Spanish actress Marisa Paredes has joined the castof first-time writer-director Carlos Molinero's feature film, Savages(Salvajes).

The film will reunite Paredes - who is currentlythe president of Spain's Cinema Academy - with Imanol Arias, her co-star inPedro Almodovar's 1995 hit The Flower Of My Secret (El Flor De Mi Secreto).Paredes also starred in Almodovar's 1999 Oscar-winner All About My Mother(Todo Sobre Mi Madre) and appeared in Mother's Oscar predecessor, LifeIs Beautiful (La Vita E Bella).

Paredes and Arias both signed on to Savagesas associate producers, agreeing to forgo their usual fees in advance, a movewhich allowed producer Lola Salvador to forge ahead with the $1.6m projectthrough her start-up outfit Brothers & Sisters.

A love story set against the illegal traffickingof immigrants in Spain, Savages was co-written by Salvador, directorMolinero, Jorge Juan Martinez and Clara Perez Escriva. Roger Casamajor, ManuelMoron, Alberto Ferreiro and Paredes' real-life daughter Maria Isasi co-star.