Exclusive: Production has begun on the new Netflix series The Gringo Hunters in Mexico City and the core cast has been revealed. They include José María Yazpik, Sebastian Roché, Harold Torres and Mayra Hermosillo. Plans to shoot in Tijuana are also in place.
Torres and Hermosillo are part of the gringo hunters’ core group alongside Manuel Masalva, Andrew Leland Rogers, Héctor Kotsifakis, Dagoberto Gama and Regina Nava. Gerardo Trejoluna and Paulina Dávila also star. All 11 are contracted as series regulars on the bilingual crime series which will be shot mostly in Spanish with some English.
As Deadline revealed exclusively in 2022, a series based on The Washington Post story “A U.S. murder suspect fled to Mexico. The Gringo Hunters were waiting,” by Kevin Sieff was in development for Netflix. The series is inspired by a real elite...
Torres and Hermosillo are part of the gringo hunters’ core group alongside Manuel Masalva, Andrew Leland Rogers, Héctor Kotsifakis, Dagoberto Gama and Regina Nava. Gerardo Trejoluna and Paulina Dávila also star. All 11 are contracted as series regulars on the bilingual crime series which will be shot mostly in Spanish with some English.
As Deadline revealed exclusively in 2022, a series based on The Washington Post story “A U.S. murder suspect fled to Mexico. The Gringo Hunters were waiting,” by Kevin Sieff was in development for Netflix. The series is inspired by a real elite...
- 3/12/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
The problem with ‘Madame Web’ begins with its title. It appears that the makers had some thoughts around introducing a spider girl/woman universe, which apparently did not translate as expected and were lost for a title to whatever was made. ‘Madame Web’ was conceived in 2019, approved for production in 2020, filmed in 2022, and reportedly underwent reshoots. It probably aimed to expand the ‘Spider’ universe following the success of ‘Venom’ and ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ in 2018.
‘Madame Web’ with its uncertain tone and complex storyline is categorised as a suspense thriller. The film reimagines an elderly clairvoyant character from the comics as a young paramedic portrayed by Dakota Johnson. However, the movie struggles to define its identity.
It starts awkwardly with a poorly executed scene set in 1970s Peru with a pregnant Mary Parker (Emma Roberts) expecting a baby during one of her expeditions, which also doubles up as Cassandra Webb aka...
‘Madame Web’ with its uncertain tone and complex storyline is categorised as a suspense thriller. The film reimagines an elderly clairvoyant character from the comics as a young paramedic portrayed by Dakota Johnson. However, the movie struggles to define its identity.
It starts awkwardly with a poorly executed scene set in 1970s Peru with a pregnant Mary Parker (Emma Roberts) expecting a baby during one of her expeditions, which also doubles up as Cassandra Webb aka...
- 2/16/2024
- by Nitin Jain
- GlamSham
This article contains major spoilers for "Madame Web."
Good news, fellow arachnophobes! Yes, it's an unfortunate inevitability that any film related to "Spider-Man" is going to feature at least a little bit of spidery spookiness at some point in the story. The same remains true of "Madame Web," the newly-released standalone film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. But here's the biggest point in our favor: All those pesky, eight-legged arachnids are rendered in wholly unconvincing CGI, thus making this a far, far cry from Shelob in "The Return of the King" or that jump-scare early on in the first "Dune" movie. Yet even if they only exist in ones and zeroes, the nasty little critters are still chiefly responsible for, well, all the superpowered action taking place in the movie.
The opening scene immediately sets the stage for us, explaining how rare spiders in the Amazon jungle are apparently...
Good news, fellow arachnophobes! Yes, it's an unfortunate inevitability that any film related to "Spider-Man" is going to feature at least a little bit of spidery spookiness at some point in the story. The same remains true of "Madame Web," the newly-released standalone film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. But here's the biggest point in our favor: All those pesky, eight-legged arachnids are rendered in wholly unconvincing CGI, thus making this a far, far cry from Shelob in "The Return of the King" or that jump-scare early on in the first "Dune" movie. Yet even if they only exist in ones and zeroes, the nasty little critters are still chiefly responsible for, well, all the superpowered action taking place in the movie.
The opening scene immediately sets the stage for us, explaining how rare spiders in the Amazon jungle are apparently...
- 2/14/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Let's just say your Spidey-Sense better be tingling, because this article contains spoilers for "Madame Web."
It's not really on the same level as Nick Fury welcoming Tony Stark into a much wider world than he ever imagined, but "Madame Web" has now officially entered Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The live-action shared universe may be built entirely around Spider-Man's rogues gallery and assorted supporting characters ... but it doesn't actually feature the famous Web-Crawler himself. Yeah, we're still trying to figure that one out. Whatever the case may be, this oddly cobbled-together franchise made up of both "Venom" movies and the disaster known as "Morbius" now has another ignominious addition to its ranks, and, well, it went about as badly as everyone expected.
But with great power comes great responsibility, as some fictional dead guy you might've heard of once said, and the same certainly applies to how "Madame Web" teases...
It's not really on the same level as Nick Fury welcoming Tony Stark into a much wider world than he ever imagined, but "Madame Web" has now officially entered Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The live-action shared universe may be built entirely around Spider-Man's rogues gallery and assorted supporting characters ... but it doesn't actually feature the famous Web-Crawler himself. Yeah, we're still trying to figure that one out. Whatever the case may be, this oddly cobbled-together franchise made up of both "Venom" movies and the disaster known as "Morbius" now has another ignominious addition to its ranks, and, well, it went about as badly as everyone expected.
But with great power comes great responsibility, as some fictional dead guy you might've heard of once said, and the same certainly applies to how "Madame Web" teases...
- 2/14/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
Dakota Johnson‘s new comments about her movie Madame Web might explain why she decided to sign on for the project, which is now getting very poor reviews.
The 34-year-old actress just stepped out on the red carpet for the Mexico City premiere on Tuesday night (February 13) at Cinemex Antara Planco in Mexico.
Dakota was joined by director Sj Clarkson and co-star José María Yazpik.
In a new interview with TheWrap, Dakota discussed the film’s script.
Keep reading to find out more…
“There were drastic changes,” she said with a laugh. “And I can’t even tell you what they were.”
Dakota said that she was often lost while filming the movie, but the director helped her figure out what was going on. “I did. Yes, I did get very lost and Sj always knew exactly where we were, which was really incredible,” she said.
Madame Web has been...
The 34-year-old actress just stepped out on the red carpet for the Mexico City premiere on Tuesday night (February 13) at Cinemex Antara Planco in Mexico.
Dakota was joined by director Sj Clarkson and co-star José María Yazpik.
In a new interview with TheWrap, Dakota discussed the film’s script.
Keep reading to find out more…
“There were drastic changes,” she said with a laugh. “And I can’t even tell you what they were.”
Dakota said that she was often lost while filming the movie, but the director helped her figure out what was going on. “I did. Yes, I did get very lost and Sj always knew exactly where we were, which was really incredible,” she said.
Madame Web has been...
- 2/14/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Exclusive: Oscar winner Marisa Tomei (Spider-Man: Far From Home), Good Trouble and Joy Ride star Sherry Cola and Cherry star Ciara Bravo have signed on to lead rom-com You’re Dating A Narcissist!
My Cousin Vinny and The Wrestler star Tomei will play an outspoken psychologist, burnt by love, who specializes in toxic relationships. Comedy ensues when she takes an emergency trip to Los Angeles with her best friend (Cola) to talk her smitten daughter (Bravo) out of marrying a man she is convinced is a narcissist.
Also starring are Marco Pigossi (Invisible City) and José María Yazpik (Narcos: Mexico).
Written by Ann Marie Allison (Golden Arm) and Jenna Milly (Golden Arm), the film will serve as Allison’s directorial debut.
Pic will be produced by Allison, Jorge Garcia Castro and The Wonder Company’s (Sacramento) Eric B. Fleischman and Chris Abernathy. Verve Ventures is representing sales.
Allison said: “I...
My Cousin Vinny and The Wrestler star Tomei will play an outspoken psychologist, burnt by love, who specializes in toxic relationships. Comedy ensues when she takes an emergency trip to Los Angeles with her best friend (Cola) to talk her smitten daughter (Bravo) out of marrying a man she is convinced is a narcissist.
Also starring are Marco Pigossi (Invisible City) and José María Yazpik (Narcos: Mexico).
Written by Ann Marie Allison (Golden Arm) and Jenna Milly (Golden Arm), the film will serve as Allison’s directorial debut.
Pic will be produced by Allison, Jorge Garcia Castro and The Wonder Company’s (Sacramento) Eric B. Fleischman and Chris Abernathy. Verve Ventures is representing sales.
Allison said: “I...
- 12/13/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Following the showcase for his sophomore film Old Henry (2021) at the Venice Film Festival, Potsy Ponciroli next landed on Greedy People (formerly titled The Problem with Providence) back in May of this year. Shot in North Carolina, Lily James, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Himesh Patel topline what is being coined as a American comedy mystery film. Traci Lords, Joey Lauren Adams, Uzo Aduba, Jim Gaffigan, Simon Rex, Nina Arianda, Neva Howell, José María Yazpik and a return appearance of Tim Blake Nelson make up the rest of the shot in North Carolina ensemble. Ponciroli has a long rap sheet with several shorts, music videos and commercials under his belt.…...
- 11/12/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The 2023 Cannes Film Festival, taking place May 16 — 27, has added an array of new titles to its already eagerly anticipated Official Selection: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s “Black Flies” starring Sean Penn and in competition; Catherine Corsini’s “Le Retour,” upping the lineup’s record total of seven female directors in competition; Amat Escalante’s Mexican drama “Perdidos en la Noche”; and Lisandro Alonso’s thriller “Eureka,” starring Viggo Mortensen and José María Yazpik.
Alonso and Mortensen previously collaborated on 2014’s “Jauja,” which premiered in the festival’s Un Certain Regard and won its top honor, the Fipresci Prize. “Perdidos en la Noche” and “Eureka” will play in the non-competitive Cannes Premiere section.
Additional titles added on Monday include an Out of Competition screening of Frédéric Tellier’s “L’Abbé Pierre – Une Vie de Combats”; Un Certain Regard titles “Only the River Flows” from Wei Shujun and “Une Nuit” from Alex Lutz; Special...
Alonso and Mortensen previously collaborated on 2014’s “Jauja,” which premiered in the festival’s Un Certain Regard and won its top honor, the Fipresci Prize. “Perdidos en la Noche” and “Eureka” will play in the non-competitive Cannes Premiere section.
Additional titles added on Monday include an Out of Competition screening of Frédéric Tellier’s “L’Abbé Pierre – Une Vie de Combats”; Un Certain Regard titles “Only the River Flows” from Wei Shujun and “Une Nuit” from Alex Lutz; Special...
- 4/24/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire’s “Black Flies,” starring Sean Penn, and Catherine Corsini’s “Le retour” have been added to the competition lineup of the upcoming 76th Cannes Film Festival. As many as 13 movies have been peppered across several sections, including the Competition, Special Screenings, Un Certain Regard and Out of Competition.
Robert Rodriguez’s “Hypnotic” and Kim Tae-gon’s “Project Silence” are joining the Midnight Screening roster, while Amat Escalante’s Mexican drama “Perdidos en la Noche” and Argentinian helmer Lisandro Alonso’s thriller “Eureka,” starring Viggo Mortensen and José María Yazpik, will bow in Cannes Premiere, a non-competitive section launched in 2021. (Alonso previously won Cannes’ Un Certain Regard with his 2014 movie “Jauja.”) Also slated for Cannes Premiere is Valerie Donzelli’s drama “L’Amour et les forets.”
This year, Un Certain Regard has expanded by two titles, including Chinese director Wei Shujun’s “Only the River Flows” and French director Alex Lutz’s “Une nuit.
Robert Rodriguez’s “Hypnotic” and Kim Tae-gon’s “Project Silence” are joining the Midnight Screening roster, while Amat Escalante’s Mexican drama “Perdidos en la Noche” and Argentinian helmer Lisandro Alonso’s thriller “Eureka,” starring Viggo Mortensen and José María Yazpik, will bow in Cannes Premiere, a non-competitive section launched in 2021. (Alonso previously won Cannes’ Un Certain Regard with his 2014 movie “Jauja.”) Also slated for Cannes Premiere is Valerie Donzelli’s drama “L’Amour et les forets.”
