Buffalo 8 Acquires North American Rights to Javier Andrade’s Drama “Lo Invisible”

Javier Andrade’s latest project won’t be invisible for long in North America…

Buffalo 8 has acquired the North American rights to the 45-year-old Ecuadorian filmmaker’s drama Lo Invisible, Ecuador’s candidate for the Academy AwardsBest International Feature Film.

Javier AndradeDirected by Andrade, the film is scheduled for release on VOD in the second or third quarter of this year.

In Lo Invisible, a woman (Anahí Hoeneisen) returns from psychiatric care and finds herself in new confinement — a stunning mansion in Puembo, Ecuador. She’s unable to return to normalcy after a bout of severe postpartum depression and, alone amongst family and servants, must keep her struggles invisible — over time, sinking deeper and deeper into madness.

The first Ecuadorian film to be featured at the Toronto Film Festival in nearly 20 years, Lo Invisible also secured a nomination for Best Iberoamerican Film last year at the Málaga Spanish Film Festival.

Vision Films to Release Robert Amaya’s “Pulled from Darkness” Next Month

Robert Amaya is on hot pursuit

Vision Films will release its faith-based thriller Pursuit of Freedom (formerly Pulled from Darkness), starring the Latino actor, will get a limited day-and-date theatrical release, along with a VOD release across the U.S. and Canada, on September 16.

Robert Amaya

Pursuit of Freedom is the true story of a Ukrainian woman who was separated from her three children and sold into trafficking by Russian gangsters. After years of struggle, she defied all odds with the help and kindness of a Dutch nurse, an Armenian missionary and an American pastor. Though countries, miles and time kept them apart, she held on to her faith and with the help of the church and strangers, survived to be reunited with her children.

From writer-director George A. Johnson, the film also stars Jessica Koloian, Stelio Savante, Sharonne Lanier, Robert Amaya, Javier Colon, Mark Lowry, Gigi Orsillo, Elias Kemuel and Keslee Blalock. George and Karen Johnson produced alongside Savante.

Pursuit of Freedom‘s limited U.S. theatrical release will be a special version of the film with an edit geared towards a faith-based audience. Confirmed theaters showing the film include The Angelika Village East in New York City, Laemmle in Glendale, CA, Emagine Hartland in Hartland, MI, Galaxy Grandscape 15 in Dallas, and Cine America in Houston, TX. A DVD release will follow in early October.

Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Rights to Isadora Ortega-Starrer “Another Love Story”

It’s another love story for Isadora Ortega.

Freestyle Digital Media has acquired the North American rights to the Brandon Morson-directed thriller Another Love Story, starring the Dominican, Haitian and Cuban Venezuelan actress.

Isadora Ortega, Another Love Story

The digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group will release the former film across VOD platforms on July 19.

Another Love Story tells the story of Miriam Ramos (Ortega), a budding author living in the U.S., who falls deeply in love with the man of her dreams. Until it quickly turns into the tragic nightmare that not even her closest friends could see coming.

Ortega and Morson wrote the film and produced it alongside Carole Copeland.

The film’s cast also includes Kenneth Wayne and Dorcas Tejada.

Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire Another Love Story with Ortega of Black Diamond Productions.

Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Global VOD Rights to Alfredo Castro’s “My Tender Matador”

Alfredo Castro’s latest project is going global…

Freestyle Digital Media has acquired international VOD rights to My Tender Matador, starring the 65-year-old Chilean actor.

my tender matador

The Spanish, LGBTQ-influenced romantic drama had its world premiere at Venice Days in 2020.

It’s directed by Rodrigo Sepúlveda and co-written by Sepúlveda and Juan Elias Tovar, based on the novel by Pedro Lemebel and will hit digital outlets on June 4.

Set amid the turmoil of 1980s Chile, a passionate relationship flourishes between a lonely transvestite and a young guerrilla during the Pinochet dictatorship.

