Spanish production house Lolafilms is preparing director Vicente Aranda'sLolita's Club, the follow-up to his English-languageromp The White Knight.

The estimated $6.4m (Euros5m) film will star Eduardo Noriega (Alatriste) and is expected to start shooting in Spain in early 2007. Producer Andres Vicente Gomez says hewill seek co-producers, likely starting in Italy.

The story is based on thenovel Canciones De Amor EnLolita's Club by Juan Marse, whose work Aranda has adapted multiple times. This story is set in ahostess bar on the outskirts of Barcelona inan atmosphere rife with sex, prostitution,immigration and even terrorism.

Meanwhile, Gomezisfinalising details on Carlos Saura's new Io, Don Giovanni, about Mozart and hislibrettist, the libertine Lorenzo Da Ponte, who was adisciple of Casanova. Lorenzi Balducciand Tobias Moretti will co-star in the Italian- and German-languagefilm, shooting in Spain and Vienna from November.The $10.2m (Euros 8m) Giovanniis a co-production between Lolafilms, Italy's Edelweiss, Austria's Wega Films and Germany's EMS.

These projects cap a hotyear for Lola, whichis now in post-production on Menno Meyjes' $25.5m (Euros 20m) Manolete starring Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz, a potential Cannescontender for next year; Paz Vega vehicle Teresa,The Body Of Christ (Teresa, El Cuerpo De Cristo), premiering in Spain in late January; and Isi/Disi 2, the sequel to the 2004 local boxoffice hit, premiering in Spain on Dec 1.

In Spain, Lola premieres will now be released through newGomez-backed distributor-producer AZ Films, headed by former DeA Planeta executive president AlvaroZapata.

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