This year, Un Certain Regard has expanded by two titles, including Chinese director Wei Shujun’s “Only the River Flows” and French director Alex Lutz’s “Une nuit.
- 4/24/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
West Side Story, Encanto and In the Heights are among the nominations for the 37th annual Imagen Awards, which recognize work by Latino talent, new faces and seasoned creatives.
“After two years of streaming celebrations, we are ecstatic to be back in person and to honor those who made significant contributions to the television, film and streaming spaces,” What We Do in the Shadows star Harvey Guillén, who presented the nominees, said. “With the caliber of talent and the diversity of the roles and projects, our expectations were wildly exceeded with 445 entries, up 125 from 2021! We are beyond proud of this year’s nominees and all those who submitted. Given the excellence of the entries, the judges had a difficult time selecting those to be nominated.”
Nominees are determined by an independent panel of entertainment industry and Latino community leaders.
The 37th annual Imagen...
West Side Story, Encanto and In the Heights are among the nominations for the 37th annual Imagen Awards, which recognize work by Latino talent, new faces and seasoned creatives.
“After two years of streaming celebrations, we are ecstatic to be back in person and to honor those who made significant contributions to the television, film and streaming spaces,” What We Do in the Shadows star Harvey Guillén, who presented the nominees, said. “With the caliber of talent and the diversity of the roles and projects, our expectations were wildly exceeded with 445 entries, up 125 from 2021! We are beyond proud of this year’s nominees and all those who submitted. Given the excellence of the entries, the judges had a difficult time selecting those to be nominated.”
Nominees are determined by an independent panel of entertainment industry and Latino community leaders.
The 37th annual Imagen...
- 8/16/2022
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There Are No Saints, aka The Jesuit, is yet another “not for me” sort of film. How come? After all, it is revenge fare. We open as bad boy, Neto Niente (José María Yazpik), is released from prison when it turns out he was fitted up for the crime he’s been inside for.
He emerges to a less than enthusiastic response from his estranged wife, Nadia (Paz Vega), and a hero’s welcome from teenage son, Julio (Keidrich Sellati). Also, to an ambush and police brutality from the local cops, who, in the great tradition of US film police everywhere, reckon he can’t possibly be innocent. Therefore, the sensible thing to do is follow him around and hassle him at every turn, on the basis that sooner or later he will revert to type and they can bang him up again.
Unfortunately for Neto – and Nadia – the latter has fallen foul.
He emerges to a less than enthusiastic response from his estranged wife, Nadia (Paz Vega), and a hero’s welcome from teenage son, Julio (Keidrich Sellati). Also, to an ambush and police brutality from the local cops, who, in the great tradition of US film police everywhere, reckon he can’t possibly be innocent. Therefore, the sensible thing to do is follow him around and hassle him at every turn, on the basis that sooner or later he will revert to type and they can bang him up again.
Unfortunately for Neto – and Nadia – the latter has fallen foul.
- 6/24/2022
- by Jane Fae
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
An attempt to resuscitate a Mexico-set Paul Schrader crime movie – complete with a dodgy Tim Roth cameo – fails miserably
A new film with a Paul Schrader script has to be news … but this isn’t exactly new. It’s a grungy, grubby and frankly dreary exploitationer in the straight-to-video mould, with a perfunctory and shallow religious motif and nasty misogynist scenes, which has actually been on the shelf since 2014, after Schrader was replaced as director by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa and Succession’s Brian Cox with Ron Perlman.
Mexican actor José María Yazpik (from Almodóvar’s I’m So Excited) plays a notorious gang enforcer nicknamed the Jesuit (after the Spanish Inquisition’s torture habits); he is newly released from prison in Texas and brooding on going straight when his ex-wife Nadia (Paz Vega) is murdered by her vicious new husband Vincent (Neal McDonough), who also abducts the Jesuit’s son and takes him to Mexico.
A new film with a Paul Schrader script has to be news … but this isn’t exactly new. It’s a grungy, grubby and frankly dreary exploitationer in the straight-to-video mould, with a perfunctory and shallow religious motif and nasty misogynist scenes, which has actually been on the shelf since 2014, after Schrader was replaced as director by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa and Succession’s Brian Cox with Ron Perlman.
Mexican actor José María Yazpik (from Almodóvar’s I’m So Excited) plays a notorious gang enforcer nicknamed the Jesuit (after the Spanish Inquisition’s torture habits); he is newly released from prison in Texas and brooding on going straight when his ex-wife Nadia (Paz Vega) is murdered by her vicious new husband Vincent (Neal McDonough), who also abducts the Jesuit’s son and takes him to Mexico.
- 6/21/2022
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
The mystery is intensifying, and there's much to unpack on Now & Then Season 1 Episode 7.
To whet your appetite for the shocking episode, TV Fanatic has an exclusive look ahead that certainly lives up to the show's namesake.
In the highly-anticipated seventh episode, titled “Elections,” Election Day arrives. Pedro (José María Yazpik) grapples with distrust," reads the logline.
"Sofía (Maribel Verdú) and Marcos (Manolo Cardona) form a plan.
Belinda (Ella Kweku) finds a clue."
The clip shows a younger Marcos telling Sofia he must leave town because the police have his fingerprints.
It's a shocking turn of events, and you can tell Sofia does not want to leave with him.
The clip features jump cuts, highlighting the roles reversing in the present as Sofia has to leave town, and it's clear she wants Marcos to accompany her.
The beauty of Now & Then is its narrative structure. The series perfectly...
To whet your appetite for the shocking episode, TV Fanatic has an exclusive look ahead that certainly lives up to the show's namesake.
In the highly-anticipated seventh episode, titled “Elections,” Election Day arrives. Pedro (José María Yazpik) grapples with distrust," reads the logline.
"Sofía (Maribel Verdú) and Marcos (Manolo Cardona) form a plan.
Belinda (Ella Kweku) finds a clue."
The clip shows a younger Marcos telling Sofia he must leave town because the police have his fingerprints.
It's a shocking turn of events, and you can tell Sofia does not want to leave with him.
The clip features jump cuts, highlighting the roles reversing in the present as Sofia has to leave town, and it's clear she wants Marcos to accompany her.
The beauty of Now & Then is its narrative structure. The series perfectly...
- 6/16/2022
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Will Flora's findings turn the case on its head?
Now & Then Season 1 Episode 4 drops on Apple TV+ Friday, and TV Fanatic has an exclusive look ahead.
In the clip for the highly-anticipated outing, we see Flora in the year 2000, armed with some evidence that could change things considerably.
Sullivan is shocked by her arrival at his home because it's his day off, but when you're trying to find all the evidence involved, is there such a thing as a day off?
Flora's tenacity shines through the clip.
She's livid that this case has been covered up, and is dead set on getting the answers to prove what happened the fateful night the other characters desperately want to forget.
Set in Miami and shot in both Spanish and English, Now & Then stars an exceptional ensemble cast, including Academy Award nominees Marina de Tavira and Rosie Perez, and Ariel Award winner José María Yazpik.
Now & Then Season 1 Episode 4 drops on Apple TV+ Friday, and TV Fanatic has an exclusive look ahead.
In the clip for the highly-anticipated outing, we see Flora in the year 2000, armed with some evidence that could change things considerably.
Sullivan is shocked by her arrival at his home because it's his day off, but when you're trying to find all the evidence involved, is there such a thing as a day off?
Flora's tenacity shines through the clip.
She's livid that this case has been covered up, and is dead set on getting the answers to prove what happened the fateful night the other characters desperately want to forget.
Set in Miami and shot in both Spanish and English, Now & Then stars an exceptional ensemble cast, including Academy Award nominees Marina de Tavira and Rosie Perez, and Ariel Award winner José María Yazpik.
- 5/26/2022
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Tim Blake Nelson, Uzo Aduba, Simon Rex, Nina Arianda, Jim Gaffigan, José María Yazpik and Joey Lauren Adams have rounded out the cast of, Providence, a comedy from Dylan Sellers and Chris Parker’s Limelight and David Boies and Zack Schiller’s Boies Schiller Entertainment. Lily James, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Himesh Patel are set to star with Potsy Ponciroli directing. Michael Vukadinovich penned the script. Limelight and Bse will fully finance and produce, along with Shannon Houchins’ Hideout Pictures.
Between the previous three stars already announced and this new round, Limelight and Bse look have put together quite the cast for this comedy.
The story follows the eclectic residents of a small, picturesque island town who must navigate a sensational murder and the discovery of a million dollars as a series of increasingly bad decisions upends the once-peaceful community. Principal photography begins this week in North Carolina.
Sellers, Parker, Houchins,...
Between the previous three stars already announced and this new round, Limelight and Bse look have put together quite the cast for this comedy.
The story follows the eclectic residents of a small, picturesque island town who must navigate a sensational murder and the discovery of a million dollars as a series of increasingly bad decisions upends the once-peaceful community. Principal photography begins this week in North Carolina.
Sellers, Parker, Houchins,...
- 5/13/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
"What do I know? I haven't heard from you in 20 years." Apple has revealed an official trailer for a series titled Now & Then, a "multi-layered thriller" that will be streaming on Apple TV+ starting in late May next month. Set in Miami and shot in both Spanish and English, Now & Then stars an exceptional ensemble cast, including Academy Award nominees Marina de Tavira & Rosie Perez, Ariel Award winner José María Yazpik, multi-Goya Award winner Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona, Goya Award winner Soledad Villamil, Emmy Award winner Željko Ivanek, with Jorge López, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte, and Miranda de la Serna. The lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk. This...
- 4/19/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Apple TV+ released the first trailer for its upcoming bilingual drama series Now & Then, starring Rosie Perez, Manolo Cardona, Marina de Tavira, José María Yazpik, Soledad Villamil, and Maribel Verdú, among others. Three of the 8 episodes will be released on May 20 with the remaining episodes dropping weekly every Friday through June 24.
Set in Miami, Now & Then follows a group of college best friends whose lives are forever changed after one of them ends up dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining 5 are forced to reunite after a threat puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
Perez portrays Flora, a detective obsessed with an unresolved case from 20 years ago, who will stop at nothing to discover the truth. Her partner Sullivan (Željko Ivanek) helps to keep Flora from getting into too much trouble.
The 6 original friends are played during their younger years by Jorge Lopez, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz,...
Set in Miami, Now & Then follows a group of college best friends whose lives are forever changed after one of them ends up dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining 5 are forced to reunite after a threat puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
Perez portrays Flora, a detective obsessed with an unresolved case from 20 years ago, who will stop at nothing to discover the truth. Her partner Sullivan (Željko Ivanek) helps to keep Flora from getting into too much trouble.
The 6 original friends are played during their younger years by Jorge Lopez, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz,...
- 4/19/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple TV+ released the trailer for the upcoming bilingual series “Now & Then” on Tuesday: The eight-episode thriller from Bambú Producciones is about a group of college friends who are being blackmailed over a death from 20 years before. It’s set to launch globally with three episodes on Friday, May 20, on Apple TV+, with new episodes weekly every Friday through June 24.
Set in Miami and shot in both Spanish and English, the series stars Rosie Perez as a cop eager to have a second chance to solve the mysterious death. The series also stars Marina de Tavira (“Roma”), José María Yazpik (“Narcos: Mexico”), Maribel Verdú (“Y tu mamá también”), Manolo Cardona (“Narcos”), Soledad Villamil (“The Secret in Their Eyes”), Jorge López (Netflix’s “Elite”), Alicia Jaziz (HBO’s “Love Spells”), Dario Yazbek Bernal (“The House of Flowers”), Alicia Sanz (Prime Video’s “El Cid”), Jack Duarte (“Ingobernable,”) and Miranda de la Serna...
Set in Miami and shot in both Spanish and English, the series stars Rosie Perez as a cop eager to have a second chance to solve the mysterious death. The series also stars Marina de Tavira (“Roma”), José María Yazpik (“Narcos: Mexico”), Maribel Verdú (“Y tu mamá también”), Manolo Cardona (“Narcos”), Soledad Villamil (“The Secret in Their Eyes”), Jorge López (Netflix’s “Elite”), Alicia Jaziz (HBO’s “Love Spells”), Dario Yazbek Bernal (“The House of Flowers”), Alicia Sanz (Prime Video’s “El Cid”), Jack Duarte (“Ingobernable,”) and Miranda de la Serna...
