Romantic thriller debuts at MIA and the AFM.

Starring La casa de papel’s Ursula Corberó, The Tree of Blood, the latest movie from Spain’s Julio Medem, is being brought onto the international market at Rome’s MIA market by FilmSharks Intl., which has acquired world sales rights.

FilmSharks Intl. will continue introducing the film to buyers at the American Film Market, which opens Oct. 31 in Santa Monica.

The deal was negotiated by FilmSharks Intl.’s Guido Rud and Sandra Tapia, Ignasi Estapé and Ibon Cormenzana at the film’s lead producer Arcadia Motion Pictures (AMP).

A romantic thriller which Diamond Films Spain will release in Spain on Nov. 1 on over 200 locations, said FilmSharks’ Guido Rud, The Tree of Blood (El Arbol de la Sangre) marks the latest movie from the Cormenzana-founded (Aloft, Blancanieves, Blackthorn), and the ninth fiction feature of Medem, a director whose debut, 1991’s Vacas, helped bring down the flag on the modern Spanish cinema through its mix of Spanish referents and genre elements and, in industry terms, backing by one of Spain’s just-launched private TV operators, Prisa.

The Tree of Blood returns Medem to the themes of some of his best-known titles in its mix of seeming fatalism, sexual passion and atavistic violence, as it unfolds the tale of a young couple, Rebeca and Marc, who travel to a ancient family house which belonged to Marc’s family to reconstruct their family tree. Working out of the house, set in a fairy tale landscape of green valleys and limestone buffs, the deeper they dig the more they discover a collective history over the last 25 years of love, passion,insanity and infidelity behind which lies one mystery which threatens to destroy their own relationship.

The film also stars Álvaro Cervantes (La Zona), Medem regular Najwa Nimri (Vis a Vis, Quién te cantará), Ángela Molina (Los abrazos rotos), Daniel Grao (Julieta), Joaquín Furriel (The Bronze Garden), Patricia López Arnaiz (La peste) and Josep María Pou (La catedral del Mar).

Co-produced by Basque and Catalan public broadcasters ETB and TV3, plus Movistar +, the pay TV/VOD arm of Telefonica, “The Tree of Life” looks like one of the weightiest-budgeted Spanish titles hitting Spanish cinemas this year.

“We are very pleased to start our first collaboration with FilmSharks with The Tree of Blood. Guido is so passionate about Medem’s work, and this film in particular, that we are sure he is the best person to present it on the markets,” Tapia, Estapé and Cormenzana said in a statement.

“Coming on board of latest film by the best Spanish director of all times is a dream come true. We have been chasing this since screenplay,” Rud added

“After a long bidding war, we managed to lock down a deal with the producers. We have high hopes in terms of the film’s global impact.”

Medem is the latest Spanish director to be represented by FilmSharks which has a longterm relationship with Santiago Segura, carving out an international market for his supposedly Spain-only Torrente film series, the biggest franchise in Spanish movie history. This year, FilmSharks took international rights to Some Time Later, José Luis Cuerda’s absurdist humored take on a far future that looks very much the world today, which world premiered at last month’s San Sebastian Film Festival in its Official Selection.

“Medem, Cuerda and Segura are name directors that like, have a hallmark style, and style, and international impact at a commercial level,” Rud said.

Backing titles such as Berlinale Golden Bear winner Claudia Llosa’s Aloft, which played Berlin, Sundance and Tribeca, Blancanieves, winner of 10 Spanish Academy Goya Awards in 2013, and Blackthorn, starring Sam Shepherd, Barcelona-based Arcadia Motion Pictures has maintained a considerable level of movie and TV production, despite plunging state subsidies in Spain, thanks to its leverage of national tax break instruments and energetic international co-productions and sales.

Source : variety.com

What defines an “It” girl? Her effervescent charm? Her spontaneous instincts and joyous love for life? Or maybe it’s her striking good looks that jump off the screen and make you take a step back? Perhaps it’s all these factors, that when combined, catch lightning in a bottle in the form of a woman many become hypnotized by.

In the case of Úrsula Corberó, a Spanish star on the rise, her solar energy exudes a positivity hard to resist, making her the epitome of an “It” girl, with the talent to back it up. Though there might not be a patented formula for reaching the highest pinnacles of success (as far as we know), Corberó is paving her own path.

Actress, model, and now face of the new Bulgari jewelry collection, Fiorever, the stunner beams a passion for life similar to that of the most beautiful flower. Known for her work in Netflix hit La Casa de Papel, Corberó is taking the world by storm as the breakout star we have our eyes on. This might be why the iconic Italian jewelers picked the natural beauty and her love for la dolce vita as the face of the Fiorever collection. Dripping in blooming flowers crafted from the finest diamonds, Corberó enchants in striking images captured by legendary photographer Mario Sorrenti.

In an exclusive interview with Savoir Flair, the Bulgari ambassador chats with us about everything from shooting with Sorrenti to her love for Julianne Moore and the role accessories play in her personal style.

How do you feel about being the new ambassador for the Bulgari brand?
Very grateful and happy. Bulgari has a long association with the world of cinema. My favorite actress is Julianne Moore, and I remember the campaign she did clearly. That they asked me to become the new ambassador is like a dream; a wish come true. It is an immense honor for me to be a part of this family.

This campaign has brought you together with Mario Sorrenti. How did you feel in front of his camera? Can you describe what it was like working with him?
When they told me that Mario was going to shoot the campaign, I didn’t quite believe it. Mario is an icon. Knowing him has been a privilege. He is a person who transmits a great sense of calm, but he is also keenly aware of his surroundings and he is very observant. I hope life will bring us together again; I love chatting with him, and playing in front of his camera, I felt free.

The idea of turning into a new person is very interesting for the spectator; as an actress you experience this in your work. What kind of woman did you have in mind during the Fiorever shoot? How did Mario help you become this person?
Mario told me he wanted me to be myself; he didn’t want me to play a character. We all have many characters within ourselves; we are not just one person. He gave me permission to experiment with different moods with each change of clothing, staging and setting. I let myself go and it was marvelous.

What does Bulgari represent for you?
A modern version of the ‘Dolce Vita’. Bulgari has been creating spectacular pieces of jewelry for many years, but it has also been able to adapt to the style of the times. And it’s because of this that since the start, it has always been a brand with a strong personality.

How would you describe your personal style?
I don’t have a definite style. I like letting myself be inspired by what appeals to me every day. My mood is not always the same, so my style can’t be either. What I do know is that I like comfortable clothes that are powerful. I like mixing styles, especially formal and informal. I love high heels, sweatshirts, and transparency. As to accessories, they always help me finish off my look. I love hooped earrings, handbags, and sunglasses.

How do people who really know you well describe you?
They tell me that I am scatter-brained, a party lover, and energetic with a strong personality.

Source : savoirflair.com