François Arnaud’s first Spanish-language role from Heated Rivalry, ‘April’

LA-based sales company Concourse Media has acquired worldwide sales rights to the Costa Rican family drama “April” (“Abril”) ahead of its Feb. 7 world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The company wants to start sales at the festival before going on to the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.

A deeply personal story for writer-director Hernán Jiménez, “April” follows the titular character, a divorcee played by Maricarmen Merino, who struggles to connect with her resentful daughter. When the daughter decides to live with her father, April is at a loss until she meets handsome bartender Gabriel, played by “Heated Rivalry” star François Arnaud in his first Spanish-language role. This unexpected bond with Gabriel offers her a glimpse into life outside marriage and motherhood – until hidden truths about her past force her to break down.

“’April’ is a deeply human story that feels both intimate and universal,” said Kristin Harris, head of acquisitions at Concourse Media. “Hernán Jiménez brings extraordinary empathy and precision to the film and Maricarmen Merino delivers a performance that is quietly devastating.”

Jiménez, who plays the ex-husband, based the story on his own frayed relationship with his mother. He also left home early, breaking her heart in the process. His film has a happier ending, unlike that of his mother, whose mental and physical health deteriorated.

“I see it more as a bittersweet ending than a completely happy ending. But yes, I think that Abril as a character is not only trying to portray my mother, but also trying to win her back in some way. Note that something very strange – and again, bittersweet – has happened with the decline of my mother’s mental and physical health: I have been able to say things to her, to touch her, to hug her in a way that I have never been able to do before. Something like the message from daughter Valentina at the end. So today my mother is ‘far away’, ‘away in a sense’, but closer than she ever was,” he shared Variety.

“My history with my mother is very complicated. I don’t think the film manages to fully capture it, but it is an attempt,” he noted.

The film was produced by Jiménez and Esteban Quesada under their production company Witch Rock.

He added: “From our initial conversations, Concourse Media understood what makes this film special and how we can position it internationally. I’m thrilled they will lead global sales and am grateful to be working with a team that is both ambitious for the film and deeply respectful of the work.”

Jiménez’s multiple credits include the rom-com “Entonces nosotros” (“About Us”), which won the second-best opening weekend for a local film in the history of Costa Rican cinema and represented the country at the 89th Academy Awards.

He later made his English-language feature film debut with “Elsewhere,” which debuted in 2020 and starred Parker Posey, Aden Young, Ken Jeong and Beau Bridges.

He also co-wrote the Amazon Studios biopic “A Million Miles Away,” based on the life of NASA astronaut José Hernández, played by Michael Peña and directed by Mexico. Alejandra Marquez Abella.

His Netflix romantic comedy “Love Hard” debuted in 2021, where it became the platform’s highest-rated film internationally.

Jimenez had been struggling for years to make “April” in Los Angeles, where he lives. “After years of development in limbo, I got tired of waiting: I flew back to Costa Rica and poured my heart (and all my savings) into ‘Abril.’ This film is the result of one of the most loving and healing collaborations I have ever experienced, and has changed the trajectory of how I write, direct, act and create.” Shooting in Costa Rica was also an eye-opening experience. The country now has more competitive filming incentives, skilled bilingual crews and a proven track record with a variety of international shoots.

“April” star Merino is also a director. Her short film “Bella” was shown in official selections at the Guadalajara Film Festival and EnergaCameraimage and received the Best Director Award at the International Short Film Festival in Mexico. Her documentary feature debut “¿Dónde estás?” premiered at the 2018 Guadalajara Film Festival.