BUENOS AIRES – In its second acquisitions announcement – but this time for world sales – Paul Hudson’s Outsider Pictures has picked up international distribution rights to feel-good comedy “The Alien,” the latest film from Mexico’s Jesus Magaña Vazquez whose “Alicia en el Pais de Maria” won Best International Film at London’s Raindance Fest this September.

Mexico’s Stephanie Sigman, star of “Alicia en el Pais de Maria” went on to feature in “Narcos” and play Estrella in the pre-title sequence of “Spectre.”

Hudson, Magaña and producer Candy Alvarado sealed the sales agent’s deal at Buenos Aires’ Ventana Sur.

One of the most audience-friendly titles at this year’s mega Latin American film market, co-organized by the Cannes Festival and Marché du Film and Argentina’s INCAA Film Institute, “El Alien” is available for screening in Films in Progress (FIP), a video library selection of titles which flies slightly under the radar compared to the high-profile Primer Corte cut of six pix-in-post, screened at Buenos Aires Cinemark Puerto Madero multiplex, but is still vital for fest programmers, distributors and sales agents.

“El Alien” centers on a punk band that just isn’t working. It auditions for a new keyboard player – and by far the best and most talented artist also has Down syndrome, but he changes the music – from punk to “anarcumbia” – and more importantly the lives of the band members forever.

“The Alien” – Pepe – is played by Paco de la Fuente.

“The Alien” is always entertaining and tells the classic story of the rock band trying to make it big with a smile on its face and with its heart in the right place,” Hudson said.

“Since I read ‘El Alien Agropecuario – the short story by Carlos Velázquez-  I started imagining the film. The challenge was to give to the story a human touch without losing the acid humor from the original story,” said Magana Vazquez.

“Above all, the intention in making this film was to tell the story of the rise and fall of a music band that in order to become successful they betray their ideals and how a youngster with different abilities, with enough wisdom to lack an ego, an “alien” from another planet, leads and changes the lives of three measly earthlings,” he added.

Written by Magaña and longtime co-scribe Fernando del Razo, “The Alien” is set up at Mexico City’s Sobrevivientes.

John Hopewell

Chief International Correspondent@john_hopewell https://variety.com/2015/film/global/ventana-sur-outsider-pictures-the-alien-1201652562/