Spain's Sogepaq has closed a pre-sale on director Iciar Bollain's new film, Mataharis, topan-European distribution pool Indie Circle.

The deal, which Sogepaq negotiated withMataharis producers La Iguana and Sogecine, includes rights in France (Haut et Court), Italy (Lucky Red), Belgium (Cineart), the Netherlands (A-Film) and Switzerland (Frenetic).

Indie Circlepreviously handled Bollain's Take My Eyes (Te Doy MisOjos), a domestic abuse-themed drama which swept Spain's Goya Awards in 2004, won best actor and actressprizes in San Sebastian in2003, and was sold by Sogepaq around the world,including to the US's New Yorker Films.

Mataharis, which has an estimated budget of $3.6m (Euros 3m) begins shooting inMadrid for eight weeks on March 20, stars Najwa Nimri (Sex And Lucia),Maria Vazquez (La NocheDel Hermano) and NuriaGonzalez (El Calentito)in the tale of three private detectives who find the secrets they uncover aboutothers are not so far off from for their own complicated lives as mothers andwives.

Male casting includesTristan Ulloa (SexAnd Lucia), TV star Diego Martin, Antonio de la Torre (Volver) and Fernando Cayo (The World's Longest Penalty).Actress-turned-director Bollain co-wrote the scriptwith Tatiana Rodriguez.

"After Take My Eyes I received letters from women suggesting I talk aboutthe difficulty of reconciling family and professional lives," Bollain said. "Mataharis is bornfrom this idea of talking anew about men and women, about their relations andabout what sustains them, which is something both as fragile and as sturdy astrust."

Sogepaq, which has domesticas wellasinternational rights to Mataharis,just signed a new local distributionagreement this week with 20th Century Fox's Spanish banner, Hispano Foxfilm.

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