Feelsales Snags ‘Zafari’ by ‘Bad Hair’’s Mariana Rondón Ahead of its San Sebastian Festival World Premiere, Bows Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

As a passionate supporter of cinematic artistry that mirrors the complexities and struggles of our world, I am thrilled to witness the international premiere of Mariana Rondón’s latest masterpiece, “Zafari.” Her unique ability to weave compelling narratives from the fabric of reality is truly inspiring.


International distribution rights for Mariana Rondón’s new film “Zafari” have been acquired by Feelsales from Spain, before its world premiere at the San Sebastian Film Festival on September 22. The exclusive first-look trailer will be unveiled on EbMaster.

The filmmaker of Venezuelan origin was previously awarded the Golden Seashell at San Sebastian for her 2013 drama “Bad Hair” (“Pelo Malo”), a production that garnered several accolades at various international film festivals around the world.

In a barren, waterless, foodless, and hopeless dystopia, the unexpected appearance of a hippopotamus at the Caracas zoo ignites a conflict between neighbors Edgar (40) and Ali (40), revolving around the care of the creature and their communal swimming pool. As energy and sustenance dwindle, and the heat becomes unbearable, Ana (35), Edgar’s wife, desperately searches for solutions to endure their harsh existence. She finds that surrendering to the wild is her only means of escaping a futureless reality.

Rondón explained that the term ‘dystopian’ is used because while the situation appears to be about Venezuela, the intention is to present a more comprehensive perspective of contemporary Latin America.

Marité Ugás, partner at Rondón and Sudaca Films, expressed that Feelsales captured our interest not just by their excitement towards the movie, but also because a majority of its cast are women.

Originally recognized as a distributor for documentaries and short movies, Feelsales made a significant move in its development by adding fiction feature films to its collection in 2022. This expansion primarily focuses on auteur cinema that demonstrates strong commercial appeal and the ability to resonate with global audiences. This was stated by its managing director, Luis Collar.

Rondón’s fourth film is primarily produced by Sudaca Films in Peru, with participation from six other countries. These include Paloma Negra Films from Mexico, Klaxon Cultura Audiovisual from Brazil, Still Moving from France, Quijote Films from Chile, as well as Selene Films from the Dominican Republic and Artefactos SF from Venezuela, who serve as producers and co-producers respectively.

The drama was filmed mainly in the Dominican Republic with interiors shot in Peru, said Ugás.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Rondón and Ugás on numerous films. We switch between directing, screenwriting, and even producing roles in each other’s projects. Our filmography boasts some truly remarkable works such as “Contactado” (2020), “Bad Hair” (2013), “El Chico que Miente” (2011), “Postales de Leningrado” (2007) and “A la Media Noche y Media” (2000).

Beyond just dabbling in fiction movie production, Feelsales has expanded its horizons by offering distribution services during film festivals and taking on projects still in the development phase, such as TV series.

It belongs to The Circular Group, a collective made up of businesses involved in production, distribution, and talent management. Being active in major movie and television markets makes it a versatile agency that responds to the changing requirements of the industry.

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2024-09-22 09:46