Hispanic trio launch distribution venture

Televisa Cine, Plural Entertainment and Latin World Entertainment have teamed up to create a Hispanic film distribution company in the US, coproducing and selling Latin movies.

The venture combines the film production resources of Mexican broadcaster Televisa, Hispanic marketing company Latin World Entertainment Agency and Plural Entertainment, the production arm of Spanish conglom Prisa.

According to the trio, the demand for Latin movies is on the rise in the US and they will launch at least five films this year, some owned and coproduced by the new partners.

Televisa Cine's general director Eckehardt Von Damm said: {We have a great opportunity in this market. This year’s Oscar nominations include Hispanics in record numbers, proving once again the power, potential and appeal of Latin films. I can’t think of a better time to launch this company{.

Latin World Entertainment's ceo Luis Balaguer said: {After marketing many blockbusters for the top Hollywood Studios, we have concluded that the power of the Hispanic market has been greatly underserved in the US. There are over 40m Hispanics in this country that sometimes account over 30% ticket sales, yet they rarely get a chance to enjoy high-quality productions that reflect their culture, interests and tastes.{

Televisa Cine and Plural last year coproduced Mexican movies The Blue Room and The Tiger of Santa Julia. They are currently coproducing a film in English, One Day Without Mexicansby Sergio Arau, and adapting Arturo Pérez Reverte’s latest novel The Queen of the South.