EXCLUSIVE: Spanish sci-fi is from writer-director Ruiz-Zorrilla.

Hatem Khraiche Ruiz-Zorrilla

Seville International chief Anick Poirier and her team haved kicked off sales at Toronto Internatioanl Film Festival (Sept 8-18) on Hatem Khraiche Ruiz-Zorrilla’s [pictured] Spanish feature directorial debut Orbiter 9.

Ruiz-Zorrilla wrote the elevated sci-fi from Cactus Flower Productions, Mono Films, Narcos producers Dynamo, and Telefonica Studios. The story centres on a young woman alone on a deep space mission after her parents abandoned ship 20 years ago whose world is turned upside-down when a sole engineer arrives.

Clara Lago, Alex Gonzalez, Andres Parra and Belen Rueda star in Orbiter 9, which shot in Spain and Colombia. Cristian Conti and Miguel Menéndez serve as producers. Ruiz-Zorrilla previously wrote and directed several award-winning short films including Goya nominee Machu Picchu.

“Hatem is a master of melding high-concept, moody narratives with authentic human emotion, weaving the interpersonal stakes of his protagonists with repercussions much larger than themselves,” said Montreal-based Seville International senior vice-president of sales Poirier.

“These signature themes and conflicts are brilliantly reflected in Orbiter 9, which will draw audiences deep into its sweeping, romantic and haunting story. We are thrilled to be handling this film on a worldwide basis.”