New York-based The Film Sales Company has pounced on the worldwide rights to Colombian documentary feature “Igualada” by Juan Mejía Botero ahead of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema documentary Competition sidebar.
Mejía Botero, whose most recent feature documentary “Death by a Thousand Cuts” won the Audience Award at DOC NYC, chronicles politician Francia Márquez’s groundbreaking journey from her start as a rural grassroot activist to her history-making campaign to become not only the first black but also the first female president of her native Colombia.
Given exclusive access, Mejía Botero follows Márquez as she “dares to challenge the status quo by launching a presidential campaign in Colombia, a nation beset by profound racial and socio-economic disparities,” per the synopsis.
Reclaiming the derogatory term “igualada” (used to belittle individuals asserting rights deemed beyond their position in society), Márquez propels a movement into the upper spheres of influence, challenging the notion of conforming to prescribed roles. Spanning 15 years, the documentary unveils the delicate process that can drive societal change.
“Igualada” was produced by Juan E. Yepes, Daniela Alatorre and Sonia Serna, and was executive produced by Marco Williams, Paola Mendoza and Felipe Estefan. The co-production between Colombia, the U.S. and Mexico was directed by Mejía Botero, lensed by [Karen] Gómez (“Under Silence and Earth”) and edited by Andrea Chignoli (“No,” “The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future”).
Yépes and Alatorre closed the pact with Andrew Herwitz, president of The Film Sales Company.
“This film will resonate across the world. The filmmakers have captured a movement, which would be unbelievable were it not true…Think ‘Knock Down the House’ meets ‘Mandela,’” said Herwitz.
“We are so excited to be partnering with The Film Sales Company. It is a huge step in our quest to bring this important Latin American story to the world,” said Yépez.
Founded in 2002, The Film Sales Company’s varied and extensive catalog of some 200 titles includes “Radical” (Sundance 2023 Festival Favorite awardee); Roberta Flack docu “Roberta”; Sundance Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film prizewinner “Son of Monarchs” and SWSW winner “Bad Axe.”
The 40th edition of the Sundance Film Festival runs from Jan. 21 to 28 in Park City, Utah.
