Mumbai: In an unprecedented move by a Spanish-language pay-television channel, Cine Latino has finalized deals with five of the world’s leading film distributors, acquiring more than 90 new titles that include some of the most critically acclaimed and biggest box office hits of recent years from across the US, Latin America, Mexico, and Spain.
Cine Latino has acquired major film packages from Sony, Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, and Gussi — the largest movie distributor in Mexico.
"We are the only Spanish-language movie channel in the United States to have contracts in place with five of the top distributors of Spanish-language film," said Cine Latino chairman Jim McNamara. "Through our new acquisitions we have reinforced our position as the destination for the widest and most-current selection of Latino blockbusters available on the market."
Cine Latino has also assembled the largest showcase of Pedro Almodovar films ever to be presented on a Spanish-language service. Titles include Volver, a Golden Globe nominee and winner of Best Actress and Best Screenplay at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival starring Penelope Cruz; La Mala Educacion (Bad Education), one of Almodovar’s most serious works starring Gael Garcia Bernal; Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother), an Oscar-winning film starring Penelope Cruz; Matador (The Bullfighter), an award-winning film with Antonio Banderas and Assumpta Serna; and Atame! (Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!), a love drama starring Antonio Banderas and Victoria Abril. The Almodovar films will be available exclusively on Cine Latino.
"Cine Latino is the only channel in the US where you will be able to find these award-winning movies by the most internationally-acclaimed Spanish filmmaker of our time," said McNamara. "No Spanish-language channel has ever been able to deliver the quality and diversity of programming that we are now able to offer."
Among the more than 90 recently-acquired titles include some of the best-selling recent theatrical releases of the Spanish-speaking world from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Argentina, Peru, Puerto Rico and the United States. The new movies feature today’s most popular and celebrated Latino stars, including Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Ruben Blades, Ana De La Reguera, Ana Claudia Talancon, Kate Del Castillo, Aaron Diaz, among many others.
Cine Latino has also assembled a wide collection of Latino-themed Hollywood films, including Mel Gibson’s Oscar-nominated film Apocalypto about the declining period of the Mayan civilization, Peter Sollett’s award- winning film Raising Victor Vargas about a teenager growing up in the Lower East Side of New York, and the Puerto Rican film Yellow starring Rosalyn Sanchez as a classically-trained dancer who moves to New York to follow her dream of success.
"As the leading Spanish-language pay channel in the US, we are committed to delivering the best, widest selection of films for our viewer and making Cine Latino the premium entertainment destination for Hispanic audiences," said McNamara.
