Buena Vista International has secured the rights to distribute the upcoming feature film Mare Nostrum across Latin America. The acquisition covers theatrical releases as well as all media formats. The film is being sold at the American Film Market by HanWay Films. This deal brings the project to a wider audience in the region following its development by a prominent creative team.
The movie marks another collaboration between actor Antonia Banderas and the award-winning Argentinian writer-director duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat. The pair previously worked together on the critically acclaimed films Official Competition and The Distinguished Citizen. Banderas is set to take on the lead role in this new maritime drama, which is currently in the pre-production phase.
In the story, Banderas portrays the Captain of a massive commercial container ship. The vessel is transporting a cargo valued at one billion euros from Istanbul to Cape Town. The plot is triggered when the Captain makes the unvetted decision to rescue a dinghy full of refugees from a storm. This act of rescue quickly escalates into an international political crisis because no European country agrees to allow the refugees to dock.
The synopsis describes the Captain's journey as an odyssey that becomes increasingly complex. As his public profile rises amid empty cries of support, he navigates a bizarre cast of characters. This group includes the Prime Minister of Spain, various activists, coast guard officials, and an international rock star. The ensemble also features a hard-nosed corporate lawyer, marine insurance brokers, and a band of African refugees of all ages.
Principal photography for the film is scheduled to begin in March 2027. The production will take place in Bilbao, Spain. The creative team behind the project includes producer Jose Luis Escolar, who has worked on films such as Kill Jackie and Vampire Academy. The cinematography is handled by Xavi Giménez, a Goya award-winning director of photography known for his work on Machinist and Transsiberian.
Visual effects for the film are being led by Arturo López Iriarte, a specialist in the Marvel Universe. He has previously worked on projects like Murderbot and Money Heist. Iriarte is utilizing 3D scanner technology to capture the story aboard one of the largest container ships in the world. The team is also reuniting with their regular production designer, Alain Bainée, who has won multiple Goya awards for films including Society of the Snow and Official Competition.
The list of executive producers for Mare Nostrum is extensive. It includes the directors Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, as well as the star Antonio Banderas. Other executive producers are Alejandro Roemmers, Manu Fabeiro, Manuel Martí, Gonzalo Fried, and Carolina Krasñansky. Their involvement highlights the significant industry support for the project as it moves toward production.
Antonia Banderas is currently represented by NuCo Media Group and Greenberg Glusker. The directorial team of Cohn and Duprat is also represented by NuCo Media Group. The acquisition by Buena Vista International is a significant step for the film, ensuring a strong distribution network in Latin America as production preparations continue in Spain.
