Telefonica : Telecinco Cinema, Telefónica Studios and Los Rockets AIE reach an agreement with Paramount Pictures for the worldwide distribution of ‘Capture the flag’ and the second part of ‘Tad, the lost explorer’

On the 45th anniversary of the first Moon Landing a new mission is launched, this time on film, to rescue the flag that was planted on the Moon on July 21st, 1969.

Telecinco Cinema, Telefónica Studios and Los Rockets AIE have signed a strategic agreement with Paramount Pictures for worldwide distribution of both 'CAPTURE THE FLAG' and the second installment of 'TAD', new animation projects from director Enrique Gato. These movies will arrive in 2015 and 2016 respectively. They are preceded by the international success of 'TAD, THE LOST EXPLORER', the highest-grossing Spanish animated film, one of the Top 10 highest-ranking box-office hits in the country.

This partnership represents a Spanish Cinema milestone in that it will be the first time a Hollywood studio agrees to distribute two Spanish films worldwide.

"We are very pleased to once again participate with Mediaset Spain, Telefónica Studios and their partners in two upcoming animation releases. Paramount has a long history of launching animated films worldwide and is looking forward to this new partnership opportunity", says Anthony Marcoly, president of Paramount for International Film Distribution.

"After the national and international success of our first foray into animation with 'TAD, THE LOST EXPLORER', what better partnership than that of the ambitious production company Telecinco Cinema and the long-established and successful distributor Paramount Pictures", says Ghislain Barrois, Telecinco Cinema CEO.

For Axel Kuschevatzky, Director of Telefónica Studios, "We do see both projects as a huge leap ahead for Spanish animation in terms of global distribution. It clearly shows the high quality generated by Spanish talent and the commitment of everyone involved. Both movies will appeal a wide audience worldwide. Spain has an outstanding tradition in the animation field and we are proud to be part of it".

"This agreement demonstrates the potential of the animation industry in Spain, where innumerable local professionals are able to generate global products", says Nico Matji, CEO of the animation studio Lightbox Entertainment.

'CAPTURE THE : BY THE

'CAPTURE THE FLAG' is a fantasy about Man's return to the Moon, directed by Enrique Gato following the success of 'TAD, THE LOST EXPLORER'. Regarding this new project, Enrique Gato says that "as soon as I read the script I knew we had something really significant on our hands. It was born from the great passion that still surrounds the Space Race of the '60s".

Jordi Gasull, creator and co-scriptwriter of 'CAPTURE THE FLAG', says the film "is designed to reawaken for us the dream of space of the man who first set foot on the Moon, and take today's generations there and beyond, in search of adventure, excitement and fun".

The film tells how ruthless billionaire Richard Carson plans to take over Earth's satellite and exploit the source of clean energy of the future, Helium 3. He thus plans to rewrite history and delete the feats of the Apollo XI astronauts and their famous first steps on the Moon, something that forty percent of the world's population believes to be a lie. The only one able to keep Carson from getting away with it all is a cheerful, headstrong twelve-year-old surfer, Mike Goldwing. Along with his friends Marty the geek, future journalist Amy and a small lizard who aspires to be Godzilla, they travel to the Moon. Also on board is Mike's grandfather, a former astronaut who has been estranged from his family for years. The future of the Earth and that of his own family is now in Mike's hands.

TAD JONES: THE HERO RETURNS (PREMIERE: 2016)

Following the unanimous public and critical recognition achieved in 2012 by 'TAD, THE LOST EXPLORER', the highest-grossing ever Spanish animated film with a worldwide gross of over 45 million, the second part of the adventures of the loveable mason will reach theatres in 2016.

On board again will be Enrique Gato as director , with the codirection of David Alonso and  Jordi Gasull, Javier Barreira and Neil Landau as screenwriters, reuniting the successful team that created the first part of the story in 2012.

Director Enrique Gato is "proud of the achievements of Tad, a big-nosed character with enormous feet that one day over 12 years ago I decided to capture in a sketch. Today he is a member of the family".

"The adventurous mason returns with new and exciting exploits", explains Jordi Gasull, co-writer, "even more hilarious, but still tenderhearted. And this was no decision of ours. It was the public who said, 'We want more Tad!".

Telefonica Studios is a driving force in the Spanish and Latinamerica´s film scene, with no less than 12 features released per year. Some titles co-produced by Telefonica Studios includes Damian Sziffron´s Wild Tales, Alejandro Amenabar's Regression, Juan José Campanella's Foosball, Eugenio Mira´s Grand Piano starring Elijah Wood and the animated hit The Adventures of Tad Jones (aka Tad The lost explorer). The company has been associated to talented filmmakers and stars like Robert Duvall, John Cusack, Gael García Bernal, Ethan Hawke, Emma Watson, Michael Sheen, Ricardo Darin, Joseph Fiennes, Alice Braga, Walter Salles, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, Pedro Almodovar, Sam Neill, Rodrigo Cortes, Matthew Fox, Alec Baldwin, Gustavo Santaolalla and Jaume Collet-Serra, among many others.

prensatelefonica@telefonica.com