Production started today (Mon, 7 Oct) on The Sons Of Buena Vista, a sequel to Wim Wenders'Cuban musical extravaganza Buena Vista Social Club, which was one of the most successful documentary features of all time.

The new film is directed by Karl German, Wenders' regular assistant director and co-executive producer of the original 1999 picture. Production credits go to Detlef Engelhard and John Phelan with Guido and Maurizio De Angelis co-executive producers. Production companies are Global Entertainment Productions and Victory Media Group with Italian drama specialist De Angelis Group in charge of film sales. Music licensing is by Termidor Musikverlag. Location shooting begins in Cuba and travels to Germany and the US.

The Euros 4m picture reunites many of the original 'club' members made famous by the original film including Ruben Gonzales and Compay Segundo, with their sons, nephews and friends. Combining with the new generation allows the integration of new rhythms and musical influences such as rap and hip-hop.

De Angelis also used this week's MIPCOM programmes market in Cannes to unveil two big-budget mini-series.

The Citadel a 4x90 minute drama that is an English-language remake of 1960s Italian series, itself based on the novel by Archibald Cronin. Production financed by Global, Victory and Titanus in association with Italian broadcaster RAI wraps at the end of this month after location shooting in the Czech Republic. The picture is directed by Fabrizio Costa with a cast headed by Massimo Ghini and Barbara Bobulova.

Alberto Negrin, who recently filmed RAI's big-budget war drama Perlasca, An Italian Hero (Screendaily, April 18), has been hired to direct and co-write Hannibal, a two-part mini-series that charts the Italian rebel's voyage across the Alps.

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