AFM News: Coach 14 to sell, WME to represent ‘Castro’s Daughter’

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 10, 2009 -
Hollywood, CA—Coach 14, a  French-based international film sales company, has picked up foreign sales rights to Academy Award winner, Bobby Moresco’s (‘Crash,’ ‘Million Dollar Baby’) larger-than-life drama, ‘Castro’s Daughter.’  Moresco, who won an Oscar for co-writing Crash in 2005, co-wrote the screenplay with Pulitzer Prize winner, Nilo Cruz (‘Anna in the Tropics’); Cruz was the first Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2003—Moresco will be directing the picture. WME’s Alexis Garcia brokered the deal, which was put together with Coach 14’s Jaume Domenech, and ‘Castro’s Daughter’ producer, John Torres Martinez.
The epic true story follows the life of Alina Fernandez; who was the result of a love affair Fidel Castro had with Naty Revuelta, a highly attractive Cuban socialite, prior to the revolution.  Revuelta provided her mansion to the Castro’s nightly for the planning of their first failed attempt at overthrowing the country’s previous leader, and is said to have been a driving force that put Castro in power for nearly half a century.  As a child, Fernandez recalls Castro’s secret nightly visits, and grew up hidden in the shadows of her father, and her country, until the age of ten: when she was told that Castro was her father. Through adolescence and adulthood, Fernandez maintained their relationship; and after years of openly expressing her differences with Castro, Fernandez became a dissident forbidden to leave Cuba. In 1993, with help from the international community, Fernandez fled the island, with a falsified passport, on an airplane disguised as a Spanish tourist.  Her riveting life story went on to get published in virtually every language around the world, and tells insights of what it was like growing up as the daughter of Castro, and also tells a story that the world would otherwise never know.
William Morris Endeavor Entertainment is also representing the film for sales and packaging. The agency’s finance and distribution unit, otherwise known as WME Global, is handling the film. Alexis Garcia, who is a member of WME’s power packaging team, nabbed representation rights, and will be working together with Martinez on the film’s packaging throughout development and production—and throughout the film’s distribution.  Martinez comments: “We are very excited to have established a relationship with both Coach 14 and WME. We truly are excited at Coach’s enthusiasm toward the film, and feel honored to have Alexis, who has such a high level of positive energy, representing the film.” ‘Castro’s Daughter’ Executive Producer Joe Lamy will be working on financial structuring. Casting is set to soon begin.

About Artists Relations Group:

Artists Relations Group (ARG) is a company formed by John Torres Martinez and Noel Tristan specifically for the development and production of Castro’s Daughter.

Martinez, who previously managed an Austin, Texas-based law firm, has headed the film since it’s inception, and originally acquired the exclusive life rights directly from Fernandez. Martinez has put together the writer and director deals with Moresco and Cruz, and will continue to put talent deals together for the film. Martinez is producer, story rights manager, head of production packaging—and the official spokesperson for the film.  

Tristan, a producer on the film, manages business administration, and development finances at the company.

About Moresco Productions:

Moresco Productions is a company formed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Bobby Moresco to develop and produce film and television projects. Through the company Moresco (Crash, Million Dollar Baby) is writing, producing and will be directing the film. In addition to Castro’s Daughter, the company has several features and pilots on slate. Staffers at the company include Gilles Chiasson, and Jessica Brennan.

Contact:
John Martinez
Producer, head of development packaging & director of public relations
Artists Relations Group, LLC
512-709-2271
john@artistsrelationsgroup.com

For more information about the film, Alina Fernandez or worldwide entertainment press articles, please visit the news section, and online press kit, at the film website at:
www.castrosdaughter.com