The American distributor Menemsha Films sealed a North American agreement on the historic thriller “Frontier” with the studio based in Barcelona Filmax.
Directed by Judith Colell (“Elisa K”), the drama of the Second World War, inspired by real events, follows a Spanish customs agent who risks everything to help Jews escape France occupied by the Nazis through the Pyrenees.
The project was presented for the first time to the buyers of the Cannes Market du May’s film, where it aroused early interest. Finalized before the first weekend of the Toronto film film market, the PACT marks an important step for Filmax while it continues to deploy one of its flagship autumn titles.
“Frontier” is a Spanish-Belgian co-production, teaming up the films of Spain and the diagonal television by Banijay Iberia with Cupid to the Bales of Belgium.
Located in 1943, the story focused on Manel Grau, a customs agent in a Spanish border town who defies his superiors to help Jews escape France occupied by the Nazis. With the support of the villagers and a French smuggler, Grau embarks on a dangerous mission which endangers his own life and that of his family, while reviving the wounds of the still recent Spanish war.
The casting of the whole presents Bruna Cusí (“at the entrance”), Miki Esparbé (“Most the happiest”), Asier etxeandia (“Pain and Glory”), Maria Rodríguez Soto (“A House on Fire”), the Belgian actor Kevin Janssez (“Sevenne”) and Jordi Sánchez (“Sevenne”).
Filmax will release the film in Spain in December, after a race for the international festival scheduled for the fall.
For a long time, recognized for its emphasis on world high -level art cinema, Menemsha Films has been attracted to the attraction of artistic and commercial crossing of the project. “They so strongly connected with the film. They will take good care of it and give it a large exhibition in its North American deployment,” said Filmax, head of the International Ivan Díaz.
The founder of Menemsha, Neil Friedman, praised the feature film as “world class cinema at all levels”, adding: “We are in ecstasy to distribute this wonderful film and work with the Filmax team.”
