Spain's Sogepaq has announced the first sales on AlejandroAmenabar's The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro)following its double prize coup in Venice over the weekend.

The company closed seven territories including Switzerland(Frenetic), Netherlands (A Film), Portugal (Atalanta), Belgium (CineArt),Hungary (Budapest Film), Greece (Strada) and Israel (Shani Films).

Fine Line already has English-speaking territories, whileFrance and Italy lie with co-producers UGC Images and Eyescreen. Pony Canyonpicked up rights in Japan last month. Sogepaq is holding back on other majorterritories to show buyers in Toronto.

"This film is surpassing our expectations in everyterritory," admitted Sogepaq deputy director of distribution Simon de Santiago."It has crossed the barrier for a foreign-language film."

"The reception is unusual for a Spanish film and interestwas only enhanced by the Venice awards," which included the Grand Jury Prizeand best actor for Javier Bardem, who plays a tetraplegic fighting for hisright-to-die in the true story-inspired drama.

A Sogecine co-production with Amenabar's own Himenoptero, Sea is also fast on its way to becomingthe top-grossing domestic release in Spain this year, with over Euros 6mgrossed to date according to Sogepaq estimates.