- 4/19/2022
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
One can guess, fairly or not, why there’s some huge gap between a film’s production and its release, but in the case of There Are No Saints—which assembled its creative team, let’s see, nine-and-a-half years ago and finished shooting in May 2013—we can extend one shred of doubt vis-a-vis the screenwriting credit tagged to Paul Schrader. Many years ago he’d written it as The Jesuit with intent to direct, of all people, Oscar Isaac, but financial difficulties held the project and directorial duties were eventually taken up by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa, with José María Yazpik (Narcos) slotted to star. Per IMDb Pro, production began in late 2012. Then?
It’s hard to ascertain what held Saints so catastrophically long. If nothing else Schrader saw a rough cut early into Obama’s second term and spoke well of it, saying “I Loved It! It’s better than...
It’s hard to ascertain what held Saints so catastrophically long. If nothing else Schrader saw a rough cut early into Obama’s second term and spoke well of it, saying “I Loved It! It’s better than...
- 4/18/2022
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
The first trailer has dropped for the upcoming film There Are No Saints.
Looking to start a new life, a former hitman nicknamed The Jesuit (Jose Maria Yazpik) is unable to escape the sins of his past. With enemies on both sides of the law, he has nowhere to turn when his only son is kidnapped by a ruthless cartel boss (Ron Perlman). He’ll stop at nothing to save his boy in this gritty action-thriller from the writer of Taxi Driver, Paul Schrader.
Starring José María Yazpik, Shannyn Sossamon, Paz Vega, Neal McDonough, Keidrich Sellati, Tommy Flanagan with Ron Perlman and Tim Roth, watch the trailer now.
Along with Paul Schrader, other talents who worked on the film are composer Heitor Pereira (Despicable Me) as well editor Dan Lebental.
Big plus anytime there’s a new screenplay from the writer who brought audiences Taxi Driver and Raging Bull and along with this A-list cast,...
Looking to start a new life, a former hitman nicknamed The Jesuit (Jose Maria Yazpik) is unable to escape the sins of his past. With enemies on both sides of the law, he has nowhere to turn when his only son is kidnapped by a ruthless cartel boss (Ron Perlman). He’ll stop at nothing to save his boy in this gritty action-thriller from the writer of Taxi Driver, Paul Schrader.
Starring José María Yazpik, Shannyn Sossamon, Paz Vega, Neal McDonough, Keidrich Sellati, Tommy Flanagan with Ron Perlman and Tim Roth, watch the trailer now.
Along with Paul Schrader, other talents who worked on the film are composer Heitor Pereira (Despicable Me) as well editor Dan Lebental.
Big plus anytime there’s a new screenplay from the writer who brought audiences Taxi Driver and Raging Bull and along with this A-list cast,...
- 4/5/2022
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Netflix announced Tuesday that it will be premiering Ali Wong’s new comedy special, “Don Wong,” on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
The special is Wong’s third with Netflix, following 2016’s “Ali Wong: Baby Cobra” and “Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife” in 2018. “Don Wong” was filmed at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in New Jersey in November 2021, and features Wong discussing her deepest fantasies, the challenges of monogamy and her feelings about single people.
The project is the latest addition to a slate of projects between Wong and Netflix, including the 2019 film “Always Be My Maybe” and the upcoming series “Beef.” Wong also voices characters on animated shows including Netflix’s “Ask the StoryBots,” “Ada Twist,” “Scientist” and the Emmy-winning adult comedy “Big Mouth.”
“Don Wong” is directed by Nahnatchka Khan, with Wong serving as executive producer alongside Ravi Nandan, Inman Young, Alli Reich and Corey Deckler for A24.
The special is Wong’s third with Netflix, following 2016’s “Ali Wong: Baby Cobra” and “Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife” in 2018. “Don Wong” was filmed at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in New Jersey in November 2021, and features Wong discussing her deepest fantasies, the challenges of monogamy and her feelings about single people.
The project is the latest addition to a slate of projects between Wong and Netflix, including the 2019 film “Always Be My Maybe” and the upcoming series “Beef.” Wong also voices characters on animated shows including Netflix’s “Ask the StoryBots,” “Ada Twist,” “Scientist” and the Emmy-winning adult comedy “Big Mouth.”
“Don Wong” is directed by Nahnatchka Khan, with Wong serving as executive producer alongside Ravi Nandan, Inman Young, Alli Reich and Corey Deckler for A24.
- 2/1/2022
- by Sasha Urban
- Variety Film + TV
Apple TV+’s bilingual drama series Now and Then will premiere its first three episodes on May 20, with the remaining 5 dropping individually on Fridays.
Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
It stars Academy Award nominees Marina de Tavira and Rosie Perez, as well as José María Yazpik, Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona, Soledad Villamil, Emmy Award winner Željko Ivanek, Jorge López, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna.
The series is created by Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira. Campos and Fernández-Valdés will serve as showrunners. Bambú...
Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
It stars Academy Award nominees Marina de Tavira and Rosie Perez, as well as José María Yazpik, Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona, Soledad Villamil, Emmy Award winner Željko Ivanek, Jorge López, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna.
The series is created by Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira. Campos and Fernández-Valdés will serve as showrunners. Bambú...
- 2/1/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
[This story contains spoilers for the third season of Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico.]
José María Yazpik had his own opinion about Amado Carillo Fuentes’ fate going into Narcos: Mexico.
The actor, who grew up in Tijuana, was familiar with the real-life narco known as “Lord of the Skies” before playing him for four seasons on the Netflix drug cartel series. First introduced on the final season of the Colombia-set Narcos, Yazpik’s Amado became a major character on Narcos: Mexico, which reset the franchise in Mexico with a three-season story.
The third and final season of Narcos: Mexico, which released on Nov. 5, tracked ...
José María Yazpik had his own opinion about Amado Carillo Fuentes’ fate going into Narcos: Mexico.
The actor, who grew up in Tijuana, was familiar with the real-life narco known as “Lord of the Skies” before playing him for four seasons on the Netflix drug cartel series. First introduced on the final season of the Colombia-set Narcos, Yazpik’s Amado became a major character on Narcos: Mexico, which reset the franchise in Mexico with a three-season story.
The third and final season of Narcos: Mexico, which released on Nov. 5, tracked ...
- 11/29/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
José María Yazpik returns to his role of Amado Carrillo Fuentes for the third and final season of Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico.” It’s pretty much Amado-centric in this season and it’s a battle of wills between him and our idealist DEA Agent Walt Breslin played by Scoot McNairy. I spoke with Yazpik and co-creator and
The post “Narcos: Mexico” Season 3 appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
The post “Narcos: Mexico” Season 3 appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.
- 10/24/2021
- by manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Leading Latin American animation studio Ánima has launched a dedicated adult-young adult division and announced that later this year it will begin production on “El Santos,” a serialized version of the company’s 2012 comic book-inspired feature “El Santos vs la Tetona Mendoza.”
The star-studded, landmark film established Ánima as not only a regional powerhouse of Mexican animation, but a leading creator of cartoon content internationally, and was the company’s first production to screen at France’s prestigious Annecy Animation Festival.
2022 will mark Ánima’s 20th anniversary. After nearly two decades of producing content almost exclusively for the kids and family market, Ánima co-founders Fernando De Fuentes Sainz, CEO, and José C. García de Letona, COO, knew the time was right to reach out to a new demographic.
“We’ve seen so much appetite from platforms and networks for content that’s animated for adults and young adults,” García de Letona explained to Variety.
The star-studded, landmark film established Ánima as not only a regional powerhouse of Mexican animation, but a leading creator of cartoon content internationally, and was the company’s first production to screen at France’s prestigious Annecy Animation Festival.
2022 will mark Ánima’s 20th anniversary. After nearly two decades of producing content almost exclusively for the kids and family market, Ánima co-founders Fernando De Fuentes Sainz, CEO, and José C. García de Letona, COO, knew the time was right to reach out to a new demographic.
“We’ve seen so much appetite from platforms and networks for content that’s animated for adults and young adults,” García de Letona explained to Variety.
- 8/9/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: AppleTV+’s bilingual thriller series Now and Then has added to its cast Jorge Lopez (Elite), Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte and Miranda de la Serna (Before Opening Night) .
The Spanish and English series hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.
Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
The Spanish and English series hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.
Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
- 6/11/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple TV+ has set a stellar ensemble cast for its bilingual thriller Now and Then, a drama that will be shot in Spanish and English. Rosie Perez, Marina de Tavira (Roma), José María Yazpik (Narcos: Mexico), Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona (Who Killed Sara?), Soledad Villamil (The Secret in their Eyes) and Željko Ivanek will star in the series that hails from Bambú Producciones and creators Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés and Gema R. Neira, the team behind the Spanish series Velvet, Cable Girls and Gran Hotel. Gideon Raff will executive produce and direct the first two episodes.
Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead.
Set in Miami, Now and Then explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead.
- 5/27/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
“The Flight Attendant” alum and Oscar nominee Rosie Perez is slated to star on “Now and Then,” a Miami-based bilingual thriller on Apple TV Plus. Joining Perez is a cast comprised entirely of Hispanics and Latinos, including Marina de Tavira, José María Yazpik, Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona, Soledad Villamil and Željko Ivanek.
“Now and Then” follows a group of college best friends whose lives are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
Tavira plays Ana, a smart and ambitious woman who put her political career on hold to support her husband’s; Perez plays Flora, a talented detective obsessed with an unresolved case from 20 years ago; Yazpik is Pedro, a complex politician married to Ana; Verdú plays Sofia, a strong self-made lawyer; Cardona is Marcos,...
“Now and Then” follows a group of college best friends whose lives are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.
Tavira plays Ana, a smart and ambitious woman who put her political career on hold to support her husband’s; Perez plays Flora, a talented detective obsessed with an unresolved case from 20 years ago; Yazpik is Pedro, a complex politician married to Ana; Verdú plays Sofia, a strong self-made lawyer; Cardona is Marcos,...
- 5/27/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid-based Onza, producer of hit Spanish series “The Department of Time” and Amazon Prime Video romantic comedy “Little Coincidences,” is expanding into the Latin American and U.S. Hispanic markets, establishing a Miami-based subsidiary, Onza Américas.
CEO and co-founder of Onza with its executive president José María Irisarri and Nicolás Bergareche, Gonzalo Sagardia has been named Onza Américas CEO.
A reaction to “the proliferation of content platforms” avid for Spanish-language content, Onza announced Tuesday in a press statement, Onza Americas is launched in partnership with former Fox Television Studios president Emiliano Calemzuk, and Vincenzo Gratteri, ex-content director at Patricio Wills’ Miami and Mexico-based W Studios.
Calemzuk and Gratteri will both become minority partners in Onza Americas, the still-highly connected Calemzuk serving in a non-executive role as chairman of the advisory board, and Gratteri taking up the position of SVP of development and production.
Onza Américas will be introducing itself and...
CEO and co-founder of Onza with its executive president José María Irisarri and Nicolás Bergareche, Gonzalo Sagardia has been named Onza Américas CEO.
A reaction to “the proliferation of content platforms” avid for Spanish-language content, Onza announced Tuesday in a press statement, Onza Americas is launched in partnership with former Fox Television Studios president Emiliano Calemzuk, and Vincenzo Gratteri, ex-content director at Patricio Wills’ Miami and Mexico-based W Studios.
Calemzuk and Gratteri will both become minority partners in Onza Americas, the still-highly connected Calemzuk serving in a non-executive role as chairman of the advisory board, and Gratteri taking up the position of SVP of development and production.
Onza Américas will be introducing itself and...
- 1/19/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Ben O’Toole.
After graduating from Waapa in 2011, Ben O’Toole played policeman Pete for three seasons of Love Child, had supporting roles in The Water Diviner and Hacksaw Ridge and co-starred in the Us movies Detroit and 12 Strong.
The Brisbane-born actor plays the leads in Alister Grierson’s comedic thriller Bloody Hell and in Kiah Roache-Turner’s horror-comedy Nekrotronic, yet he is far from satisfied with where he is at in his career.
“I still have a lot more to learn; I have much further to go,” says O’Toole, who has bases in Sydney and Los Angeles, the latter with actor-director housemate Kick Gurry.
Working with Mel Gibson on Hacksaw Ridge and with Chris Hemsworth on 12 Strong were great learning experiences.
“Mel was incredible and very powerful in communicating what he wanted us to do, and he encouraged Vince Vaughn and me to improvise,” he says.
In Nicolai Fuglsig’s 12 Strong,...
