Zentropa Intl. Spain boards 'Chrysalis'

BARCELONA -- Zentropa Intl. Spain, the Barcelona-based arm of Lars von Trier's and Peter Aalbaeck Jensen's Zentropa Ent., has boarded Paula Ortiz's intimate drama "De tu ventana a la mia" (Chrysalis). Maribel Verdu ("Pan's Labyrinth," "Y tu mama tambien") stars. Also produced by Amapola Films and Puy Oria's Oria Films, "Chrysalis" world preems Friday at the 56th Valladolid Festival. Danish sales outfit TrustNordisk handles international sales. "Chrysalis" turns on three generations of women -- represented by Violeta, Ines and Luisa -- who battle to defend their dreams and freedom in the male-ruled Spain of 1923, 1940 and 1975, turning points in the country's history. Leticia Dolera ("Spanish Movie") and Luisa Gavasa ("Mensaka") play Violeta and Luisa. "This is a drama in the style of Federico Garcia Lorca, both in its exploration of character, its passions and aesthetic care: Every frame could be a poster," said David Matamoros, Zentropa Spain CEO. He added that the film was aimed at a broad audience, but targeted women. Amapola Films is a new Zaragoza-based company set up by Ortiz, Kike Mora and Raul Garcia. Mora and Ortiz studied at NY's Tisch School of the Arts and L.A.'s UCLA. Founded in 1999, Oria Films has produced all of the recent films from Montxo Armendariz, including his latest, "Don't Be Afraid," and 2005's "Obaba." One of Spain's best-known vet auteurs ("Secrets of the Heart"), Armedariz exec produces. Pic is Spaniard Ortiz's feature debut. She also penned the script. "Chrysalis" has been pre-sold to pubcaster TVE and has received a ICAA Spanish Film Institute subsidy. "Chrysalis" opens March 9 in Spain via Alta Films, a day after International Women's Day. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com