Buenos Aires-based FilmSharks has expanded its AFM slate, kickstarting world sales on Cristian Bernard’s “Under Your Feet” at the Los Angeles event ahead of its Nov. 15 world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Festival.
Starring Maribel Verdú (“Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Y tu mamá también”) and Sofia Otero, a Berlinale and Goya winner for “20,000 Species of Bees,” the fantasy thriller by Bernard, known for hits “76 80 03” and “Echoes” (“Ecos de un crimen”), was produced by Carlos Juárez (“The Platform”) of Basque Films and FilmSharks’ Guido Rud, with the participation of Netflix Spain and Spanish public broadcaster RTVE.
The story follows Isabel (Verdú) who moves with her two kids into a fancy apartment building that has a strange way of choosing its tenants — yet the rent is surprisingly low. After they’re accepted and settle in, three elderly neighbors from the floor below begin to upend their lives.
“This is a remarkably exquisite and visually sophisticated cinematic gem that aims to target fantasy/adventure lovers, especially audiences that are looking for stories that resemble the cinema we all fell in love with, like ‘The Goonies,’ ‘Super 8’ and [series] ‘Stranger Things,’” said Rud, who noted that its remake appeal is high.
“We truly found in Bilbao and its architecture an ideal setting to tell this very atmospheric, classic horror story,” said Juárez of the shoot, which took advantage of the Basque city’s generous tax credits that can reach up to 70%. The once grey industrial city has been transformed by the presence of the Guggenheim Museum and now boasts one of Spain’s most expansive filming incentives.
Talks are underway with buyers from Latin America, the U.S., Japan, Korea, Russia/CIS, France, Taiwan and German-speaking territories, with some deals expected to close shortly.
Theatrical distribution in Spain is still under discussions but target release is for the first quarter of 2026.
FilmSharks recently closed world sales rights to “Torment” (“Tormento”), a genre thriller set in a morgue that is tipped as one of TelevisaUnivision’s biggest box office bets of the year in Mexico. It also began sales at the American Film Market to “Torment,” which is written and directed by Olallo Rubio whose 2012 doc feature “Gimme the Power” screened at SXSW.
In October, FilmSharks secured all rights — including derivative IP — to Colombian project in development “Insurrección.” The political action-thriller stars renowned Colombian actor-producer Marlon Moreno (“El Capo,” “Dog Eat Dog”).
Penned by Colombian screenwriter Mauricio Marulanda González, “Insurrección” is in development with plans for both Spanish and English-language versions.
AFM runs thru Nov 11- 16.