Los Angeles-based sales company Concourse Media has acquired worldwide sales rights to the Costa Rican family drama “April” (“Avril”) ahead of its world premiere on February 7 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
The company aims to start selling at festivals before continuing with sales at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.
A deeply personal story for writer-director Hernán Jiménez, “April” follows the divorced protagonist, played by Maricarmen Merino, as he struggles to establish a relationship with his resentful daughter. When her daughter decides to live with her father, April is confused, but meets Gabriel, a burly bartender played by François Arnault in his first Spanish-speaking role. An unexpected bond with Gabrielle gives her a glimpse of a life beyond marriage and motherhood, but soon the hidden truths of her past drive her into disintegration.
“‘April’ is a deeply human story that feels both intimate and universal,” said Kristin Harris, head of acquisitions at Concourse Media. “Hernán Jiménez brings extraordinary empathy and precision to the film, and Maricarmen Merino gives a quietly devastating performance.”
Jimenez, who plays her ex-husband, based the story on his own troubled relationship with his mother. He also leaves home early, breaking her heart in the process. His films have a more upbeat ending, unlike those of his mother, whose mental and physical health has declined.
“I think it’s more of a bittersweet ending than a completely happy ending. But yes, I think Avril as a character is not only portraying her mother, but trying to get her mother back in some way. Along with her mother’s declining mental and physical health, something very strange happens… Notice that something is also bittersweet: I am now able to speak to my mother, touch her, and hug her in a way that I could not before. It is like the message of my last daughter, Valentina. So today, my mother is “far away.” In a way, but I’m closer to her than I was before,” he told Variety.
“My history with my mother is very complicated. I don’t think the film manages to fully capture that, but it’s an attempt,” he said.
The film was produced by Jimenez and Esteban Quesada under their production company Witch Rock.
He added, “From our first conversation, Concourse Media understood what made this film special and how it should be positioned internationally. We are excited to have them lead the global sales and are grateful to be working with a team that is ambitious about the film and deeply respects its work.”
Jiménez’s multiple credits include the romantic comedy “Entonces nosotros” (“About Us”), which earned the second-best weekend opening for a local film in Costa Rican film history and represented the country at the 89th Academy Awards.
He then made his English feature debut in 2020’s Elsewhere, starring Parker Posey, Aiden Young, Ken Jeong, and Beau Bridges.
He also co-wrote the screenplay for Amazon Studios’ biopic A Million Miles Away, based on the life of NASA astronaut Jose Hernández, played by Michael Peña and directed by Mexico’s Alejandra Marquez Abela.
His Netflix romantic comedy Love Hard was released in 2021 and became the platform’s top-ranked film internationally.
Jimenez has struggled for years to build an April in Los Angeles, where she lives. “After years of stalled development, I got tired of waiting, so I moved back to Costa Rica and poured my heart (and all my life savings) into Abril. This film was the result of the most loving and healing collaboration I’ve ever had, and it changed the trajectory of my writing, directing, acting, and creation.” Filming in Costa Rica was also an eye-opening experience. The country now boasts more competitive film incentives, a skilled bilingual crew, and a proven track record in diverse international filming.
Merino, who stars in “April,” will also serve as director. Her short film “Bella” was screened at the Guadalajara Film Festival and the Official Selection of Energa Camera Images, and won the Best Director Award at the Mexican International Short Film Festival. Her documentary feature debut “¿ Dónde estás?” premiered at the 2018 Guadalajara Film Festival.
Francois Arnault and Maricarmen Merino in “April” Provided by Witch Rock
