Mano a Mano Films

Overview

Mano a Mano Films is a small Paris-based production company registered as a French SARL (limited liability company) with a capital of 61,140 euros. The company is registered under NAF/APE code 5911A (production of films and television programs) and operates from two Paris addresses: 1 Villa Gaudelet in the 11th arrondissement and 55 bis Rue de Lyon in the 12th arrondissement. The company has produced a limited number of fiction features and television documentaries, with a particular focus on Latin American subject matter.

The company's fiction output includes After Words (2015), directed by Juan Feldman and starring Marcia Gay Harden, Oscar Jaenada, and Jenna Ortega. The film follows a depressed librarian who travels to Costa Rica and finds unexpected connection with a local tour guide. It was released in the United States in August 2015 and is available on Prime Video, Tubi, Kanopy, and The Roku Channel. The company also produced The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus (originally 2014, wider release 2022), a horror film directed by the Hensman Brothers, co-produced with Lennexe Films and Chu Media.

On the television side, Mano a Mano has produced documentaries for French broadcasters including France 2, France 3, and France 5. These include films about Allied operations in Austrian salt mines at the end of World War II, painters and forgers during the war, and the French atomic bomb program. The company maintains a production blog documenting its television work.

The French Market for Latin American Cinema

France is one of the most receptive European markets for Latin American and Ibero-American cinema. The French theatrical system supports foreign film distribution through several mechanisms: the Centre national du cinema (CNC) provides selective distribution support for foreign arthouse films; the Arte France Cinema co-production fund actively backs Latin American projects; and the French arthouse cinema network (cinemas classed art et essai) programs world cinema as a core part of its mission.

For Latin American filmmakers seeking French theatrical distribution, the relevant acquisition targets are not companies like Mano a Mano (which is a production company, not a distributor) but rather established French distributors that handle Latin American titles. These include Jour2Fete (which has released films from Tunisia, Algeria, Iceland, and Somalia), Pyramide Distribution, BAC Films, and Memento Distribution. The Catalan Films directory lists Mano a Mano as a co-production partner, not a distribution partner, which accurately reflects its operational scope.

Films from Latin America with strong festival credentials - Cannes selections, Venice premieres, Berlin competition - can find meaningful theatrical audiences in France. The Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (BAFICI) and San Sebastian are key acquisition venues for French distributors sourcing Latin American titles. Sales agents such as Latido Films and Film Factory handle international rights for many Latin American productions.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Mano a Mano Films is a production company, not a theatrical distributor. Filmmakers seeking French theatrical distribution for completed Latin American films should approach established French distributors directly or through their international sales agent. Mano a Mano's relevance is as a potential co-production partner for projects with Latin American or Costa Rican subject matter, particularly small-budget fiction features or television documentaries.

The company's capital base of 61,140 euros indicates a micro-scale operation. Filmmakers considering Mano a Mano as a co-production partner should understand that the company's capacity for financial contribution is limited, and the primary value may be in French co-production status (which unlocks CNC and Arte funding eligibility) rather than in substantial cash investment. The company's track record with After Words demonstrates an ability to attract named talent (Marcia Gay Harden, Jenna Ortega) to small-budget projects, which suggests existing relationships with U.S. and Latin American agencies.

The company's website (manoamanofilms.com) was not accessible as of July 2026. Filmmakers wishing to make contact should use the registered business addresses or reach out through French industry networks such as Unifrance or the CNC's production directory.

Comparable French Distributors for Latin American Cinema

For filmmakers specifically seeking French theatrical distribution for Latin American films, the following companies are more appropriate targets:

• Memento Distribution: Released Jafar Panahi's It Was Just An Accident (700,000 admissions in 2025) and Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value (440,000 admissions). Handles auteur-driven international cinema with political undertones.
• Jour2Fete: Releases 12 to 18 films per year with a focus on emerging directors from underrepresented regions. Catalog includes 190+ titles.
• Pyramide Distribution: One of France's most established arthouse distributors, handling international acquisitions across all territories.
• BAC Films: Mid-tier French distributor with international acquisitions and a sales arm (The Party Film Sales).

See Also

For French distributors that actively acquire Latin American cinema, see Memento Films and Jour2Fete in this directory. For international sales representation for Latin American cinema, see the Latido Films entry in this directory. For how French co-production financing works alongside theatrical distribution, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model co-production financing structures across European and Latin American territories, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.