News

Los Angeles-based sales company Cinema Management Group has acquired international distribution rights to Jose Roberto Torero's Como Fazer Um Filme de Amor (Manual for Love Stories) from Brazilian distributor Lumiere, which is releasing the film in Brazil Oct. 29. The romantic comedy, which had its world premiere at the recent Montreal World Film Festival, was produced by Zita Carvalhosa and Lumiere with financial support from Brazilian tax funds and the support of the Brazilian Film Agency. It was acquired by CMG's Edward Noeltner after the Montreal screening. "For a first-time director, Jose Roberto Torero shows considerable talent and craftsmanship as well as a thorough understanding of the Genre," Noeltner said. "Only when you know film and the conventions of genre can you have so much fun with turning things upside down -- and what has come out is wall-to-wall laughter right through the end credits of this film." The deal marks CMG's third acquisition of a Latin American film in as many months. In July, it picked up Elia Schneider's Venezuelan hit Step Forward, which is Venezuela's contender for a best foreign language Academy Award nimination. In August, CMG acquired international rights to Gonzalo Justiniano's award-winning Chilean feature B-Happy.