News

Buenos Aires — In a return to film production after serving as president of Argentina’s National Institute of Film and the Audiovisual Arts (Incaa) and then as a member of parliament, film producer Liliana Mazure is teaming with prestigious counterparts in Mexico and Brazil on a three-part, pan-regional dark comedy, “Mental Health Not Included.”

Lead produced by Mazure’s Arca Difusión in Argentina, Laura Imperiale’s Cacerola Films and Carlos Sosa’s Viento del Norte in Mexico and Beto Rodrigues Panda Filmes in Brazil, “Mental Health” will be directed by Martin Salinas, writer of 2003 Diego Luna starrer “Nicotina” and writer-director of the Diamond-distributed and then Netflix-released “Ni un hombre más,” with Valeria Bertuccelli.

Also written by Salinas, “Mental Health Not Included” kicks in with the president of the United States, Donald Cramp, announcing an end to international trade: the U.S. will henceforth function as a self-sufficient economy. He...

At long last a North American DVD release for the Diego Luna ( Y Tu Mama Tambien , Dirty Dancing - Havana Nights ) staring Mexican Crime flick Nicotina looks like its on its way. Nicotina was the biggest Mexican movie of 2003 and its very much a Guy Ritchie style film shot in Mexico. The DVD was originally due out Dec 2007 so its a little strange why it’s been delayed this long, for those who havent seen Nicotina its well worth a viewing. Just to note theres already English friendly releases of Nicotina already out in Australia and Spain. The DVD from Lionsgate Films is due to drop in the Us June 9, 2009

From the producers of Amores Perros comes the humor-laced action thriller Nicotina. Lolo (Diego Luna) is a computer hacker who teams up with two amateur criminals in a deal with a Russian mobster. Diamonds will be exchanged for computer access to certain Swiss bank accounts.

Santiago Pozo, the CEO and founder of Latino-oriented company Arenas Entertainment, is convinced that the Latino audience in the United States is underserved by Hollywood studios. And he plans to test that proposition this weekend by releasing the Spanish-language film Nicotina on 106 screens. That's a relatively wide release for a film that would otherwise be distributed within the selective art house community. And the results could determine whether Latinos have an appetite for Spanish-language fare as well as how effective Spanish-language media is in reaching that potential audience. For Arenas, the Los Angeles-based company that began life as a film marketing and talent management firm, Nicotina marks the first nationwide release of its fledgling distribution arm. And it is targeting its entire broadcast media buy in Spanish-language media, spending $2 million -- a figure that exceeds most studios' Spanish-language budgets for even the largest blockbuster.

LeAnne Gayner has been named senior vp marketing at Arenas Entertainment, marketing president Amorette Jones announced Monday. Formerly with Artisan Entertainment, Gayner also has been a principal in the management consulting group of AmeriWest Systems Inc. and head of field publicity and promotion at MGM/UA. Arenas, the largest Latino marketing company in the entertainment industry, is opening Nicotina, starring Diego Luna, on Friday in an 800-print release as the first film distributed through Arenas Films.

MEXICO CITY -- State-run film financing body Imcine said Wednesday that it plans to back 25 features this year, up from 17 in 2003, however a spokesman acknowledged that despite the production boost, the total number of Mexican releases will decline in 2004. In January, the federal government earmarked 70 million pesos ($6.1 million) to Fidecine, a fund created in 1999 to stimulate the production of commercial films like last year's Nicotina. Another 70 million pesos went to Foprocine, a fund that finances directorial debuts and experimental films like all-time Mexican boxoffice champ El Crimen del Padre Amaro (The Crime of Father Amaro). Imcine manages both funds.

MEXICO CITY -- The comedy Nicotina (Nicotine) fired up the 46th Ariel Awards ceremony, garnering six of Mexico's top film prizes, while drama El Misterio del Trinidad (The Mystery of the Trinity) grabbed best picture and best director. The winners, announced Tuesday night at Mexico City's Palace of Fine Arts, were culled from a field of 15 features. Altavista's Nicotina won best actor (Rafael Inclan), actress (Rosa Maria Bianchi) and supporting actor (Daniel Gimenez Cacho). Nicotina tells the story of a hacker, played by Diego Luna, who becomes mixed up with jewel thieves. The picture has grossed $45 million pesos ($4.1 million) in Mexico.