Spain'sSogepaq has signed a deal to release all of itsproductions and acquisitions locally through Hispano Foxfilm,including new titles from Antonio Banderas and Julio Medem.

This agreement follows the December 31, 2005 end to Warner Sogefilms, the local distribution venture forged by Sogepaq and Warner Bros in January 1998.

The deal encompasses theatrical distribution through Hispano Foxfilm, 20th Century Fox's banner in Spain,while20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has already beenhandling local video on Sogepaq pick-ups and sistercompany Sogecine productions since last year.

The first film out of the deal is David Trueba'sWelcome Home (Bienvenido A Casa), a Sogepaq pick-up from producers Fernando TruebaPC and Ensueno Films, set to inaugurate the SpanishFilm Festival of Malaga. It will open nation-wide in Spainon April 7. Sogepaq has also acquired internationalrights to the Trueba film.

On Sogecine's production slate this year isAntonio Banderas' El Camino De Los Ingleses, Julio Medem's ChaoticAna (Caotica Ana), Fernando Colomo'sThe Near East (El Proximo Oriente)and Guillermo Fesser's Candida.

"The distribution business is in a deep process of transformation andwe believe Fox has the necessary structure and flexibility to adapt to the newpanorama and boost the distribution of Spanish films," Sogecine-Sogepaqgeneral manager Fernando Bovaira said in a statement.

"Sogecine and Sogepaqhave shown their know-how with excellent films over many years," added Hispano Foxfilm general manager Miguel Lustau."This deal allows us to work together on their promotion and distribution."

Hispano Foxfilm was the second top grossingdistributor in Spainlast year with $132m (Euros 110m), behind UIP, while Warner Sogefilmswas fourth with $95m (Euros 79m). However, those rankings were exactly thereverse in 2004, when Warner Sogefilms had three ofthe top five features released in Spainincluding Sogecine's Oscar-winning production TheSea Inside (Mar Adentro).