Luc Besson’s production powerhouse EuropaCorp has boardedAkim Isker’s La Planque (The Hideout, a Euro6 million ($7.8 million) post-heist caper produced by new Paris shingle Les FilmsAlakis.

EuropaCorp will co-produce and take French distribution rights. Screenplay is penned by actor, writer and stage director Jalil Naciri.

Alakis producer Kalid Bazi called Hideout, which rolle Aug. 30, a “comedy with tragic moments,” which “played with stereotypes and cliches.”

Hideout formed one of a potent lineup of projects and productions presented at the San Sebastian Festival’s CRC Co-Production Meeting Tuesday. Forum was organized
by the Ile de France and Madrid Film Commissions.

Ironically, Bazi’s on-set commitments meant he could not travel for the meet. But other producers from France and Spain brought projects involving top talent from Europe and beyond.Isabelle Huppert is attached to star in Captured, from Cannes 2009 best director winner Brillante Mendoza.

Slated to roll Jan. 2011, Captured will be produced by Didier Costet’s Paris-based production-distribution house Swift Productions and, in a prestigious seal of approval, Arte Cinema.

Philippines-set, Capture turns on the hostage-taking of a group of foreign nationals by Abu Sayyaf Group Muslim extremists - seen through the eyes of a French mission volunteer (Huppert).Captured’s large canvas will make it Menadoza’s biggest production to date, Costet said.

One of the Spanish highlights at the coproduction meeting was drama 10,000 Nights in Nowhere, directed and penned by Spain’s Ramon Salazar (Stones), located
in Paris, Madrid and Berlin.

Now shooting, pic tells the story of a son who decides to leave the grey life he was living.
Spanish thesps Andres Gertrudix, Lola Duenas, Carmen Maura and Najwa Nimri topline. Produced by Madrid-based Elamedia, film is looking for Euro partners.

Another standout was the English-anguage $3.3 million drama Looking for Eimish, helmed and produced by firsttimer Ana Rodriguez at Jana Films. Project has just recieved $650,000 in grants from Spain’s Icaa film institute for a screenplaystage movie from a new director.

Also capturing attention was Salto de Eje’s dramedy for a French financial partner to take 10% of co-production. Unas rebajas sin igual, directed by Miguel Angel Calvo Buttini. Structured as a Spain-Portugal co-production, is budgeted at $3.3 million.Other companies involved in Rebajas are Agusti Mezquida’s Prodigius Films and Portugal’s producer Fernando Centeio. Salto is looking

Other notable French projects included Fred Poulet’s Hollywood, Baby, produced by Trompe Le Monde and co-scripted by Mammuth directors Benoit Delepine and Gustave de Kervern; and Fabrice Camoin’s Spain-set Summer Night’s Storm, with a strong cast -Nicole Garcia, Olivier Gourmet, Aure Atika and Samir Guesmi- and production by Les Films du Poisson, which had both On Tour and The Tree at Cannes this year.

“In times of crisis, film producers define their objectives better.

That’s the most important thing. The goal is to have those projects which are really strong co-production bets,”Olivier-Rene Veillon, IDFFC general manager, and MFC manager Manuel Soria coincided.

Emiliano DE PABLOS
John HOPEWELL