After graduating from Waapa in 2011, Ben O’Toole played policeman Pete for three seasons of Love Child, had supporting roles in The Water Diviner and Hacksaw Ridge and co-starred in the Us movies Detroit and 12 Strong.
The Brisbane-born actor plays the leads in Alister Grierson’s comedic thriller Bloody Hell and in Kiah Roache-Turner’s horror-comedy Nekrotronic, yet he is far from satisfied with where he is at in his career.
“I still have a lot more to learn; I have much further to go,” says O’Toole, who has bases in Sydney and Los Angeles, the latter with actor-director housemate Kick Gurry.
Working with Mel Gibson on Hacksaw Ridge and with Chris Hemsworth on 12 Strong were great learning experiences.
“Mel was incredible and very powerful in communicating what he wanted us to do, and he encouraged Vince Vaughn and me to improvise,” he says.
In Nicolai Fuglsig’s 12 Strong,...
- 6/19/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
The story of Félix Gallardo isn’t over yet, as Netflix has renewed “Narcos: Mexico” for a second season, the streamer announced Wednesday. The renewal comes just three weeks after the first season’s Nov. 16 premiere. No return date has been set.
“Narcos: Mexico” charts the origins of the country’s drug war through the rise and fall of the Guadalajara Cartel under Miguel Angel Félix Gallardo. Season 1 follows Gallardo as he unites Mexico’s disparate smuggling organizations into the country’s first global drug empire, while DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena’s efforts to expose the operation lead him to a horrific outcome with decades-long geopolitical consequences.
Also Read: Watch Creepy Santa in Trailer for the 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' Holiday Special (Video)
With Diego Luna as Gallardo and Michael Peña as Camarena, Season 1 also starred Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Alyssa Diaz, Joaquín Cosío, José María Yazpik, Matt Letscher,...
“Narcos: Mexico” charts the origins of the country’s drug war through the rise and fall of the Guadalajara Cartel under Miguel Angel Félix Gallardo. Season 1 follows Gallardo as he unites Mexico’s disparate smuggling organizations into the country’s first global drug empire, while DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena’s efforts to expose the operation lead him to a horrific outcome with decades-long geopolitical consequences.
Also Read: Watch Creepy Santa in Trailer for the 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' Holiday Special (Video)
With Diego Luna as Gallardo and Michael Peña as Camarena, Season 1 also starred Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Alyssa Diaz, Joaquín Cosío, José María Yazpik, Matt Letscher,...
- 12/5/2018
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
After spending three seasons in Colombia, Netflix’s drug trafficking drama is heading to Mexico. Narcos: Mexico will feature new characters including roles played by Michael Pena and Diego Luna.
Netflix unveiled the first look at Pena and Luna’s characters today. Luna (right) is set to play Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo but he goes by only one name: Felix. He is the leader of the Guadalajara cartel, one of the biggest narcos in the history of Mexico and the founder of the modern Mexican drug trade. Quiet but bold, inscrutable but sharp-minded, to all appearances he is a benevolent leader, loyal to his friends, associates, and employees…but his ambition comes before all else.
Pena (above) will play Kiki Camarena, a family man and an undercover DEA agent who garnered valuable intel through a series of informants around Félix and his newly minted Guadalajara cartel, but found he had...
Netflix unveiled the first look at Pena and Luna’s characters today. Luna (right) is set to play Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo but he goes by only one name: Felix. He is the leader of the Guadalajara cartel, one of the biggest narcos in the history of Mexico and the founder of the modern Mexican drug trade. Quiet but bold, inscrutable but sharp-minded, to all appearances he is a benevolent leader, loyal to his friends, associates, and employees…but his ambition comes before all else.
Pena (above) will play Kiki Camarena, a family man and an undercover DEA agent who garnered valuable intel through a series of informants around Félix and his newly minted Guadalajara cartel, but found he had...
- 7/18/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
A decision between a past romance and a new love must be made when the endearing romantic comedy Everybody Loves Somebody arrives on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand June 20 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.
A decision between a past romance and a new love must be made when the endearing romantic comedy Everybody Loves Somebody arrives on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand June 20 from Lionsgate. Karla Souza stars as a successful career woman who convinces a charming coworker to pose as her boyfriend for a family wedding but is caught off-guard when her old flame shows up. ”A rom-com with bite” (Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times), the movie premiered to critical acclaim at the 2017 Palm Springs Film Festival. From one of the producers of Instructions Not Included, Francisco González Compeán, theEverybody Loves Somebody DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98.
Karla Souza stars as Clara,...
A decision between a past romance and a new love must be made when the endearing romantic comedy Everybody Loves Somebody arrives on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand June 20 from Lionsgate. Karla Souza stars as a successful career woman who convinces a charming coworker to pose as her boyfriend for a family wedding but is caught off-guard when her old flame shows up. ”A rom-com with bite” (Jeannette Catsoulis, The New York Times), the movie premiered to critical acclaim at the 2017 Palm Springs Film Festival. From one of the producers of Instructions Not Included, Francisco González Compeán, theEverybody Loves Somebody DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98.
Karla Souza stars as Clara,...
- 6/1/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Ernesto Contreras’s Sundance audience award winner I Dream In Another Language among roster in Mexico.
Top brass at the festival in Jalisco, Mexico, announced on Wednesday the programme.
Selections include José Permar and Omar Robles’ short and Berlin 2016 premiere Aurelia And Pedro, and David Pablos’s The Chosen Ones, which screened in Un Certain Regard section in Cannes 2015.
Highlights of the ArteCareyes Film & Arts Festival include a day-long music festival and a contemporary art programme that features a public art trail, in lieu of traditional galleries, and solo artist exhibitions.
In addition, ArteCareyes will host ‘Acting For Film’ labs to be led by the following directors: Lucía Carreras, Ana Cristina Barragán, Catalina Aguilar, Diego Ros, Daniel Castro, Pablos, Anwar Safa and actors Karla Souza, Irene Azuela, Darío Yazbek, Fernando Alvarez Rebeil, and José María Yazpik.
The festival was founded in 2010 to showcase contemporary Mexican talent in film, music and contemporary art and runs from March 22-26.
Top brass at the festival in Jalisco, Mexico, announced on Wednesday the programme.
Selections include José Permar and Omar Robles’ short and Berlin 2016 premiere Aurelia And Pedro, and David Pablos’s The Chosen Ones, which screened in Un Certain Regard section in Cannes 2015.
Highlights of the ArteCareyes Film & Arts Festival include a day-long music festival and a contemporary art programme that features a public art trail, in lieu of traditional galleries, and solo artist exhibitions.
In addition, ArteCareyes will host ‘Acting For Film’ labs to be led by the following directors: Lucía Carreras, Ana Cristina Barragán, Catalina Aguilar, Diego Ros, Daniel Castro, Pablos, Anwar Safa and actors Karla Souza, Irene Azuela, Darío Yazbek, Fernando Alvarez Rebeil, and José María Yazpik.
The festival was founded in 2010 to showcase contemporary Mexican talent in film, music and contemporary art and runs from March 22-26.
- 3/22/2017
- ScreenDaily
HBO has acquired Evgeny Afineevsky’s Sundance selection and follow-up to Winter On Fire: Ukraine’s Fight For Freedom in a deal with executive producer David Dinerstein.
Cries From Syria chronicles the Middle East country’s civil war and draws on hundreds of hours of war footage as well as testimony from child protestors, human rights activists, citizens and high-ranking army generals who have defected from the Army.
The film receives its world premiere in Park City this month in the Documentary Premieres strand and will debut on HBO on March 13.
Annapurna Television is partnering with the Coen Brothers on Western anthology The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs. Annapurna issued a press release saying it intended to pursue “an innovative television and theatrical integrated approach” without elaborating. Joel and Ethen Coen wrote the script and will direct and produce through their Mike Zoss Productions label. Ellison and Annapurna Television president of television Sue Naegle are executive producers. UTA represents...
Cries From Syria chronicles the Middle East country’s civil war and draws on hundreds of hours of war footage as well as testimony from child protestors, human rights activists, citizens and high-ranking army generals who have defected from the Army.
The film receives its world premiere in Park City this month in the Documentary Premieres strand and will debut on HBO on March 13.
Annapurna Television is partnering with the Coen Brothers on Western anthology The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs. Annapurna issued a press release saying it intended to pursue “an innovative television and theatrical integrated approach” without elaborating. Joel and Ethen Coen wrote the script and will direct and produce through their Mike Zoss Productions label. Ellison and Annapurna Television president of television Sue Naegle are executive producers. UTA represents...
- 1/10/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
"All you've ever done is leave. Everybody loves somebody eventually..." Aw, charming and true. Pantelion Films has debuted the trailer for an indie romantic comedy titled Everybody Loves Somebody, from Mexican filmmaker Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, about a big wedding in Mexico. Mexican actress Karla Souza (seen on "How to Get Away with Murder") stars as Clara Barron, a woman who has trouble figuring out her love life. During her trip home for a wedding, her "crazy" family provides her with some guidance for her life. The full cast includes José María Yazpik, Ben O'Toole, K.C. Clyde, Tiaré Scanda, Patricia Bernal, and Alejandro Camacho. This probably won't appeal to everyone, but it does have some charm. Here's the trailer (+ poster) for Catalina Aguilar Mastretta's Everybody Loves Somebody, on YouTube: On the surface, the young and beautiful Clara Barron (Karla Souza) seems to have everything - a great job as an...
- 12/20/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
As far as road trip movies in which two estranged characters reconnect go, Diego Luna’s fourth directorial effort, “Mr. Pig,” is not concerned with eliminating or altering the emotional tropes associated with the works of its kind. On the contrary, the famed actor-turned-filmmaker embraces them with a refreshing cultural outlook in a film that is as much about modernity overshadowing tradition as it is about the sheer magic of an experience rather than its outcome.
Financially devastated, probably because of his diligent rejection of current farming practices though it’s never specified, Ambrose (Danny Glover) a 75-year-old African American hog farmer from California, heads to Mexico to find his best friend, an imposing dark pig named Howie, a new home and to make some money in return. The man-hog friendship is endearing, but it also points at the profound loneliness Ambrose is struggling with. Howie doesn’t judge or question him and, like good friends should, they both accept their inherent shortcomings – the plump pig hates showers and Ambrose has a drinking problem. It's an odd dynamic, but it seems to comfort the aging and defeated man.
Enduring a few bumps along the road, Ambrose and his beloved animal make it to the Mexican state of Jalisco where he meets with his best friend’s son (played by Mexican actor José María Yazpik), now in charge of the family’s hog business after his father’s passing, to discuss Howie’s future and reminisce about happier times. Noticing that his hog’s destiny in such a modern farm will be one of confinement and isolation, Ambrose reconsiders. While he accepts the fact that their purpose is to feed mankind, he despises the idea of seeing Howie as disposable merchandise.
Soon, Ambrose’s deteriorating health prompts his daughter Eunice (Maya Rudolph) to come down to look after him. Reluctantly she joins the mission to sell Howie to someone that can give him a life that measures up to Ambrose's standards, while also hoping to get to know her father beyond his charismatic front. Two strangers in a strange land that proves not to be so strange after all.
Leaving behind recent supporting roles that don’t capitalize on the veteran thespian’s abilities, Danny Glover commands the film with masculine fragility. He is not a rigid man on the surface and is particularly tender with Howie, but has managed to selfishly avoid his past failures as a self-defense mechanism. Also granted a prime opportunity to step away from her familiar comical performances, Maya Rudolph takes on a character of whom we know very little except for her desire to seek resolution regarding her father’s abandonment.
Luna has stated that “Mr. Pig” came into existence as a way to honor his father and that of his co-writer Augusto Mendoza. That initial desire to scrutinize the difficulties of parenthood and to build a cinematic bridge between him and his father is absolutely palpable in "Mr. Pig." However, he has also pointed out that this film is a love letter to Mexico, and that it is that second part of his motivation that places the film on a higher ground beyond merely being a touching dramedy about people desperately searching for meaning.
