Cineplex Acquires the Americas for Mariel García Spooner's 'La Residencia'

Cineplex has picked up sales rights to "La Residencia" across North and South America, locking up the Panamanian dramedy just as it leaves Sanfic's works-in-progress strand and heads toward a festival launch.

The deal covers both continents. That's a statement of intent from the Latin American distributor, whose managing partner Diana Dudek described the film's appeal plainly: "We like her way of telling entertaining, relatable stories with a deeper underlying message."

What is 'La Residencia' about?

Directed by Mariel García Spooner, the film follows three women friends in their mid-sixties who team up to tackle their money troubles and reinvent their futures by founding a social club for seniors. It's a premise with obvious commercial reach — think Book Club, but with sharper fiscal anxieties baked in.

García Spooner framed her ambitions in a statement: "With 'La Residencia,' I tell the story of Cecilia, Rocío and Martina from a close and human perspective. They are three friends who begin to question what they want for their future and how to remain independent while everything around them is changing. The film explores friendship, the fear of growing older and above all, the possibility of starting over without losing who you are."

Who is behind it?

The film screened in Sanfic Industria's WIP Iberoamericana section, a competition at Santiago de Chile's Sanfic festival open to post-production films from Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Its development résumé includes:

• A stint at Málaga WIP
• The Latino Film Institute Work in Progress finishing fund at Laliff 2026, presented with Amazon MGM Studios
• Post-production support from Barcelona-based Only Postproduction for color grading, following a connection made at Mafiz

The cast mixes Colombian and Panamanian talent: Xilena Aycardi and Marcela Carvajal lead, alongside Diana Abouganem, Massiel Mas, Diego de Obaldía, Miguel Melfi, Beatriz García and Gregory Manrique.

García Spooner's Panama-based Hello October produces. The company's track record includes her debut feature "Algo Azul," which opened theatrically in 11 territories and streamed on HBO Max and Prime Video, plus "Tumbadores," currently on Prime Video. Cineplex has worked with the director since that first film.

Dudek said the connection was immediate: "With 'La Residencia,' from the moment we read the screenplay, we immediately connected with the story of these three friends who, at a more mature stage of their lives, decide to reinvent themselves and move forward together."

Where does Cineplex go from here?

The picture is locked and in final post-production. Dudek expects broad travel: "The film has the potential to resonate with international audiences. We are delighted to be working with Mariel again, and we are confident that we will find the right partners to bring this film to audiences across different international markets."

Cineplex's slate is busy beyond Santiago. The distributor also took Colombian and Latin American rights to "The Cry of Serankwa," another Sanfic WIP title, directed by Yull Nuñez.

Co-founder and general manager Elba McAllister flagged two further acquisitions: the documentary "Yuma" and Klych López's "Irreparable," which world premieres at Tallinn Black Nights and screens in Latin America at Mar del Plata. That film stars Marcela Valencia and Marcela Mar as estranged sisters whose reunion triggers long-harbored resentments — a different kind of reinvention story, and proof Cineplex isn't betting on one demographic.