives of sea lions in their unique environment.”

The film is being directed by Jamaicanoproblem, the nom de cinéma of Ecuadorian explorer and filmmaker Luis Felipe Fernández-Salvador y Campodonico. The all-star lineup of talent behind the scenes includes producer Adam Leipzig, former president of National Geographic Documentary Films, who led the acquisition of March of the Penguins – one of the most successful documentaries of all time.

L-r Guillermo Navarro, Adam Leipzig and Jamaicanoproblem

Guillermo Navarro, the Oscar-winning cinematographer of Pan’s Labyrinth, is heading a team of photographers described as “the world’s best nature and underwater documentarians.” He is also an executive producer of Lions of the Sea. Fellow Oscar winner Nicolas Becker (Sound of Metal) serves as sound designer on the project.

According to a release,...

Things got personal at Cannes Market’s Fantastic 7 showcase this year, highlighting upcoming genre projects selected by seven festivals including Spain’s Sitges, Bucheon in South Korea, Cairo, Guadalajara in Mexico, SXSW and Toronto, as well as Whanau Marama New Zealand Intl. Film Festival.

“I think it’s my most personal film ever,” said director Jaume Balagueró, also behind “[Rec],” co-directed with Paco Plaza.

In his latest film “Venus,” presented by Sitges, he will combine elements of survival drama and modern witchery. Starring Ester Expósito, it’s produced by Álex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bang.

“Why? Because it combines many elements I am personally interested in,” he told Variety.

“It’s a horror, but it’s also a very moving film about love and revenge. It’s very special to me.”

In “La mala madre” (“The Bad Mother”), director Alicia Albares will also draw from her own experiences, moving along...

Further awards included a prize for We Jun Cho’s ‘Hungry Ghost Diner’.

At South Korea’s Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifan), the Network of Asian Fantastic Films (Naff) project market has awarded its top prize to Jenny Suen’s upcoming comedy Peaches.

The film is described as a Hong Kong-set remake of Daisies, the 1966 Czech political comedy drama by Věra Chytilová, and will be produced by Cate Blanchett’s Dirty Films.

The jury comprised Toronto Midnight Madness and Fantastic Fest programmer Peter Kuplowsky, Japanese producer Shiomaki Yuko and Korean producer Young Kim. In a joint statement, they said...