Spanish production outfit Mate Productions has launched an international sales division which will make its market debut at Cannes.

Sales will be co-ordinated under executive Pablo Davila, formerly with Lolafilms. The first title on the company's sales slate is Argentine co-production Private Lives (Vidas Privadas) starring Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother) and Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien) for director Fito Paez. The film premiered last September at the San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Headed by Mate Cantero and Stephane Sorlat, Madrid-based Mate is a frequent co-producer with France and Latin America. The company currently has three titles in post-production: Arturo Ripstein's La Virgin De La Lujuria, handled internationally by Mercure Distribution; Cedric Klapisch's L'Auberge Espanol, sold by Wild Bunch; and Sansa, a co-production with France's Initial.