Filmax has acquired international sales rights and Spanish theatrical rights to Simon Brand's Colombian smash Paraiso Travel, which had its US premiere at Tribeca at the weekend.

The Paraiso Pictures and Grand Illusions Entertainment production was adapted from Jorge Franco's novel of the same name and centres on a lovelorn teen as he follows his girlfriend from Colombia to Queens, New York. Aldemar Correa and Angelica Blandon star along with John Leguizamo.

Filmax will screen the film in the Cannes market. CAA represents North American rights.

Santiago Diaz, Juan Rendon, Alex Pereira, and Isaac Lee of Paraiso Pictures produced and Jonathan Sanger, Ed Elbert and Sarah Black of Grand Illusions Entertainment and Jorge Perez served as executive producers.

'We are honoured to be working with Filmax,' Diaz said. 'They are the ideal partner for us to continue to bring the film to audiences around the world.'

'Paraiso Travel has a visual and narrative strength that has the capacity to transport the viewer,' Filmax CEO Carlos Fernandez, managing director Carlos Rojano and international chief Vicente Canales said in a joint statement.

'We are delighted to have such a jewel as this in our hands because it has extraordinary international sales potential. Paraiso Travel is a story about people and their search for a better life, and that story is universal.'

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