SAN SEBASTIAN — Spanish arthouse distributor Golem has picked up all Spanish rights on Japanese helmer Hirokazu Kore-eda’s family drama “Still Walking,” a San Sebastian Competition contender.
Kore-eda’s third pic to play in competition at the fest, “Walking” turns on grown-up children who visit their elderly parents to commemorate the death of the eldest son 15 years ago. The film explores the subtle changes affecting each family member.
Deal was closed in San Sebastian by Celluloid Dreams prexy Hengameh Panahi and Golem founders Josetxo Moreno, Pedro Zaratiegui and Otilio Garcia.
“Walking” continues Golem’s relationship with Kore-eda. It handled his “Nobody Knows” in Spain in 2005.
Specializing in festival pics, Golem is buying cautiously due to low returns on most pics at the Spanish box office.
At San Sebastian, Moreno lamented “the increasing disconnect between international festivals’ programming criteria and audience tastes.”
