Julio Medem's erotic Spanish epic Sex And Lucia (Lucia Y El Sexo) has closed brisk sales worldwide, fulfilling expectations that the local hit from production powerhouse Sogecine would travel.

A round-up of deals for Latin America and Europe closed after recent markets by sales house Sogepaq bodes well for the film, already Spain's third top grossing domestic hit this year. Further deals - including to the US - look promising if Lucia travels to international festivals in early 2002 as anticipated.

Medem's previous effort, 1999's The Lovers Of The Arctic Circle (Los Amantes Del Circulo Polar), won kudos in Sundance, where it was picked up by Fine Line for distribution in the US.

Lucia sold all rights to Mexico (Gussi), Brazil (Providence), Venezuela (Cines Unidos), Argentina-Uruguay-Paraguay (Orler) and Bolivia-Peru-Ecuador-Columbia-Central America (Babilla Cinema). HBO is understood to be in negotiations for pan-regional pay TV rights for Latin America.

In Europe, the film has sold everywhere except Germany, including to the UK (Metro Tartan), Scandinavia (Nonstop Entertainment), Holland-Benelux (Fu- Works), Italy (Fandango), Portugal (MPA), Greece (Rosebud), Switzerland (Xenix) and Austria (Poly Film). Eastern Europe also sold extensively and Asian pick-ups included for Hong Kong (Edko Films) and Korea (Ganza).

Lucia was backed by France's Studio Canal Plus, a shareholder in Sogecine/Sogepaq umbrella org Sogecable. Another Sogecine title, Juana La Loca, was picked up by Cine Canal for pay TV in all Latin America and has sold extensively in Latin America and Eastern Europe as well.