Following successful theatrical releases in Peru and Colombia, Peruvian food drama Mistura has been picked up for North America by Paul Hudson’s Outsider Pictures, with Unannounced Film Company acquiring UK rights ahead of the film’s EFM market debut.
Outsider Pictures is aiming for a limited theatrical release starting April 24th, and Unannounced Film Company is planning a limited theatrical release in the spring.
Written and directed by Ricardo de Montreuil (My Brother’s Wife, Mancora), Mistura (meaning “mixture” or “blend”) is set in 1960s Peru and tells the story of Norma, played by Barbara Mori, whose life changes when she leaves her husband (played by Christian Meyer). Shunned from Lima’s upper-class society, Norma is forced to rebuild from the bottom up. She found a new path by joining forces with previously overlooked community members, creating a restaurant in her magnificent home that serves as a gateway to rediscovering Peru, the depth of its culture, and its amazing culinary traditions.
The film also reunited de Montreuil with the two lead actors who directed him in the hit 2005 romantic drama “My Brother’s Wife.”
The film completed a remarkable 10-week theatrical run in its domestic market of Peru and was released by major regional distributor Cinecolor. The screening period was nearly three times longer than usual for independent productions, an unprecedented feat for a domestic drama, and was marked by standing ovations and enthusiastic audience reactions across the United States. “Mistura” attracted more than 130,000 admissions, making it the third-highest-grossing local production and the highest-grossing Peruvian drama of the year. It also performed solidly in limited theatrical release in Colombia, also through Cinecolor, and is now entering the international distribution stage.
“‘Mistura’ is a film about reinvention. In 1960s Lima, a woman loses everything, and through her culinary journey finds a wider Peru beyond the words that drove her away. After the response at festivals in the United States, we are excited to share this film with American audiences,” said director de Montreuil.
Produced by Seine Pictures’ Ivan Orlik (Pelé, The Kitchen), Mistura made its international film festival debut at California’s Mill Valley Film Festival and has since been screened as an official screening at more than 20 film festivals, including the Hamptons Lima-Morelia Film Festival (FICM).
“I am proud of the incredible work of the many artists who made Mistura possible, and am deeply humbled that our work has resonated with audiences both here and abroad,” Orlik said. “We couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated distribution partner in the US and UK. We’re excited to continue sharing this story around the world as we bring this film to the European Film Market. This is more than just a culinary period drama, it’s also a tribute to the Peruvian people, our heritage, and our spirit of reinvention and entrepreneurship.”
Mistura’s executive producers include Mori, Meyer, Juan Pablo Orislager, Raul Romero and de Montreuil.
The deal was negotiated by Auric on behalf of Seine Pictures, Hudson on behalf of Outsider Pictures, and Lawrence Gornall on behalf of The Unknown Company.
Ganiden Media represents international rights to the film.
