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, and The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus (originally 2014, wider release 2022), a horror film directed by the Hensman Brothers. On the television side, Mano a Mano has produced documentaries for French broadcasters including France 2, France 3, and France 5, covering subjects from World War II operations to the French atomic bomb program.
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.
Example Titles They've Released
Mano a Mano Films has produced a small number of fiction features and television documentaries. 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. Level 33 Entertainment distributed the film in the United States with a limited theatrical release on August 21, 2015, followed by digital and DVD releases. The film 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-action film directed by the Hensman Brothers and starring Danny Trejo, Adrian Paul, and Nick Chinlund. Co-produced with Lennexe Films and Chu Media, the film received a limited theatrical run at Regency Theatres Van Nuys in June 2022, followed by cable VOD on June 7, 2022, and digital release on July 7, 2022. Stonecutter Media handled distribution.
On the television side, Mano a Mano has produced documentaries for French broadcasters including France 2, France 3, and France 5. Subjects include 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.
Deal Structure Reputation
Mano a Mano Films operates as a co-production partner, not as a distributor that acquires finished films through MG-based deals. 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. The primary value is in French co-production status, which unlocks CNC funding eligibility (including the Aide aux cinemas du monde grant, capped at 300,000 euros for pre-filming support) and Arte France Cinema co-production backing, 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. No MG figures or acquisition deals have been reported in trade publications, consistent with the company's production-focused model.
Typical Acquisition Profile
Mano a Mano does not acquire finished films. The company functions as a co-production partner for projects with Latin American or Costa Rican subject matter, particularly small-budget fiction features or television documentaries. There are no open submissions. Projects originate through personal networks and industry connections.
For filmmakers seeking a French co-production partner, Mano a Mano offers official French co-production status, which is the main asset. A French co-production qualifies for CNC selective grants, Arte co-production funding, and access to the French arthouse cinema network. The company's NAF/APE code 5911A registration confirms its status as an accredited French production company eligible for CNC support. Filmmakers should approach the company with projects that have a clear French or European co-production rationale, not merely as a source of production funding.
Recent Slate and Acquisition Activity
Mano a Mano Films has not announced new fiction feature productions since The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus received its wider release in 2022. The company's television documentary output for French broadcasters appears to continue, though specific recent titles are not publicly cataloged. The company's website (manoamanofilms.com) was not accessible as of July 2026, which limits public visibility into current activity.
Filmmakers wishing to make contact should use the registered business addresses (1 Villa Gaudelet, 11th arrondissement, or 55 bis Rue de Lyon, 12th arrondissement, Paris) or reach out through French industry networks such as Unifrance or the CNC's production directory. The company's inactivity in fiction features since 2022 suggests that television documentary production may be its primary current focus.
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. The primary value of partnering with Mano a Mano is French co-production status, which unlocks CNC and Arte funding eligibility, rather than substantial cash investment. Filmmakers should approach the company with projects that have a clear French or European co-production rationale.
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).
Watch: Trailers and Interviews
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.
