Fortissimo Films has taken on international rights outside of France to Safinez Bousbia’s documentary El Gusto, which screens this week in Competition at IDFA.

The documentary is about a group of Muslim and Jewish musicians 50 years after their separation during the Algerian Civil War. They are reunited to form a new orchestra, El Gusto, to perform a concert in France.

The film won two prizes at the Abu Dhabi Interntational Festival last month; it had its world premiere in Busan.

UGC PH will release the film in France on Jan 11, 2012.

Fortissimo chairman Michael J Werner said: “When I saw El Gusto last month at an overflow screening in Abu Dhabi, I was moved by the incredible energy of the film which resonated so strongly with that   audience and showed that this was one of those unique films where the wonderful music combined with a  message of reconciliation and hope   transcended   people’s preconceived limits and positions. Similar to the Buena Vista Social Club, El Gusto has a universal appeal that shows how music can transcend cultural, ethnic and religious boundaries.”

Bousbia also produced with Heidi Egger, under Quidam Production El Gusto, with the participation of the Irish Film Board and the Abu Dhabi Film Festival’s SANAD Development and Post-Production Fund.

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