In the hands of a director without a personal connection to Mexico and an understanding of its relationship to its neighbor to the north, the country and its people could have been the victims of insensitive cheap mockery for the amusement of American audiences. Films depicting Americans traveling to exotic or remote locations tend to highlight the cultural divide between what’s considered modern and acceptable and what they see as archaic or less sophisticated lifestyles. Instead, Luna focuses on the similarities between the two countries on a human level by never alienating its two foreign protagonists and much less his homeland
By the same token, the two American leads are far from the images of Americans we often see in Mexican films and television. These are not the white and ignorant gringos that make racist remarks or patronize the locals and who are always outsmarted by crooked Mexicans. Ambrose and Eunice never show fear or mistrust towards the Mexican citizens they encounter along the road. There is never a comment referencing negative aspects of each country, but the film is rather permeated with mutual appreciation.
Mexico is not depicted as this overly colorful almost caricatured land that’s incomprehensible to Americans. Captured by cinematographer Damian Garcia ("Güeros"), astounding landscapes away from the cities are blended with everyday people in everyday neighborhoods selling food, working at hotels, hospitals, or simply lending these two people a hand without taking into account who they are or where they are from. Using Howie’s inability to return to the United States because he is not legally allowed, Luna makes a subtle commentary on immigration and the ridiculous perspective on borders that countries have which overlook real life beyond politics.
Although “Mr. Pig” leaves some elements and subplots unexplored, such as that of Ambrose's relationship with a Mexican woman in his youth, it also contains several morsels of wisdom related to our search for definite answers or certainty when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Eunice might never have that touching moment she yearns for with Ambrose, but in the quest for it, she might get something much better – his true self. Camilo Froideval quietly affecting score enhances the unfolding family drama on the road with his lighthearted melodies.
A film with such specifically calibrated cultural observations without exhaustive explanation of them could only come from a director with a vision forged on both sides of the dreaded border. Underneath its conventional premise, Luna has taken a step forward in his evolution as a writer-director with a compassionate film that, while not groundbreaking and with some loose pieces along the way in terms of exposition, uses its intimate qualities to speak of humanity at large based on undeniable similarities. If all films about Mexico and the United States could channel a slight portion of the tolerance and sympathy in "Mr. Pig," our distinct traits would be cause for admiration and not fear.
"Mr. Pig" premiered on January 26, 2016 at the Eccles Theater during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Its international sales agent is Im Global/ Mundial and it is being represented for U.S. by Kevin Iwashina's Preferred Content.
Financially devastated, probably because of his diligent rejection of current farming practices though it’s never specified, Ambrose (Danny Glover) a 75-year-old African American hog farmer from California, heads to Mexico to find his best friend, an imposing dark pig named Howie, a new home and to make some money in return. The man-hog friendship is endearing, but it also points at the profound loneliness Ambrose is struggling with. Howie doesn’t judge or question him and, like good friends should, they both accept their inherent shortcomings – the plump pig hates showers and Ambrose has a drinking problem. It's an odd dynamic, but it seems to comfort the aging and defeated man.
Enduring a few bumps along the road, Ambrose and his beloved animal make it to the Mexican state of Jalisco where he meets with his best friend’s son (played by Mexican actor José María Yazpik), now in charge of the family’s hog business after his father’s passing, to discuss Howie’s future and reminisce about happier times. Noticing that his hog’s destiny in such a modern farm will be one of confinement and isolation, Ambrose reconsiders. While he accepts the fact that their purpose is to feed mankind, he despises the idea of seeing Howie as disposable merchandise.
Soon, Ambrose’s deteriorating health prompts his daughter Eunice (Maya Rudolph) to come down to look after him. Reluctantly she joins the mission to sell Howie to someone that can give him a life that measures up to Ambrose's standards, while also hoping to get to know her father beyond his charismatic front. Two strangers in a strange land that proves not to be so strange after all.
Leaving behind recent supporting roles that don’t capitalize on the veteran thespian’s abilities, Danny Glover commands the film with masculine fragility. He is not a rigid man on the surface and is particularly tender with Howie, but has managed to selfishly avoid his past failures as a self-defense mechanism. Also granted a prime opportunity to step away from her familiar comical performances, Maya Rudolph takes on a character of whom we know very little except for her desire to seek resolution regarding her father’s abandonment.
Luna has stated that “Mr. Pig” came into existence as a way to honor his father and that of his co-writer Augusto Mendoza. That initial desire to scrutinize the difficulties of parenthood and to build a cinematic bridge between him and his father is absolutely palpable in "Mr. Pig." However, he has also pointed out that this film is a love letter to Mexico, and that it is that second part of his motivation that places the film on a higher ground beyond merely being a touching dramedy about people desperately searching for meaning.
In the hands of a director without a personal connection to Mexico and an understanding of its relationship to its neighbor to the north, the country and its people could have been the victims of insensitive cheap mockery for the amusement of American audiences. Films depicting Americans traveling to exotic or remote locations tend to highlight the cultural divide between what’s considered modern and acceptable and what they see as archaic or less sophisticated lifestyles. Instead, Luna focuses on the similarities between the two countries on a human level by never alienating its two foreign protagonists and much less his homeland
By the same token, the two American leads are far from the images of Americans we often see in Mexican films and television. These are not the white and ignorant gringos that make racist remarks or patronize the locals and who are always outsmarted by crooked Mexicans. Ambrose and Eunice never show fear or mistrust towards the Mexican citizens they encounter along the road. There is never a comment referencing negative aspects of each country, but the film is rather permeated with mutual appreciation.
Mexico is not depicted as this overly colorful almost caricatured land that’s incomprehensible to Americans. Captured by cinematographer Damian Garcia ("Güeros"), astounding landscapes away from the cities are blended with everyday people in everyday neighborhoods selling food, working at hotels, hospitals, or simply lending these two people a hand without taking into account who they are or where they are from. Using Howie’s inability to return to the United States because he is not legally allowed, Luna makes a subtle commentary on immigration and the ridiculous perspective on borders that countries have which overlook real life beyond politics.
Although “Mr. Pig” leaves some elements and subplots unexplored, such as that of Ambrose's relationship with a Mexican woman in his youth, it also contains several morsels of wisdom related to our search for definite answers or certainty when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Eunice might never have that touching moment she yearns for with Ambrose, but in the quest for it, she might get something much better – his true self. Camilo Froideval quietly affecting score enhances the unfolding family drama on the road with his lighthearted melodies.
A film with such specifically calibrated cultural observations without exhaustive explanation of them could only come from a director with a vision forged on both sides of the dreaded border. Underneath its conventional premise, Luna has taken a step forward in his evolution as a writer-director with a compassionate film that, while not groundbreaking and with some loose pieces along the way in terms of exposition, uses its intimate qualities to speak of humanity at large based on undeniable similarities. If all films about Mexico and the United States could channel a slight portion of the tolerance and sympathy in "Mr. Pig," our distinct traits would be cause for admiration and not fear.
"Mr. Pig" premiered on January 26, 2016 at the Eccles Theater during the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Its international sales agent is Im Global/ Mundial and it is being represented for U.S. by Kevin Iwashina's Preferred Content.
- 1/27/2016
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Sundance 2016 is fast approaching. Last week we posted the movie lineup of Midnight and Competition film selections. We now have the complete lineup for the premieres in both the feature film and documentary categories. We also have their selections for the Spotlight and Kid films. I've also included a list of special events.
There are a lot of great films on this list that I'm excited about seeing because of the incredible talent involved. Viggo Mortensen and Frank Langella star in Captain Fantastic; Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams star in Certain Women; Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates and Danny Glover star in Complete Unknown; Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez star in The Fundamentals of Caring; John Krasinski directed a film called The Hollars which he stars in with Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, Richard Jenkins, Sharlto Copley, and Charlie Day; Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi has made a new...
There are a lot of great films on this list that I'm excited about seeing because of the incredible talent involved. Viggo Mortensen and Frank Langella star in Captain Fantastic; Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams star in Certain Women; Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates and Danny Glover star in Complete Unknown; Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez star in The Fundamentals of Caring; John Krasinski directed a film called The Hollars which he stars in with Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, Richard Jenkins, Sharlto Copley, and Charlie Day; Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi has made a new...
- 12/13/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Sundance programmers have unveiled what is a jaw-dropping, savoury Premieres line-up. With names such as Asif Kapadia (Ali & Nino), Kelly Reichardt (Certain Women), Joshua Marston (Complete Unknown), Ira Sachs (Little Men), Whit Stillman (Love & Friendship), Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea), Todd Solondz (Wiener-Dog) and James Schamus’ directorial debut (Indignation), the 2016 edition could be considered a “gold” level edition that in the decade plus years we’ve been covering the fest easily rivals what we might find in the Main Comp in Cannes later that year. In addition to titan auteurs names mentioned above, the fest also have faves in Anne Fontaine, Taika Waititi, John Carney and Diego Luna on tap plus will showcase work from Matthew Ross (directorial debut – Frank & Lola) and Matt Ross (sophomore film – Captain Fantastic). Here is the Premieres line-up.
Agnus Dei / France, Poland (Director: Anne Fontaine, Screenwriters: Sabrina N. Karine, Alice Vial, Pascal Bonitzer) — 1945 Poland: Mathilde,...
Agnus Dei / France, Poland (Director: Anne Fontaine, Screenwriters: Sabrina N. Karine, Alice Vial, Pascal Bonitzer) — 1945 Poland: Mathilde,...
- 12/7/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Sundance Institute today announces the remainder of its feature film lineup for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival - narratives, documentaries, episodic work and events in the Premieres, Documentary Premieres, Spotlight, Sundance Kids and Special Events sections. Of note, given this blog's interests, are: - "Mr. Pig" from director Diego Luna, based on a script he co-wrote with Augusto Mendoza, starring Danny Glover, Maya Rudolph, José María Yazpik, Joel Murray, Angélica Aragón, and Gabriela Araujo. Synopsis: On a mission to sell his last remaining prize hog and reunite with old friends, an aging farmer abandons his foreclosed farm and journeys to...
- 12/7/2015
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Top brass at the Park City festival have rounded out the feature line-up with a dazzling selection on paper that includes new work from Asif Kapadia and other returning alumni such as Todd Solondz, Taika Waititi and Joshua Marston.Scroll Down For Full List
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
- 12/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Top brass at the Park City festival have rounded out the feature line-up with a dazzling selection on paper that includes new work from Asif Kapadia and other returning alumni such as Todd Solondz, Taika Waititi and Joshua Marston.Scroll Down For Full List
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
- 12/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
After unveiling what’s sure to be a great many discoveries with their competition, Next line-up, and more, Sundance Film Festival 2016 have now revealed their premieres line-up. “Many of our selections this year reveal that what resides at the core of captivating stories are fascinating, and at times heroic, characters,” programming director Trevor Groth says. “In shining light on these people, independent filmmakers are doing what they’ve always done best: connecting the dots of human existence with a deeply charged emotional current.”
Featuring new films from Kenneth Lonergan, Werner Herzog, Kelly Reichardt, Todd Solondz, Taika Waititi, Ira Sachs, Whit Stillman, and more, check out the line-ups below, along with images where available.
Premieres
A showcase of world premieres of some of the most highly anticipated narrative films of the coming year.
Agnus Dei / France, Poland (Director: Anne Fontaine, Screenwriters: Sabrina N. Karine, Alice Vial, Pascal Bonitzer) — 1945 Poland: Mathilde, a young French doctor,...
Featuring new films from Kenneth Lonergan, Werner Herzog, Kelly Reichardt, Todd Solondz, Taika Waititi, Ira Sachs, Whit Stillman, and more, check out the line-ups below, along with images where available.
Premieres
A showcase of world premieres of some of the most highly anticipated narrative films of the coming year.
Agnus Dei / France, Poland (Director: Anne Fontaine, Screenwriters: Sabrina N. Karine, Alice Vial, Pascal Bonitzer) — 1945 Poland: Mathilde, a young French doctor,...
- 12/7/2015
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Jennifer Lawrence in a long, red dress at the Oscars Jennifer Lawrence at the Academy Awards Stunning in a red dress, Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the 2011 Academy Awards held on Feb. 27 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Lawrence was a first-time Best Actress Oscar nominee for her first major film role: a near-destitute, young Ozark woman looking for her missing drug-dealing father in Winter's Bone, Debra Granik's generally well-received indie drama. Winter's Bone also earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini; based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell). Jennifer Lawrence's competitors in the Best Actress Oscar race were: Annette Bening for Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right. Michelle Williams for Derek Cianfrance's Blue Valentine. Nicole Kidman for John Cameron Mitchell's Rabbit Hole. Natalie Portman, the eventual winner, for Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.
