Who said the NFT craze was over? The movie ‘Calladita / The Quiet Maid’, which was bankrolled through the sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), is all set to make its debut at the Tallinn Film Festival, and it has now clinched a global sales agreement.
Marking a significant milestone, ‘The Quiet Maid’ stands as the inaugural European full-length film that utilized NFT sales for its financing. This maiden venture, which doubles as a social commentary, is the brainchild of the Spanish director, Miguel Faus.
The global distribution rights for the film have been acquired by the Iberoamerican enterprise, FilmSharks.
As per Deadline, the deal between the parties was struck at Iberseries, a key industry event that took place in Madrid from October 3 to 6.
The accolades for the film continue to pile up as ‘The Quiet Maid’ secured the Steven Soderbergh Foundation Grand Prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
Steven Soderbergh, a multifaceted American talent known for wearing many hats such as that of a director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor, has an illustrious filmography that includes acclaimed titles like the Ocean’s series, ‘Erin Brockovich’, ‘The Informant’, ‘Contagion’, ‘Haywire’, ‘Magic Mike’, and many more.
Earlier this year, showing his belief in the project, Soderbergh invested a substantial amount of $100,000 into ‘The Quiet Maid’ using an on-chain fund. The film was also honored with an award presented by the Decentralized Pictures Foundation, another testament to Soderbergh’s support and the film’s potential.
Debuting in November
Miguel Faus shared his excitement on Twitter, exclaiming, “Thrilled to announce the World Premiere of THE QUIET MAID / CALLADITA at TallinnBNFF in the First Feature Official Competition,” on October 6.
The esteemed Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival is slated to run from November 3 to 19, with ‘The Quiet Maid / Calladita’ set to make its grand entrance on November 10.
Behind this noteworthy project are production powerhouses Calladita Films, Potenza Producciones, and Decentralized Pictures. The film boasts a stellar cast, including the likes of Paula Grimaldo, Ariadna Gil, Luis Bermejo, and Pol Hermoso.
With a runtime of 90 minutes, the film chronicles the journey of Ana from Colombia as she embarks on a new chapter in her life, working as a servant in a lavish villa owned by an art connoisseur, nestled in one of Catalonia’s upscale Spanish neighborhoods.
“In a matter of days, the villa, seemingly conventional at first, morphs into an enigmatic maze. From its intricate twists and turns, Ana musters the audacity to birth chaos amidst order.”
The narrative finds its roots in a 2020 short film, bearing the same title, previously crafted by Faus. This short film not only graced the screens at Palm Springs Shortfest and Malaga Film Festival but also caught the eye of HBO Max, leading to its acquisition for streaming.
Earlier, in 2018, Faus garnered acclaim with his short film ‘The Death of Don Quixote’, securing the Melies d’Argent for Best European Short Film at the Sitges Film Festival.
Speaking about ‘The Quiet Maid’, Faus expressed to Deadline,
“It’s a narrative of significance, and we’re elated to showcase it on a global platform.”
Federico Pascua, from the Senior Sales and Acquisitions division at Filmsharks, lauded the film, calling it a “gem”. He pointed out that it was its “unique cinematic nuances” that drew their attention. He further elaborated, “It beautifully melds an evident directorial prowess with an astute depiction of today’s social disparities — an issue that resonates universally.”
In a concurrent development, Faus stirred excitement among fans by unveiling a raffle. Fans stand a chance to win a Calladita NFT, provided they successfully identify every NFT featured in the film’s official trailer.
