France’s Dublin Films Bets On San Sebastian Co-Production Forum Project ‘A Different Garden’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Bordeaux-based Dublin Films has taken a co-production stake in writer-director Mariana Gil Ríos’ family drama “A Different Garden” (“Otro Jardín”), produced by Medellín’s Movimiento Cine.
At February’s Berlinale, Gil Ríos earned a special mention at Generation Kplus sidebar with shortfilm “Uli.”
More from Variety
“A Different Garden” features among the 14 projects being brought to market at this year’s Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, one of San Sebastian Film Festival’s key industry events.
The Colombia-France co-production is led by producer Daniela Echeverri Idárraga at Movimiento Cine alongside David Hurst on behalf of Dublin Films.
The project is at development stage, tentatively scheduled to roll in early 2026.
The story focuses on 8-year-old Amanda. While her parents work, she spends holidays at her enigmatic grandfather’s home, where she meets Miguel, a wild boy living in the garden, with whom Amanda will discover hidden truths about her family.
“’A Different Garden’ is a film about family, about growing up, about being a child and discovering the limits of the world amidst the thirst for adventure and the unawareness of danger. You could say it is a coming-of-age, but I would say that it is above all a film about the mystery and spirituality of childhood,” writer-director Mariana Gil Ríos said.
“That ‘Different Garden’ is like a threshold to another place to look at life. In children there is a desire to cross it, to enter it and open themselves up to the possibility of embracing the treasures they find, even in the midst of the darkness,” she added.
The project won at July’s Bogotá Audiovisual Market a fast track for BrLab Features in Brazil, as producer Echeverri earned a prize to attend the Rotterdam Film Lab.
“A Different Garden” was also awarded at the producers’ meeting of Colombia’s Cartagena Intl. Film Festival (FICCI) with a fast track for the upcoming Sitges Film Festival’ Fan Pitch edition and further prizes for pre-production sound, equipment rent and musical supervision, among others.
It has also snagged support in Colombia from the country’s Film Development Fund and the Medellín Film Commission.
Launched 2006 in Bordeaux, part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, Dublin Films aims to support emerging talents and indie cinema throughout the world, especially from Latin America. It also co-produced titles such as Abel Ferrara’s “Pasolini,” toplining Willem Dafoe, as well as Argentine Manuel Abramovich’s San Sebastian 2022 player “Pornomelancolía” and Theo Montoya’s documentary “Anhell69.”
The San Sebastian’s 2024 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum edition takes place Sept. 23-25.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
