Written, directed and produced by Guillermo Del Toro, "Pan's Labyrinth" is a fairy tale about Ofelia, a small girl who moves with her family into a home in rural Spain in 1944. The girl has an active imagination and prefers the world she's created in her mind to the physical one that surrounds her. Exploring the area around her new home, the child discovers a fawn who lives in an old labyrinth behind the family's house. Set against the backdrop of a fascist regime, "Pan's Labyrinth" is a hauntingly chilling story in which the film's central character deals with the world around her through the creation of her own fable.
One of the stars of Del Toro's "Hellboy," Doug Jones, plays the role of Pan. The film also stars Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, and Mirabel Verdu.
In a statement issued by Picturehouse announcing the acquistion, del Toro said, "This film has been the single most fulfilling creative experience of my career. Hopefully it represents a future direction for my work. 'Pan's Labyrinth' is a passion project and it took over two years of my life to see it made the way I wanted it.”
Acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón also produced the film along with del Toro, Frida Torresblanco and Bertha Navarro. "Pan's Labyrinth" was executive produced by Alvaro Augustin and Guillermo Navarro served as director of photography.
Variety reports Picturehouse bought the North American distribution rights to Del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" for $6 million. The studio plans on releasing the film in October 2006.
Picturehouse was launched in April 2005 and is a joint venture of HBO and New Line Cinema.
SOURCE: Variety/Picturehouse
