France’s Luxbox and Spain’s Amore Cine have boarded the Peruvian drama “Portrait Huaco” (“Huaco retrato”) by Melina León, best known for her debut feature “Song Without a Name” (“Canción sin nombre”), which world premiered at the 2019 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
“After the incredible journey we shared with ‘Song Without a Name,’ I’m thrilled to continue collaborating with Melina, now as both international sales agent and co-producer,” said Luxbox’s Fiorella Moretti.
She added: “As a Peruvian, it is especially meaningful to help bring Gabriela Wiener’s bold and contemporary work to the screen through Melina’s singular vision. ‘Portrait Huaco’ explores questions at the heart of today’s conversations in a truly original way, and I have no doubt it will resonate with audiences around the world.”
For Paz Lázaro, who co-founded Amore Cine alongside Edson Sidonie (“Karnawal”) and Juan Pablo Felix (“Mil pedazos”), “Adapting Gabriela Wiener’s ‘Portrait Huaco’ means bringing to the screen a work that bridges Latin America and Spain, weaving colonialism, racism, identity and desire with a voice both ancient and radically contemporary.”
“For Amore Cine, alongside our fellow producing partners, this is an opportunity to champion a film with international reach that challenges perspectives and reexamines our shared history.”
Based on the autobiographical novel of the Peruvian author, the project participates in the 8th Proyecta Co-Production Forum at Ventana Sur, which takes place in Montevideo, Uruguay this year from Nov. 30 – Dec. 4.
Amore Cine and Luxbox join Peru’s Mano de Obra Cine, led by Melissa Cordero, and La Vida Misma Films, which produced “Song Without a Name.”
The story follows Gabriela who returns to Lima after her father dies. Back home, she discovers a book by her great-great-grandfather, Austrian explorer Charles Wiener. Her search into the family past becomes a reckoning with the lingering legacies of colonialism, internalized racism and abandonment.
“’Portrait Huaco’ combines a distinctly Peruvian perspective with universal themes of identity, memory and colonial heritage. Under the direction of Melina León, the film seeks to preserve its cultural roots and Peruvian creative leadership while embracing an international scope through strategic co-production partnerships,” said Cordero.
This is the second time for Mano de Obra to co-produce with Amore Cine. Late coming-of-age drama, “Ofelia,” currently in post,’ is a European-Latin American co-production that includes Amore, Argentina’s Bikini Films, Quijote Films of Chile, Brazil’s África Filmes and CUP Filmes, Spain’s Potenza Producciones and France’s Reality Films.
Said Cordero: “I’m interested in producing auteur-driven films with a distinctive cinematic voice and strong cultural identity, as well as genre films that can connect with wider audiences. I’m particularly drawn to stories rooted in Peru and Latin America that explore universal themes, bringing local perspectives to an international audience.”
“My near-term strategy is to strengthen Mano de Obra Cine’s position as a production company focused on feature films, building strategic co-production partnerships across Latin America and Europe. I aim to combine public and private financing with international partnerships and distribution opportunities to develop a sustainable slate of films with strong creative identities and international reach.”