In addition Castro, the film also stars Leonardo Ortizgris and Julieta Zylberberg.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires North American Rights to Carlos Gomez’s Latest Film “Spiked”

Carlos Gomez’s latest project is getting a spike in attention…

Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios company, has acquired North American rights to distribute the 59-year-old Latin America actor’s film Spiked, which hails from writer/director Juan Martinez Vera.

Carlos Gomez

In addition to Gomez, who starred the in the short-lived series The Baker and the Beauty, the film also stars Aidan Quinn, Deirdre Lovejoy, Danay Garcia, Wendy Makkena, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste and Walter Belenky.

Sal Lopez, and Christopher Rich star in this indie feature drama.  

Spiked is a dramatic story rooted in the injustices that immigrant workers experience along the U.S./Mexico border. Principal photography on the indie feature was completed in 2019 on location in and around southern Arizona.

“Anchored by an outstanding performance by Aidan Quinn, Juan’s film integrates issues around immigration, law enforcement, and journalistic integrity into a compelling real-life narrative. We look forward to presenting this timely film to North American audiences,” said Tony Piantedosi, Vice President of Acquisitions at Gravitas Ventures.

The story follows John Wilson, a newspaper publisher in a small U.S./Mexico border town who denounces the abuse of power by local law enforcement. John has been at it for years and has made more than a few enemies and stepped on more than a few toes. Following the killing of an immigrant worker, an incident that the police are unwilling to do anything about, the newspaper publisher and his team take on the plight of the family and of the community to find those responsible and bring them to justice. At every turn, his efforts are thwarted by an uncooperative police chief who seems to have her own agenda. Matters escalate when John succumbs to a mysterious illness that threatens his life and his investigation.

Spiked follows the personal stories of characters along the border and how their lives collide when they attempt to fight for justice,” Martinez Vera said. “I was inspired to write and direct this project after hearing real-life stories of immigrants suffering abuse of power from law enforcement agencies some 20-years ago and incredibly moved by how relevant these stories are today as immigrant families continue to grapple with inhuman and unjust treatment. I’m thrilled that Gravitas will bring this film to audiences in the U.S., while we look toward announcing plans for distribution throughout Latin American and other markets.”

The film will be produced by Per Melita.

On March 26th, Gravitas will launch the film across multiple VOD platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Vimeo, Gravitas Movies, and release on SVOD platforms to follow later this year.

1091 & Obscured Pictures to Release Andrea Suárez Paz’s “Sister Aimee” in September

Andrea Suárez Pazis ready for her Sister act…

1091 (formerly known as The Orchard Film Group) and Obscured Pictures has acquired Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann’s Sister Aimee, starring the Mexican film and theater actress.

Andrea Suárez Paz

The film, which had its premiere in the NEXT section at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, will now hit theaters on September 27 at the Village East Cinema in New York and the Laemmle Glendale in Los Angeles ahead of a further rollout and a VOD bow on October 1.

The film, written and directed by Buck and Schlingmann, tells the mostly fictional story of the real-life early 20th century mega-star evangelist Sister Aimee Semple McPherson (played by Anna Margaret Hollyman), with the movie’s plot revolving around the media sensation faking her own death at the pinnacle of her fame to run away to Mexico with her married lover. In real life, the Foursquare Church founder was allegedly kidnapped and held captive for more than a month, but the actual facts of the case were never fully uncovered and no charges were filed.

In addition to Suárez Paz and Hollyman, the film also stars Michael MosleyJulie WhiteAmy Hargreaves, Blake DeLongJohn MerrimanLee Eddy, Macon BlairBill WiseNathan Zellner and Luis Bordonada.

“1091 couldn’t be more delighted to be partnering with the insanely talented filmmaking duo, Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann, to get Sister Aimee out into the world,” said Danielle
Digiacomo
, 1091’s SVP Acquisitions and Strategic Partnerships. “It is a film that, like the best of them, defies all definition – – genre-bending, hilarious, moving, layered, and simply unforgettable. We are so excited to bring the film to audiences and cannot wait for them to be
gobsmacked by such a unique vision.”

