Berto Romero’s ‘Five More Minutes,’ From Movistar Plus+, The Mediapro Studio, Pounced on by Filmax (EXCLUSIVE)

Headlining Romero, ‘Talk to Her’ star Javier Cámara and Goya winner Belén Cuesta, ‘Five More Minutes’ will be introduced to buyers at the AFM

Berto Romero’s “Five More Minutes,” a Movistar Plus+ original produced by The Mediapro Studio’s El Terrat and Ikiru Films, has had its international sales rights acquired by Barcelona studio Filmax. 

As announced, Filmax already handles upcoming distribution in Spain. It will show first images at this week’s American Film Market. 

“Five More Minutes” marks the first feature as a writer-star from comedian Romero who broke out to huge fame in Spain as a fixture on Andreu Buenafuente’s “Late Motiv,” Spain’s biggest late-night show over 2016-21, as a comedic advice columnist. 

Announced in January this year at a presentation of Movistar Plus+’s movie slate which also included Oliver Laxe’s Cannes Jury Award winner “Sirât” and the upcoming “The Beloved” from Rodrigo Sorogoyen, starring Javier Bardem, “Five More Minutes” is directed by popular Spanish helmer Javier Ruiz Caldera whose “Wolfgang” currently rates as the third highest-grossing Spanish film of 2025, scoring €4.0 million ($4.6 million) at theaters in Spain. 

Also toplining Javier Cámara, star of Almodóvar’s “Talk to Her” and Cesc Gay’s “Truman,” and Belén Cuesta, a best actress Goya winner for “The Endless Trench,” “Five More Minutes” weighs in as a return to the genre hybrid – a dark, horror-laced fantasy comedy-thriller – which Romero worked so well in his second series for Movistar Plus, 2023’s “The Other Side.” 

“I’m a stand-up comic, TV, radio. But I’m more interested in hybrid genre than pure comedy,” Romero has told Variety.

In “Five More Minutes,” an on-the-rocks couple retreat to a secluded countryside house for the weekend to try to repair their marriage. They are greeted by the singular head of the real estate agency who shows them around the place and hands over the keys. Just before he leaves, however, the entire world slips into a time loop, and the last five minutes begin to repeat endlessly.

“Five More Minutes” is produced by Ikiru’s Edmon Roch (“The Perfume”), Mediapro’s Laura Fernández Espeso (“The 47,” “The Good Boss”) and Berto Romero and The Mediapro Studio’s Javier Méndez (“The 47,” “The Good Boss”), as well as Guillermo Farré (“Sirat,” “Sundays”) and Fran Araújo (“Sirat,” “Sundays”) from Movistar Plus+. Clara Valle serves as executive producer. Key cast also takes in Carlos Bernardino (“Love and Revolution”), Marc Soler (“Celeste”) and Clàudia Melo (“On the Fringe”). 

“We are so excited to have “Five More Minutes”in our line-up. It is a really great project and has such wonderful commercial potential, so we can’t wait to present it to buyers at this year’s AFM,” said Ivan Díaz, head of international at Filmax.

“The creatives and production crew behind this film are some of the best in the trade and from the first moment the script landed on our desks, we knew we wanted to be a part of this project,” he added. “The film is truly original and plays so masterfully with the concept of time. The mix of genres is irresistible, including elements of thriller, horror and dark comedy, all of which fit brilliantly with our slate and with our usual clients. We’re sure it’s going to be one of the films of the year in Spain in 2026.”

Combining “narrative rhythm, wit and a visual sensibility that connects very well with audiences,” Filmax said in a statement Wednesday, Ruiz Caldera has also directed local cinema parody “Spanish Movie” (2009), super-hero satire “Superlópez” (2018) and the seven Goya-nominated “Three Many Weddings” (2013). They have grossed $10.9 million, $14.3 million and $8.5 million respectively in Spain.   

By Variety - See full article here