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Film Factory Entertainment has taken international rights to “Loli Tormenta,” the next film by one of Spain’s foremost auteurs, Agustí Villaronga. Shooting is scheduled for the first week of July in Barcelona.

Enrique González Kuhn’s Caramel Films distributes “Loli Tormenta” in Spain. It is co-produced by the Basque Country’s Irusoin, which is behind Spanish Oscar entry “The Endless Trench,” and Barcelona’s Vilaüt Films, which backed Carla Simón’s Berlin Golden Bear winner “Alcarràs.”

A bittersweet dramedy, “Loli Tormenta” focuses on the close relationship between Lola, a modern, sporty grandma, with her grandsons. They’ve been living together since the kids’ mother died, while their respective fathers show no interest in them. The humble life of this unexpected family on the outskirts of Barcelona goes on without major surprises until she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

“We are delighted to work again with Agustí after the success of ‘Uncertain Glory.

Reflecting on a heretofore-unseen existential threat, the film distributors and exhibitors speaking at a round-table presented as part of UniFrance’s Rendez-vous With French Cinema on Tuesday echoed a shared refrain: To ensure a robust return to normal, whenever that time might come, industry actors needed immediate financial relief.

Moderated by industry analyst Michael Gubbins, the panel brought together distributor Enrique González Kuhn (Caramel Films), exhibitor Edna Epelbaum (CineVital), exec Margherita Chiti (Palomar) and marketing director Züleyha Azman (Kino Rotterdam Cinema). Each participant detailed the particulars of their specific situations while agitating for a common cure.

Though theaters remain open in Spain, the particularities of that territory – where mainstream imports account for nearly 80% of the market, and those same international actors handle most popular local releases – have tied exhibitors into a kind of Gordian knot. “The audience doesn’t come out except for those big [mainstream releases],” explained González Kuhn. “The cinemas...

Release rocked by fresh rape allegations against the director.

European distributors of Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy have told Screen they are standing by their release plans despite protests in Paris and a fresh rape allegation against the director.

As previously reported, Gaumont is pushing ahead with a 550-screen release in France from today despite an accusation by photographer Valentine Monnier that Polanski raped her in 1975 when she was 18-years-old. Polanski has denied the allegation via his lawyer who says they plan to take legal action against Le Parisien newspaper, which printed Monnier’s story.

Other distributors...