- 4/24/2015
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
Treading Water is a modern-day fairytale complete with hero and heroine, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, a fairy godfather (of sorts) and an unexpected all-dancing / all-swimming finale.
Mica (Douglas Smith) faces a number of challenges. He’s grown up in a house that’s actually a museum celebrating the renowned Mexican crooner Guillermo Garibai (Gonzalo Vega). Mica’s mother Sophie (Ariadna Gil) is the guardian and tour guide of this wildly over-the-top shrine. And then there’s the fact that Mica smells like fish…
Mother and son are both too much (or not enough) for Mica’s father Richard (Don McKellar), who ends up abandoning them. No one around Mica, not even his therapist Catherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), is able to get him on track, until his childhood crush Laura (Zoë Kravitz) swims back into his life. For the first time in his life he feels happy, but Mica ends up losing her as well.
Mica (Douglas Smith) faces a number of challenges. He’s grown up in a house that’s actually a museum celebrating the renowned Mexican crooner Guillermo Garibai (Gonzalo Vega). Mica’s mother Sophie (Ariadna Gil) is the guardian and tour guide of this wildly over-the-top shrine. And then there’s the fact that Mica smells like fish…
Mother and son are both too much (or not enough) for Mica’s father Richard (Don McKellar), who ends up abandoning them. No one around Mica, not even his therapist Catherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), is able to get him on track, until his childhood crush Laura (Zoë Kravitz) swims back into his life. For the first time in his life he feels happy, but Mica ends up losing her as well.
- 3/13/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The first Fénix Iberoamerican Film Awards, (Phoenix Awards) highlighting and celebrating cinema made in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal as well as applauding the professionals involved was inaugurated by Cinema 23 this October 30th, a couple days before Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, one of the most important holidays in México. The event brought together hundreds of figures from the Iberoamerican film community who celebrated the well-deserved recognition to their work and to their dedication. At the same time, the event served to strengthen relationships among the diverse industries and will continuously help forge the region's identity.
Aside from enumerating the awards here, we wish to show how the films' dissemination throughout the world is, in fact succeeding by showing sales agents and commercial distributors, some of many festivals the films played, and some of the awards won.
Nominees in twelve categories were chosen from a shortlist of 58 feature films and 16 documentaries in the region and awarded by a jury made up of - among others - Luis Tosar, Wagner Moura, Daniel Hendler, Selton Mello, José María Yazpik, Maria de Medeiros, Paulina García, Amat Escalante, Fernando Meirelles, Rodrigo García, Sebastián Lelio, Rodrigo Pla.
Feature Film category
Winner: "The Golden Cage" ("La Juala de oro") by Diego Quemada-díez, a coproduction of Guatemala, Spain and Mexico, since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard in 2013 where Quemada-díez won A Certain Talent Award for his directing work and the ensemble cast has received a total of 67 awards, including 9 Ariel awards by the Mexican Film Academy: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best First Feature, Best Actor, Best Upcoming Actor, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Music. It also won Best Picture, Best Editing and Best Sound at the Fenix Awards. Producers sold to Benelux - Wild Bunch Benelux, France - Pretty Pictures , Mexico - Canibal Networks,, Portugal - Legendmain Filmes, Spain - Golem Distribución, Taiwan - Maison Motion, U.K. - Peccadillo Pictures.
Other contenders:
"Club Sandwich" by Fernando Eimbcke, a Mexican production, screened in Toronto International Film Festival 2013, San Sebastian 2013 among many others. International sales agent (Isa) Funny Balloons sold the film to Benelux - ABC - Cinemien, Brazil--Esfera Filmes, Mexico--Cine Pantera, Poland--Art House, Turkey--Filma Ltd.
"Heli" by Amat Escalante, a Mexican production premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2013. Isa Ndm sold to U.S.--Outsider Pictures, Belgium--Film Fest Gent, Brazil--Zeta Filmes, Canada--K Films Amerique and A-z Films, Denmark--Ost For Paradis, France--Le Pacte, Greece--Ama Films, Hungary--Cirko Film Kft., Netherlands--Amstelfilm, Norway--Filmhuset Gruppen As & Europafilm As, Poland--Spectator, Puerto Ric--Wiesner Distribution, Serbia--Mcf Megacom Film, Spain--Savor Ediciones, S.A., Sweden--Njutafilms and Maywin Films Ab, Taiwan--Pomi International, Turkey--Filmarti Film, U.K.--Network
"Jauja" by Lisandro Alonso, a coproduction of Argentina, Denmark, France and Mexico and winner of the Fipresci Award in Cannes' Un Certain Regard 2014 where it debuted. It also played in Toronto and Busan among many other festivals. Isa Ndm, sold to U.S. -- The Cinema Guild; Argentina--Distribution Company Sudamericana S.A.; Spain--Noucinemart- Festival Internacional De Cinema D'autor De Barcelona; U.K.--Soda Pictures
"Bad Hair" ("Pelo Malo") by Mariana Rondon, a coproduction of Venezuela, Peru, Germany and Argentina premiered in Toronto 2013. FiGa sold it to U.S. – Pragda, Argentina--Obra Cine, Brazil--Esfera Filmes, Bulgaria--Sofia International Film Festival - Art Fest Ltd., France--Pyramide Distribution, Hungary -- Cirko, Italy--Cineclub Internazionale, Latin America--Palmera International, Portugal -- Nitrato Filmes, Serbia--European Film Festival Palic, Switzerland --Look Now! Filmdistribution, U.K.--Axiom Films International, Venezuela--Centro Nacional Autonomo De Cinematografia
Documentary Feature category
Winner: "Sobre la Marxa: the Creator of the Jungle" by Jordi Morató from Spain debuted at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Other Contenders:
"Letter to a Father" of Edgardo Cozarinsky, a coproduction from France and Argentina screened at Mar del Plata, Cinema du reel 2014 (Competition), Vienna and Jerusalem among other festivals. Doc and FIlms has the international rights.
"Echo Mountain" ("Eco de la montaña") by Nicolás Echevarría, a coproduction of U.S. and Mexico, premiered at Guadalajara Film Festival and Cinema du Reel in 2014.
"And Now? Remember Me" ("E agora? Lembra-me") by Joaquim Pinto from Portugal premiered at Locarno Film Festival 2013, has won 16 awards and 3 nominations and is distributed in France by Epicentre and by Midas in Portugal.
"Watch & Listen" by José Luis Torres Leiva
Best Female Role:
Winner:
Leandra Leal ("A Wolf At the Door" from Brazil premiered at Toronto Ff 2013. Isa: Im Global/Mundial sold to U.S.--Film Movement and Outsider Pictures, Benelux—Cdc United Network, Canada--A-z Films, Israel--United King Video Ltd., Latin America--Palmera International, So. Korea --Korean Film Art Center Baekdu-Daegan Films Co., Ltd, Portugal--Vendetta Filmes, Spain--Betta Pictures, Turkey--Moviebox)
Other Contenders:
Marian Álvarez ("The Wound" aka "La Herida" - Isa: Imagina, premiered San Sebastian Ff where the Special jury prize / Silver Shell for best actress went to Marian Álvarez), Samantha Castillo ("Bad Hair")
Paulina García ("Illiterate" - Isa: Habanero, screened at Guadalajara Ficg 2014, Sanfic - Santiago International Film Festival - Best Picture Audience award , Venice Film Festival - Settimana della Critica - Closing Film, Chicago International Film Festival - New Directors Competition, Sao Paulo International Film Festival - New Directors Competition )
Karen Martinez ("The Golden Cage")
Best Male Role:
Winner:
Viggo Mortensen ("Cockaigne" aka "Jauja")
Other Contenders:
Fernando Bacilio ("Mute" aka "El Mudo" by Daniel Vega premiered at Toronto in 2013. Udi sold it to Encore for airlines)
Alex Brendemühl ("Stella cadente" aka "Falling Star" by Luis Miñarro from Spain screened in Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2014 Panorama, San Sebastian 2014 Made in Spain, Gent Iff 2014 Feature Films, Rotterdam Iffr 2014 (Tiger Competition). Isa: Ndm sold it to Germany--Salzgeber & Co. Medien Gmbh Puerto Rico--Wiesner Distribution, Spain--Vercine)
Brandon Lopez ("The Golden Cage")
Antonio de la Torre ("Cannibal" by Manuel Martin Cuenca, a coproduction of Spain, Romania, Russia, France premiered at Toronto and San Sebastian 2013. Isa Film Factory sold it to U.S. - Film Movement, Belgium--Film Fest Gent, Hong Kong--Encore Inflight Limited-, Japan--Broadmedia Studios Corporation, Latin America--Palmera International, Spain--Mod Producciones, Taiwan--Creative Century Entertainment Co., Ltd.)
Eight other awards (listed below) were granted in the photography category, costumes, art direction, sound, music, editing and screenplay.
Four special awards were also presented:
The Latin American Festival Award, decided by the Advisory Council Cinema23 went to the Havana Film Festival (Festival de Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano). On December 3, 1979, over five hundred film professionals, mainly from Latin America, met in Havana, Cuba, for the inaugural Festival of New Latin American Cinema, which in its own words, "sought to build a space to identify and disseminate films whose significance and artistic values enrich and reaffirm American and Caribbean cultural identity where rich dialogue between film professionals, students and the informed public and critics gather". For decades and through its multiple realities Havana has played a role in community building around film as an art form and as an incentive for social reflection.
The work of more than three decades by a team led today by Ivan Giroud and which survives the noble and generous spirit of its founder, Alfredo Guevara, and those like Santiago Alvarez and Gabriel García Márquez, who have accompanied him from his beginnings, deserves to be recognized by those who think that culture is a way that allows us to approach, meet, recognize and move away from violence towards a better world. "With this award go our admiration and our gratitude to the Festival of New Latin American Cinema of Havana."
The Critics' Award, selected by Fipresci (Federation International Film Critics) went to the Brazilian writer José Carlos Avellar for his critical work. An admired and appreciated writer, critic, teacher and programmer, Avellar worked for over twenty years for the newspaper Jornal do Brasil, and has published six books on Brazilian and Latin American cinema. The former vice-president of Fipresci is also Berlinale's delegate in Brazil. More information and examples of his work can be found in his website www.escrevercinema.com.
Recognition of the Exhibition Sector, awarded by the leading exhibitors in the region went to Mexican actor and producer, Eugenio Derbez, for "No se aceptan devoluciones" ("Instructions Not Included").
The resurgence of Mexican films which began in 2001 with the all-time hit "Amores Perros" by Alejandro González Iñárritu and which also introduced Gael Garcia Bernal to the public (U.S. box office $5,408,467, worldwide $20,908,467) and "El crimen del Padre Amaro" in 2002 (U.S. box office $5,717,044, worldwide: $26,996,738) up until the hits, "Nosotros los Nobles" and "No se aceptan devoluciones" had the highest number admissions than any other Mexican film. Twelve years later, in six weeks "No se aceptan devolucions" outgrossed both "Amores" and "El crimen" combined. México Televisa’s Videocine Mexican box office was Us $44,882,061 and U.S. box office was $44,143,000. This is truly an exhibitor's dream movie.
No sooner had "Los Nobles" swept the Mexican box-office off its feet than another Mexican movie, independently produced by Monica Lozano’s México City-based Alebrije Cine y Video, "Instructions Not Included" was released -- first in the U.S. by Pantelion on August 30, 2013, almost three weeks before its Mexican release on September 20, 2013. The two countries grossed an equal amount. Moreover, Videocine released the film on 1,500 prints similar to a major release of a film such as "Batman". Through the Cinepolis chain’s use of satellite, these 1,500 prints were able to show on 2,500 screens. This represents both a new release pattern and a new type of Mexican film.
Previously Mexican films which were meant for the Mexican and Mexican-American audience (as opposed to those targeted to the art house audiences) were perceived as too Mexican by their U.S. target and they were released in the U.S. only after the Mexican release, and by that time, piracy had done its work in the U.S. and the film lacked the prestige of an "American" film. This film and the previous film, "The Noble Family", are not typically Mexican. Their storyline could be transposed anywhere, and in fact "The Noble Family" remake rights have been sold to U.S. In addition, releasing the film first in the U.S. changes the perception of the film in México. Being such a success in U.S. paves the way for its success in México as if it were validated as a "good" film.
