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In a rapidly evolving global film market, Raabta International has emerged from Madrid, Spain. This innovative company specializes in the international sales of independent films and documentaries, prioritizing projects with strong commercial potential. Their mission is to enhance these projects through strategic festival exposure and targeted marketing efforts.
Raabta International is part of the Raabta Pictures family, operated by Garajonay Producciones based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Under the leadership of producers Carlota Amor and Juan Carlos Jiménez, Raabta International aspires to expand its focus from domestic distribution to international sales representation.
Strategic market entry
Raabta International positions itself as a crucial link between Spanish and European filmmakers and global buyers. The company will debut at the prestigious European Film Market (EFM), coinciding with the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. Following this event, they will participate in Mafiz, the industry segment of the Málaga Film Festival, celebrating its 29th edition this year.
The establishment of Raabta International comes at a time of increasing demand for Spanish content, driven by streaming platforms and a growing interest in high-quality local-language productions. Raabta aims to leverage this momentum, ensuring that mid-budget, compelling titles can flourish in a competitive marketplace while forming the right partnerships across various territories.
Diverse initial offerings
Raabta International’s inaugural slate features a range of genres, including food documentaries, horror films, and socially relevant comedies. Notably, the documentary Noor: Eating History takes center stage, highlighting the culinary journey of acclaimed chef Paco Morales. His Michelin-starred restaurant Noor showcases dishes inspired by the culinary traditions of the 10th-century Abderramán III Caliphate, providing a significant marketing edge for attracting international buyers.
On the narrative front, Raabta is set to release House of Atreyus (original title: La Casa de los Monstruos), a horror film featuring popular Spanish actors Antonio Resines and Jaime Lorente, known for their roles in the hit series Money Heist. This combination of well-known talent with the horror genre, a lucrative category in international sales, positions Raabta favorably in the market.
Additionally, the dark comedy Ownerships (original title: Nuda propiedad) is also part of their initial offerings, exploring the complexities of the real estate crisis. The film stars Maxi Iglesias from Valeria and Susana Abaitua from Los Farad.
Leadership and vision
To steer its commercial activities, Raabta International has appointed Yvette de los Santos as head of international sales. With extensive experience in promotion, distribution, and international marketing for independent films from both Latin America and Europe, De los Santos is well-prepared to lead this new venture.
Her background includes organizing festivals and industry events, along with serving as a jury member and panelist at notable events such as MiradasDoc, Dones Visuals, DOK Leipzig, and the Cannes Short Film Corner.
De los Santos expressed confidence in the timing of Raabta International’s launch, stating, “We see this as an ideal moment to establish Raabta International, starting at the European Film Market in Berlin, a crucial hub for the international circulation of Spanish and European cinema.” She emphasized that Berlin allows them to showcase their positioning, gauge market interest, and cultivate essential relationships with distributors, programmers, and international agents.
Raabta International is part of the Raabta Pictures family, operated by Garajonay Producciones based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Under the leadership of producers Carlota Amor and Juan Carlos Jiménez, Raabta International aspires to expand its focus from domestic distribution to international sales representation.0