Buena Vista Takes Latin American and U.S. Rights to Lucía Puenzo’s Criminal Epic ‘Pepita’ (Exclusive)

Underscoring a renewed appetite for Latin American cinema, Buena Vista has secured Latin American and U.S. rights to “Pepita,” the latest feature from renowned Argentine writer-director Lucía Puenzo.

The news was announced to Variety by Puenzo at the South International Series Festival in Cádiz, whose third edition closed Wednesday Sept. 17 with the screening of Puenzo’s “Futuro Desierto,” a Mexican dystopian drama series teaming Gaumont USA, Paramount TV Intl. Studios and Tis Studios.

A real life-inspired story

In post, “Pepita” toplines Argentine star Luisana Lopilato, who also serves as executive producer.

Inspired by the notorious real-life figure of Margarita Di Tullio, known as “Pepita La Pistolera,” the film charts her rise from glamorous madame in Mar del Plata’s underworld to infamous legend after a triple homicide in 1985 that cemented her place in Argentina’s criminal mythology.

“Pepita” is produced for Buena Vista by Lucas Jinkis’ Zeppelin Studio Latin America,…