“Jessica Alba Boards Switzerland’s Oscar Entry ‘Queens’ as Executive Producer” – Variety Exclusive

Original article on Variety:

Jessica Alba and Tracey Nyberg’s Lady Metalmark Entertainment has boarded “Queens,” Switzerland’s official selection for the international feature Oscar, as executive producer.

The film follows two teenage sisters living in Peru in 1992 as the country slides into political unrest. They are about to leave with their mother to live in the U.S. but they need their father to sign consent papers — he’s been absent for years but now he decides to win back his two “queens.”

Abril Gjurinovic, Gonzalo Molina, Luana Vega and Jimena Lindo star. The film won the Audience Award at this year’s Locarno Film Festival and the Grand Prix in Generation Kplus at the Berlinale, after world premiering at the Sundance Film Festival.

Reynicke, who co-wrote the screenplay with Diego Vega Vidal, drew on her own experience of leaving Peru as a young girl during a period of political turmoil in the early 1990s. She now lives in Switzerland, and the film is a Swiss-Peruvian co-production.

The film is a great fit for actor, producer and businesswoman Alba (she founded the Honest Company). Her shingle Lady Metalmark Entertainment is committed to work with diverse artists and to champion female-driven, culturally diverse and Latino inspired stories.

“We are honored to join Klaudia Reynicke’s extraordinary film ‘Queens’ as executive producers,” said Alba and Nyberg in a joint statement. “This powerful story illuminates the unshakable strength of a mother’s love and her relentless drive to create a better future for her children. Capturing stellar performances amidst the rugged beauty of Lima, Peru, Klaudia is a filmmaker of exceptional talent — something we are excited for audiences to discover as they laugh and cry alongside Elena and her daughters, with a story that will resonate long after the credits roll.”

“In ‘Queens,’ I wanted to craft a film that was both personal and universal, a story about sisterhood, identity, migration and love,” said Reynicke.  “Jessica Alba understands these themes on an emotional level, which is why having her as an executive producer feels like a dream. With her passion and heritage guiding the film, Queens becomes more than just a story, it’s a tribute to the strength of families and the hope that carries us forward. I am equally thrilled that her partner, Tracey Nyberg, is joining us as an executive producer, bringing her expertise and dedication to amplify the impact of this story. This collaboration is a testament to the power of women supporting each other to tell stories that matter — stories about childhood, parenthood, resilience, and the strength we find in hope.”