July 23, 2004
“OUT TO SEA” COMES TO SHORE AT FINE LINE FEATURES
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Toby Emmerich, President New Line Production, announced today that the company has finalized a deal with Sogepaq for North America and all English-speaking territories on Alejandro Amenábar’s “Out to Sea” (“Mar Adentro”). The film stars Academy Award® nominee Javier Bardem and will open in the U.S. this year.
“Alejandro Amenábar is an extraordinarily talented director and ‘Out to Sea’ is a work of great power, emotion and humanity. We are thrilled to be in business with Alejandro and to welcome Javier Bardem back to the Fine Line family,” said Toby Emmerich.
“Alejandro and everyone at Sogecine is honored by the passion that Fine Line has already displayed for the film and we are confident that they will bring the film to the broadest possible audience,” said Fernando Bovaira, producer “Out to Sea” and General Manager of Sogecine and Sogepaq.
The film screened in New York and Marian Koltai-Levine, EVP Marketing, Guy Stodel, SVP Acquisitions and Production, Alexandra Rossi, VP European Acquisitions and Merideth Finn, Director Acquisitions and Production, took the lead in the negotiations with Carolyn Blackwood, SVP Business Affairs, on behalf of Fine Line Features. The deal was negotiated on behalf of Sogecine and Himenoptero by Simon de Santiago, Deputy Director of Distribution of Sogepaq; Sunmin Park, President, and Jeffrey Winter, Director of Production of Maxmedia; and Elliot Kleinberg of Kleinberg, Lopez, et al.
“Out to Sea” is the real life story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro (played by Bardem), who fought a 30-year campaign in favor of his right to die with dignity. Two women try to change his life - Julia (Belen Rueda) is a lawyer who supports his cause, and Rosa (Lola Dueñas) is a neighbor who wants to convince him that life is worth living. The two women’s encounters with the charismatic Ramon lead to change in their own lives.
Amenábar, who directed, co-wrote, edited and scored “Out to Sea”, is best known to U.S. audiences as the director of “The Others” (starring Nicole Kidman). He directed “Open Your Eyes” (“Abre los Ojos”) which was later made into Cameron Crowe’s “Vanilla Sky” (starring Tom Cruise). Javier Bardem was nominated for an Academy Award ® for his portrayal of Reinaldo Arenas in Julian Schnabel’s “Before Night Falls” which was also distributed by Fine Line Features.
“Out to Sea” was produced by Sogecine together with Amenábar’s Himenoptero and will be released by Sogepaq in Spain in September. Sogecine and Sogepaq are part of Spain’s leading audio visual conglomerate, Sogecable, and were also behind Amenábar’s previous films.
About Fine Line Features:
Fine Line Features currently has “Maria Full of Grace” in release in conjunction with HBO Films. Upcoming releases include John Waters’ comedy “A Dirty Shame” starring Tracey Ullman, Johnny Knoxville, Chris Isaak and Selma Blair; Academy Award® nominee Mike Leigh’s drama “Vera Drake” starring Imelda Staunton; Jonathan Glazer’s “Birth” starring Academy Award® winner Nicole Kidman; and “Out to Sea”, Alejandro Amenábar’s new movie starring Academy Award® nominee Javier Bardem. Fine Line Features is a division of New Line Cinema and a Time Warner Company.