Added to these two elements is the third key to success, Eugenio Derbez, the director and star of "Instructions", is a major TV comedy star in México and is known by all Mexicans wherever they reside. Mexican TV is quite powerful, it has a duopoly made by Televisa and TV Azteca. Derbez comes from Televisa. The film was also shot in English and Spanish and takes place in the U.S. Finally, Derbez himself and former head of production at Pantelion, Ben Odell, have now established a production company, 3 Spas, pronounced "Tres Paz" which funnily enough sounds like "tripas" or "guts". Reese Witherspoon whose film "Wild" opened the festival said that she had approached Derbez for a film she was producing already, but he was busy. However, she hopes they will soon find a project to do together. How great that will be for the exhibitors, the distributors and the audiences around the world!
The Phoenix Lifetime Achievement Award, which is awarded by the different academies and film associations in all the differenct countries of the region and announced by the Mexican Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences, went to Arturo Ripstein. Recognized as one of the great masters in the history of Mexican cinema, Ripstein said, "I'm glad to say that a lifetime achievement award is usually given when one is finished with everything. But I am pleased to say that I still need a bit of experience, because next week I start my new film. I've been practicing this craft half a century, and this (the Phoenix Award ) symbolizes what it has really cost me over the past 50 years."
List of all winners include:
Narrative Film: Diego Quemada-Diez ("La Jaula de Oro")
Documentary Film: Jordi Morato ("Sobre la Marxa")
Screenplay: Amat Escalante y Gabriel Reyes ("Heli")
Director: Amat Escalante ("Heli")
Photography: Julián Apezteguia ("El ardor")
Art Design: José Luis Arrizabalaga y Arturo García ("Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi")
Editing: Paloma López Carrillo y Felipe Gómez ("La Jaula de Oro")
Costume Design: Chris Garrido ("Tatuagem")
Sound Design: Matías Barberis, Raúl Locatelli y Jaime Baksht ("La Jaula de oro")
Music: Joan Valent ("Las brujas de Zugarramurdi")
Lead Actor: Viggo Mortensen ("Jauja")
Lead Actress: Leandra Leal ("A Wolf at the Door")
Diego Quemada-Diez Receives the Award for Best Narrative Film for "La Jaula de Oro"
Amat Escalante Receives the Award for Best Director for "Heli"
Viggo Mortensen Receives the Award for Best Lead Actor for "Jauja"
Leandra Leal Receives the Award for Best Lead Actress for "A Wolf at the Door"...
Aside from enumerating the awards here, we wish to show how the films' dissemination throughout the world is, in fact succeeding by showing sales agents and commercial distributors, some of many festivals the films played, and some of the awards won.
Nominees in twelve categories were chosen from a shortlist of 58 feature films and 16 documentaries in the region and awarded by a jury made up of - among others - Luis Tosar, Wagner Moura, Daniel Hendler, Selton Mello, José María Yazpik, Maria de Medeiros, Paulina García, Amat Escalante, Fernando Meirelles, Rodrigo García, Sebastián Lelio, Rodrigo Pla.
Feature Film category
Winner: "The Golden Cage" ("La Juala de oro") by Diego Quemada-díez, a coproduction of Guatemala, Spain and Mexico, since its debut at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard in 2013 where Quemada-díez won A Certain Talent Award for his directing work and the ensemble cast has received a total of 67 awards, including 9 Ariel awards by the Mexican Film Academy: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best First Feature, Best Actor, Best Upcoming Actor, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Music. It also won Best Picture, Best Editing and Best Sound at the Fenix Awards. Producers sold to Benelux - Wild Bunch Benelux, France - Pretty Pictures , Mexico - Canibal Networks,, Portugal - Legendmain Filmes, Spain - Golem Distribución, Taiwan - Maison Motion, U.K. - Peccadillo Pictures.
Other contenders:
"Club Sandwich" by Fernando Eimbcke, a Mexican production, screened in Toronto International Film Festival 2013, San Sebastian 2013 among many others. International sales agent (Isa) Funny Balloons sold the film to Benelux - ABC - Cinemien, Brazil--Esfera Filmes, Mexico--Cine Pantera, Poland--Art House, Turkey--Filma Ltd.
"Heli" by Amat Escalante, a Mexican production premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2013. Isa Ndm sold to U.S.--Outsider Pictures, Belgium--Film Fest Gent, Brazil--Zeta Filmes, Canada--K Films Amerique and A-z Films, Denmark--Ost For Paradis, France--Le Pacte, Greece--Ama Films, Hungary--Cirko Film Kft., Netherlands--Amstelfilm, Norway--Filmhuset Gruppen As & Europafilm As, Poland--Spectator, Puerto Ric--Wiesner Distribution, Serbia--Mcf Megacom Film, Spain--Savor Ediciones, S.A., Sweden--Njutafilms and Maywin Films Ab, Taiwan--Pomi International, Turkey--Filmarti Film, U.K.--Network
"Jauja" by Lisandro Alonso, a coproduction of Argentina, Denmark, France and Mexico and winner of the Fipresci Award in Cannes' Un Certain Regard 2014 where it debuted. It also played in Toronto and Busan among many other festivals. Isa Ndm, sold to U.S. -- The Cinema Guild; Argentina--Distribution Company Sudamericana S.A.; Spain--Noucinemart- Festival Internacional De Cinema D'autor De Barcelona; U.K.--Soda Pictures
"Bad Hair" ("Pelo Malo") by Mariana Rondon, a coproduction of Venezuela, Peru, Germany and Argentina premiered in Toronto 2013. FiGa sold it to U.S. – Pragda, Argentina--Obra Cine, Brazil--Esfera Filmes, Bulgaria--Sofia International Film Festival - Art Fest Ltd., France--Pyramide Distribution, Hungary -- Cirko, Italy--Cineclub Internazionale, Latin America--Palmera International, Portugal -- Nitrato Filmes, Serbia--European Film Festival Palic, Switzerland --Look Now! Filmdistribution, U.K.--Axiom Films International, Venezuela--Centro Nacional Autonomo De Cinematografia
Documentary Feature category
Winner: "Sobre la Marxa: the Creator of the Jungle" by Jordi Morató from Spain debuted at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Other Contenders:
"Letter to a Father" of Edgardo Cozarinsky, a coproduction from France and Argentina screened at Mar del Plata, Cinema du reel 2014 (Competition), Vienna and Jerusalem among other festivals. Doc and FIlms has the international rights.
"Echo Mountain" ("Eco de la montaña") by Nicolás Echevarría, a coproduction of U.S. and Mexico, premiered at Guadalajara Film Festival and Cinema du Reel in 2014.
"And Now? Remember Me" ("E agora? Lembra-me") by Joaquim Pinto from Portugal premiered at Locarno Film Festival 2013, has won 16 awards and 3 nominations and is distributed in France by Epicentre and by Midas in Portugal.
"Watch & Listen" by José Luis Torres Leiva
Best Female Role:
Winner:
Leandra Leal ("A Wolf At the Door" from Brazil premiered at Toronto Ff 2013. Isa: Im Global/Mundial sold to U.S.--Film Movement and Outsider Pictures, Benelux—Cdc United Network, Canada--A-z Films, Israel--United King Video Ltd., Latin America--Palmera International, So. Korea --Korean Film Art Center Baekdu-Daegan Films Co., Ltd, Portugal--Vendetta Filmes, Spain--Betta Pictures, Turkey--Moviebox)
Other Contenders:
Marian Álvarez ("The Wound" aka "La Herida" - Isa: Imagina, premiered San Sebastian Ff where the Special jury prize / Silver Shell for best actress went to Marian Álvarez), Samantha Castillo ("Bad Hair")
Paulina García ("Illiterate" - Isa: Habanero, screened at Guadalajara Ficg 2014, Sanfic - Santiago International Film Festival - Best Picture Audience award , Venice Film Festival - Settimana della Critica - Closing Film, Chicago International Film Festival - New Directors Competition, Sao Paulo International Film Festival - New Directors Competition )
Karen Martinez ("The Golden Cage")
Best Male Role:
Winner:
Viggo Mortensen ("Cockaigne" aka "Jauja")
Other Contenders:
Fernando Bacilio ("Mute" aka "El Mudo" by Daniel Vega premiered at Toronto in 2013. Udi sold it to Encore for airlines)
Alex Brendemühl ("Stella cadente" aka "Falling Star" by Luis Miñarro from Spain screened in Bafici (Buenos Aires) 2014 Panorama, San Sebastian 2014 Made in Spain, Gent Iff 2014 Feature Films, Rotterdam Iffr 2014 (Tiger Competition). Isa: Ndm sold it to Germany--Salzgeber & Co. Medien Gmbh Puerto Rico--Wiesner Distribution, Spain--Vercine)
Brandon Lopez ("The Golden Cage")
Antonio de la Torre ("Cannibal" by Manuel Martin Cuenca, a coproduction of Spain, Romania, Russia, France premiered at Toronto and San Sebastian 2013. Isa Film Factory sold it to U.S. - Film Movement, Belgium--Film Fest Gent, Hong Kong--Encore Inflight Limited-, Japan--Broadmedia Studios Corporation, Latin America--Palmera International, Spain--Mod Producciones, Taiwan--Creative Century Entertainment Co., Ltd.)
Eight other awards (listed below) were granted in the photography category, costumes, art direction, sound, music, editing and screenplay.
Four special awards were also presented:
The Latin American Festival Award, decided by the Advisory Council Cinema23 went to the Havana Film Festival (Festival de Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano). On December 3, 1979, over five hundred film professionals, mainly from Latin America, met in Havana, Cuba, for the inaugural Festival of New Latin American Cinema, which in its own words, "sought to build a space to identify and disseminate films whose significance and artistic values enrich and reaffirm American and Caribbean cultural identity where rich dialogue between film professionals, students and the informed public and critics gather". For decades and through its multiple realities Havana has played a role in community building around film as an art form and as an incentive for social reflection.
The work of more than three decades by a team led today by Ivan Giroud and which survives the noble and generous spirit of its founder, Alfredo Guevara, and those like Santiago Alvarez and Gabriel García Márquez, who have accompanied him from his beginnings, deserves to be recognized by those who think that culture is a way that allows us to approach, meet, recognize and move away from violence towards a better world. "With this award go our admiration and our gratitude to the Festival of New Latin American Cinema of Havana."
The Critics' Award, selected by Fipresci (Federation International Film Critics) went to the Brazilian writer José Carlos Avellar for his critical work. An admired and appreciated writer, critic, teacher and programmer, Avellar worked for over twenty years for the newspaper Jornal do Brasil, and has published six books on Brazilian and Latin American cinema. The former vice-president of Fipresci is also Berlinale's delegate in Brazil. More information and examples of his work can be found in his website www.escrevercinema.com.
Recognition of the Exhibition Sector, awarded by the leading exhibitors in the region went to Mexican actor and producer, Eugenio Derbez, for "No se aceptan devoluciones" ("Instructions Not Included").
The resurgence of Mexican films which began in 2001 with the all-time hit "Amores Perros" by Alejandro González Iñárritu and which also introduced Gael Garcia Bernal to the public (U.S. box office $5,408,467, worldwide $20,908,467) and "El crimen del Padre Amaro" in 2002 (U.S. box office $5,717,044, worldwide: $26,996,738) up until the hits, "Nosotros los Nobles" and "No se aceptan devoluciones" had the highest number admissions than any other Mexican film. Twelve years later, in six weeks "No se aceptan devolucions" outgrossed both "Amores" and "El crimen" combined. México Televisa’s Videocine Mexican box office was Us $44,882,061 and U.S. box office was $44,143,000. This is truly an exhibitor's dream movie.
No sooner had "Los Nobles" swept the Mexican box-office off its feet than another Mexican movie, independently produced by Monica Lozano’s México City-based Alebrije Cine y Video, "Instructions Not Included" was released -- first in the U.S. by Pantelion on August 30, 2013, almost three weeks before its Mexican release on September 20, 2013. The two countries grossed an equal amount. Moreover, Videocine released the film on 1,500 prints similar to a major release of a film such as "Batman". Through the Cinepolis chain’s use of satellite, these 1,500 prints were able to show on 2,500 screens. This represents both a new release pattern and a new type of Mexican film.
Previously Mexican films which were meant for the Mexican and Mexican-American audience (as opposed to those targeted to the art house audiences) were perceived as too Mexican by their U.S. target and they were released in the U.S. only after the Mexican release, and by that time, piracy had done its work in the U.S. and the film lacked the prestige of an "American" film. This film and the previous film, "The Noble Family", are not typically Mexican. Their storyline could be transposed anywhere, and in fact "The Noble Family" remake rights have been sold to U.S. In addition, releasing the film first in the U.S. changes the perception of the film in México. Being such a success in U.S. paves the way for its success in México as if it were validated as a "good" film.
