European production-distribution giant Studiocanal is teaming with Spains Mr. Fields and Friends and Bamb, both led by producer Ramn Campos, on dramatic comedy Rondallas, written-directed by Daniel Snchez Arvalo (BlueDarkAlmostBlack, Cousinhood, Seventeen).
Snchez Arvalo, one of Spains foremost crossover filmmakers, is coming back with Rondallas to a movie project oriented to classic cinema theater exhibition and distribution, after creating and directing a feature film and a TV series for Netflix.
Studiocanal will handle worldwide sales on Rondallas, scheduled to roll from March in Galicia, Northern Spain, with a still undisclosed cast.
Rondallas is produced by Campos, creator and executive producer of flagship Spanish TV dramas such as Gran Hotel, Velvet, Cable Girls and Faria, all set up at his Madrid-based Bamb, one of the most game-changing of TV production companies in Spain, and partially owned by Studiocanal.
With dedicated film production house Mr Fields and Friends, Campos has produced titles such as Isaki Lacuestas 2022 Berlincompetition player One Year, One Night, on the emotional aftermath of 2015s terrorist attacks on Paris Bataclan night club and horror movie Malasaa 32, sold in more than 20 territories. It has also teamed with Warner Bros. and Atresmedia on romantic drama Our Summer Together.
Rondallas will tell the story of a small fishing town on the coast of Galicia, which was shaken two years ago by the shipwreck of a fishing boat in which seven of its nine crew members died, including the director of the rondalla [a musical band whose members play popular songs with guitars, bandurrias and other similar stringed instruments].
After two years of mourning, they decide to return to the rondalla, a tradition deeply rooted in the community, which brings a lot of joy and excitement at Christmas. What they need is to get excited again.
As a director and screenwriter, you always look to make films that you would like to see. And as a viewer, what captivates me most is that they move me and make me smile at the same time. I think this film has all the necessary ingredients to achieve it: Comedy, social drama, Galicia, the sea, rondallas, tradition and rockn roll, Snchez Arvalo said.
The filmmaker broke through in 2007 with his feature debut, tragicomedy DarkBlueAlmostBlack. After 2009s acid Fat, he directed two movies 2011s bachelor farce Cousinhood and 2013s wedding-set Family United which won him respect as an adept writer-director of fun comedy with a social point of view.
More recently, he created and directed for Netflix the feature Seventeen (2019) and TV drama The Last Row (2022), both produced for the streamer by Jos Antonio Flezs Atpica Films, who had backed all of Sanchez Arevalos top titles to date.
Through Rondallas, Snchez Arvalo is returning to a film project oriented to theatrical exhibition and distribution.
After two projects for Netflix, I was clear that I wanted to make a film with a classic distribution and exhibition release. A movie for theaters. And for the public. I like cinema. I like the experience of going to the movies, of sitting in a seat to share such an intimate moment with more people, he explained.
A 100% affiliate of Vivendis Canal Plus Group, in 2016 Studiocanal took a minority stake in Bamb, which Campos had co-founded in 2007 alongside Teresa Fernndez Valds.
I have been a fan of Daniels films since I saw his first shorts 20 years ago. Since then I have followed his career. Destiny wanted us to establish a friendship in addition to our professional admiration. Now with Rondallas, I fulfill my dream of becoming his producer, Campos argued.
Daniel is the best director of emotional comedies in our country. He is our Alexander Payne and with Rondallas we want to give him the opportunity to take another step in his career in terms of ambition and projection, he concluded.