Disney Channel Renews Jenna Ortega’s “Stuck in the Middle” for Third Season

It looks like Jenna Ortega will be stuck longer…

Disney Channel’s hit series Stuck in the Middle, starring the 14-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress, has been renewed for a third season.

Jenna Ortega

Stuck in the Middle, from executive producer Linda Videtti Figueiredo, stars Ortega as a middle child, Harley Diaz, in a household bustling with nine people – two parents and seven kids – each with distinctive personalities and conflicting schedules.

It also stars Isaak Presley as Ethan, Ronni Hawk as Rachel, Kayla Maisonet as Georgie, Nicolas Bechtel as Lewie, Malachi Barton as Beast, Ariana Greenblatt as Daphne, Cerina Vincent as Suzy and Joe Nieves as Tom.

New Season 2 episodes will air beginning Friday, September 15 at 8:30 pm ET on Disney Channel and VOD.

Production on season three will start this fall.

Netflix Acquires International Streaming Rights to Rodriguez’s “Jane the Virgin”

Gina Rodriguez is bringing her Virgin tales to Netflix

The on-demand Internet streaming media company has acquired the international subscription streaming rights to The CW’s Jane The Virgin, starring the 31-year-old Puerto Rican actress, in more than50 countries around the world.

Gina Rodriguez in Jane the Virgin

That is in addition to the domestic SVOD rights to the CBS Television Studios series, which Netflix already owns in a separate deal with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television for previous seasons of the CW series.

Rodriguez stars as Jane Villanueva in The CW comedy-drama series, for which she won a Golden Globe Award.

Season Two of the series is set to debut on October 12, 2015.

IFC Renews Armisen’s “Documentary Now!” for Two More Seasons

Fred Armisen is proving to be IFC’s comedy star….

The cable and satellite network has renewed its original comedy Documentary Now! from the 48-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live star, Bill Hader and Seth Meyers, for two additional seasons.

Fred Armisen

IFC has also added a seventh episode to Season 1, up from the initial order of six episodes, ahead of its season premiere on August 20.

Documentary Now! parodies some of the world’s best-known documentaries. Starring Armisen and Hader, each episode is shot in a different style of documentary filmmaking and honors some of the most important stories that didn’t actually happen.

The second episode of Documentary Now! is currently pre-premiering on VICE.com, IFC.com, YouTube, VOD, DISH channel 102, iGuide, and on TV Everywhere platforms across IFC’s distribution partners. The episode launched on August 10 and will be available through August 27.

Documentary Now! premieres this Thursday, August 20 at 10 PM.

Armisen is currently the star of IFC’s satirical sketch comedy television series Portlandia. The series, which has won a Peabody Award, is currently in its fifth season.

Bledel Starring Opposite Katherine Heigl in “Jenny’s Wedding”

It’s wedding belles for Alexis Bledel

The 33-year-old half-Argentine American actress and former Gilmore Girls star is starring opposite Katherine Heigl in the upcoming film Jenny’s Wedding.

Alexis Bledel in Jenny's Wedding

Heigl stars as Jenny, a closeted lesbian who’s secretly dating her “roommate” Kitty (portrayed by Bledel). But when Jenny decides she wants to get married, she’s forced to come out to her family, who doesn’t take the news too well.

Bledel talked about her character in an interview with lesbian magazine Curve in 2014.

“She doesn’t expect Jenny to come home and say that she wants to get married one day,” she said. “That’s probably the last thing she ever expected her to say. It’s something that she was hesitant to want because she didn’t know if that was something Jenny would be capable of since she hadn’t even told her family she was a lesbian.”

Jenny’s Wedding hits theaters on July 31 and VOD on August 1.