Condor Media, a new home video and DVD distribution company of Spanish-language product in the US, is poised to launch this summer.

Founded by Argentine-born film veteran Peter Marai, Condor Media will kick off in later this month with two films from Spain: Vicente Aranda's erotic thriller Jealousy (Celos) and hit comedy Why Do They Call It Love When They Mean Sex (Por Que Lo Llaman Amor Cuando Quieren Decir Sexo).

In its bid to bring quality features from Latin America and Spain to the US market, Condor has closed multiple picture agreements with Mexico's IMCINE, Spain's Sogepaq and Argentina's Aries Films. "The time is right to support the expansion of Latino cinema in the US," said Marai. He plans to announce a theatrical distribution joint venture in the near future.

Condor has appointed Huntington Beach-based home video distributor Vanguard Cinema to handle the physical distribution of its titles. While the titles will be available in Spanish with English sub-titles, they will be in boxes with either Spanish or English copy, a novelty for the market.

For the past 20 years Marai has served as a consultant to various Spanish and Latin American companies on such prestigious titles as A Place In The World, Deep Crimson, Wild Horses and Spoils Of War. Marai launched Condor Video in the mid-1980s, a division of Media Home Entertainment, which went on to become the leading distribution company in the US Hispanic market.

Condor's upcoming releases will include features directed by the leading filmmakers in Spain and Latin America, including Mexico's Arturo Ripstein, Spain's Manuel Gutierrez Aragon and Argentina's Adolfo Aristarain.