Tristan Ulloa (The Nameless), Maria Adanez (Cha Cha Cha) and Luis Tosar (Flowers From Another World) have signed on to star in director Anton Reixa's The Carpenter's Pencil (El Lapiz Del Carpintero). The project marks the first co-production between Madrid outfits Morena Films and Sogecine, together with Galicia-based start-up Portozas Vision.

Xose Morais and director Reixa collaborated on the script for Pencil, a story of love and persecution set against the Spanish Civil War. The script is based on the best-selling novel by Manuel Rivas, whose work also provided the inspiration behind Jose Luis Cuerda's Butterfly (La Lengua De Las Mariposas).

Shooting will crank up Monday, July 2 in the northern Spanish province of Galicia. Budget is set at $2.7m (PTS517m) with backing from broadcasters Telemadrid, Television de Galicia, Antena 3, Canal Plus Espana and CTV. Morena's Juan Gordon takes producer credits.

Nancho Novo (The Lovers Of The Arctic Circle), Maria Pujalte (Washington Wolves) and Manuel Manquina (Airbag) co-star.

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