Added to these two elements is the third key to success, Eugenio Derbez, the director and star of "Instructions", is a major TV comedy star in México and is known by all Mexicans wherever they reside. Mexican TV is quite powerful, it has a duopoly made by Televisa and TV Azteca. Derbez comes from Televisa. The film was also shot in English and Spanish and takes place in the U.S. Finally, Derbez himself and former head of production at Pantelion, Ben Odell, have now established a production company, 3 Spas, pronounced "Tres Paz" which funnily enough sounds like "tripas" or "guts". Reese Witherspoon whose film "Wild" opened the festival said that she had approached Derbez for a film she was producing already, but he was busy. However, she hopes they will soon find a project to do together. How great that will be for the exhibitors, the distributors and the audiences around the world!
The Phoenix Lifetime Achievement Award, which is awarded by the different academies and film associations in all the differenct countries of the region and announced by the Mexican Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences, went to Arturo Ripstein. Recognized as one of the great masters in the history of Mexican cinema, Ripstein said, "I'm glad to say that a lifetime achievement award is usually given when one is finished with everything. But I am pleased to say that I still need a bit of experience, because next week I start my new film. I've been practicing this craft half a century, and this (the Phoenix Award ) symbolizes what it has really cost me over the past 50 years."
List of all winners include:
Narrative Film: Diego Quemada-Diez ("La Jaula de Oro")
Documentary Film: Jordi Morato ("Sobre la Marxa")
Screenplay: Amat Escalante y Gabriel Reyes ("Heli")
Director: Amat Escalante ("Heli")
Photography: Julián Apezteguia ("El ardor")
Art Design: José Luis Arrizabalaga y Arturo García ("Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi")
Editing: Paloma López Carrillo y Felipe Gómez ("La Jaula de Oro")
Costume Design: Chris Garrido ("Tatuagem")
Sound Design: Matías Barberis, Raúl Locatelli y Jaime Baksht ("La Jaula de oro")
Music: Joan Valent ("Las brujas de Zugarramurdi")
Lead Actor: Viggo Mortensen ("Jauja")
Lead Actress: Leandra Leal ("A Wolf at the Door")
Diego Quemada-Diez Receives the Award for Best Narrative Film for "La Jaula de Oro"
Amat Escalante Receives the Award for Best Director for "Heli"
Viggo Mortensen Receives the Award for Best Lead Actor for "Jauja"
Leandra Leal Receives the Award for Best Lead Actress for "A Wolf at the Door"...
- 11/19/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The first Fenix Iberoamerican Film Awards, highlighting and celebrating cinema made in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal as well as applauding the professionals involved was inaugurated by Cinema23 this October 30 and held its closing night party in México City's Jumex Museum, named after the Lopez family’s fruit juice empire, and commissioned by Eugenio Lopez, the dynastic scion whose intention is to leave an edifice to Mexico City that dignifies his family name. This 21st-century prince is the sole patron of the new Museo Jumex, Latin America’s largest contemporary art museum, designed by the British architect David Chipperfield and just across the street from hourglass-shaped Museo Soumaya, opened in 2011 by the Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helú to display his own collection. Worth a trip to Mexico alone just to view the private Jumex collection of Mexican art, to attend the spectacular closing night party topping off the new annual, independent award ceremony which took place at the iconic 1918 Teatro de la Ciudad was an experience of a lifetime.
After an exclusive dinner for the nominees around 11 Pm, the great celebration began. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, one of the most important holidays in Mexico, the party was decorated with elements inspired by this tradition such as "papel picado," and walls decorated with skulls. The vibrant orange color of hundreds of cempasúchil flowers (Marigolds) adorned the hall where more than a thousand guests, among them many film professional, singers and other important figures from across Iberoamerica, attended the celebration organized by Grupo Modelo the brewery in Mexico now owned by the Belgian-Brazilian company Anheuser-Busch InBev, which holds 63% of the Mexican beer market and exports beer to most countries of the world, whose export brands include my own favorite beers, Corona and Pacífico. I was proud to be invited to attend and to be part of the advisory council of Cinema23, founder of this annual Fenix Awards celebration of the art of cinema along with the comcomitant commercial success of Iberoamerican cinema.
Attending the awards and the post-award party were actors such as Alice Braga, Ana de la Reguera, Ana Claudia Talancón, Alfonso Herrera, Bárbara Mori, Brandon López, Camila Selser, Cecilia Suárez, Elena Anaya, Ernesto Alterio, Erick Elías, Ilse Salas, Irene Azuela, Johanna Murillo, José María Yazpik, José María and Pedro de Tavira, Juan Manuel Bernal, Karen Martínez, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Maribel Verdú, Martha Higareda, Maya Zapata and Ximena Ayala; filmmakers Fernando Eimbcke, Gary Alazraki, Jonás Cuarón, Lorenzo Hagerman, Manolo Caro, Natalia Beristáin and Rigoberto Perezcano; musicians Leo Heiblum, Kevin Johansen, León Larregui and Sergio Acosta from rock band Zoé and Leonor Watling, Jesús Navarro, vocalist of pop band Reik; socialites as Rafael Micha, Jorge Gorozpe, Memo Martínez and Max Villegas; fashion designer Oscar Madrazo and jewelry designer Mariana Villarea. They and the other attendees enjoyed a night in which cinema was the most important guest.
In the venue's lower level, Sonido Apokalitzin's beats enhanced the experience with cumbias, salsas and iconic songs from several Iberoamerican countries. Monterrey DJ Toy Selectah also entertained the guests with his musical selection. Upstairs, Sergio and Andres from famous rock band Zoé delighted everyone with their music just before they enjoyed Julian Placencia's DJ set.
With this event the first edition of the Fenix Iberoamerican Film Awards came to an end. The event brought together hundreds of figures from the Iberoamerican film community who celebrated the well-deserved recognition to their work and dedication. At the same time the event served to strengthen relationships among the diverse industries and will continuously help forge the region's identity.
After an exclusive dinner for the nominees around 11 Pm, the great celebration began. Inspired by Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, one of the most important holidays in Mexico, the party was decorated with elements inspired by this tradition such as "papel picado," and walls decorated with skulls. The vibrant orange color of hundreds of cempasúchil flowers (Marigolds) adorned the hall where more than a thousand guests, among them many film professional, singers and other important figures from across Iberoamerica, attended the celebration organized by Grupo Modelo the brewery in Mexico now owned by the Belgian-Brazilian company Anheuser-Busch InBev, which holds 63% of the Mexican beer market and exports beer to most countries of the world, whose export brands include my own favorite beers, Corona and Pacífico. I was proud to be invited to attend and to be part of the advisory council of Cinema23, founder of this annual Fenix Awards celebration of the art of cinema along with the comcomitant commercial success of Iberoamerican cinema.
Attending the awards and the post-award party were actors such as Alice Braga, Ana de la Reguera, Ana Claudia Talancón, Alfonso Herrera, Bárbara Mori, Brandon López, Camila Selser, Cecilia Suárez, Elena Anaya, Ernesto Alterio, Erick Elías, Ilse Salas, Irene Azuela, Johanna Murillo, José María Yazpik, José María and Pedro de Tavira, Juan Manuel Bernal, Karen Martínez, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Maribel Verdú, Martha Higareda, Maya Zapata and Ximena Ayala; filmmakers Fernando Eimbcke, Gary Alazraki, Jonás Cuarón, Lorenzo Hagerman, Manolo Caro, Natalia Beristáin and Rigoberto Perezcano; musicians Leo Heiblum, Kevin Johansen, León Larregui and Sergio Acosta from rock band Zoé and Leonor Watling, Jesús Navarro, vocalist of pop band Reik; socialites as Rafael Micha, Jorge Gorozpe, Memo Martínez and Max Villegas; fashion designer Oscar Madrazo and jewelry designer Mariana Villarea. They and the other attendees enjoyed a night in which cinema was the most important guest.
In the venue's lower level, Sonido Apokalitzin's beats enhanced the experience with cumbias, salsas and iconic songs from several Iberoamerican countries. Monterrey DJ Toy Selectah also entertained the guests with his musical selection. Upstairs, Sergio and Andres from famous rock band Zoé delighted everyone with their music just before they enjoyed Julian Placencia's DJ set.
With this event the first edition of the Fenix Iberoamerican Film Awards came to an end. The event brought together hundreds of figures from the Iberoamerican film community who celebrated the well-deserved recognition to their work and dedication. At the same time the event served to strengthen relationships among the diverse industries and will continuously help forge the region's identity.
- 11/17/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Written by Vanessa Erazo originally posted on huffingtonpost Latino Voices
I am pretty sure the first time I saw one of Pedro Almodóvar's movies was in my high school Spanish class. I was completely entranced, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was unlike anything I had ever seen before. And hence began my long love affair with his films.
I am not ashamed to admit that I spent a good part of my twenties scouring eBay for hard-to-find copies of his early films like Pepi, Luci, and Bom or The Labyrinth of Passion. One of my favorites, What Have I Done to Deserve This, I could only find on Vcd (yeah Video CD, it exists) in Taiwan. Gracias a Dios por eBay!
A full decade (and more) into my Almodóvar love affair I am past the giddy butterflies-in-your-stomach phase. Now, it feels like a long-term relationship. Since the late nineties I have seen all of his new releases in a theater: All About My Mother, Talk to Her, Bad Education, Volver, Broken Embraces, and The Skin I Live In. Some I absolutely adored and others were kinda meh. Pedro and I have been through good times and bad. But sitting in a dark theater, sinking into a plush chair, and awaiting the start of a new Almodóvar movie feels just like going home for Christmas or like a hug from my mom -- it's comforting and blissful.
A few weeks ago I got to preview his newest film I'm So Excited and I fell in love all over again.
The title in Spanish, Los amantes pasajeros, hints at the storyline -- a group of travelers aboard a plane flying to Mexico City that seems likely to crash, terrified and fearing for their lives, begin to confess their spicy life secrets.
The cast brings together old Almodóvar favorites with newcomers and well-known actors. The movie stars Javier Camara (Talk to Her), Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother) and Lola Dueñas (Volver). Spanish comedians Carlos Areces, Raúl Arévalo and Mexican actor José María Yazpik round out the cast along with cameos by Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
Almodóvar was present at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater along with some of his actors. The ruckus affair came complete with champagne, popcorn, and many Almodóvarisms. While introducing the film he explained, "there is lots of sex" and the passengers on the plane, "have an incredible orgy." He then told the audience, "to which you are also invited after the movie." And before the lights dimmed Almodóvar told everyone he hoped they enjoyed the film but gave the caveat, "If you don't find it entertaining, blame the subtitles."
I'm So Excited is a return to what Almodóvar does best; it's an absurd sex-filled comedy. It's an orgy in the sky complete with jazz hands, flamboyant flight attendants, binge drinking, drugs, a porn actress, a psychic (who also happens to be a virgin), and a pilot who is exploring his sexual identity. It's a story that only Almodóvar could tell and that's exactly why I fell in love with his films in the first place.
I'm So Excited opened on Friday, June 28 in New York and Los Angeles with other cities to follow in the coming weeks.
Check out the website for a list of theaters and like the Facebook page for updates.
I am pretty sure the first time I saw one of Pedro Almodóvar's movies was in my high school Spanish class. I was completely entranced, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was unlike anything I had ever seen before. And hence began my long love affair with his films.
I am not ashamed to admit that I spent a good part of my twenties scouring eBay for hard-to-find copies of his early films like Pepi, Luci, and Bom or The Labyrinth of Passion. One of my favorites, What Have I Done to Deserve This, I could only find on Vcd (yeah Video CD, it exists) in Taiwan. Gracias a Dios por eBay!
A full decade (and more) into my Almodóvar love affair I am past the giddy butterflies-in-your-stomach phase. Now, it feels like a long-term relationship. Since the late nineties I have seen all of his new releases in a theater: All About My Mother, Talk to Her, Bad Education, Volver, Broken Embraces, and The Skin I Live In. Some I absolutely adored and others were kinda meh. Pedro and I have been through good times and bad. But sitting in a dark theater, sinking into a plush chair, and awaiting the start of a new Almodóvar movie feels just like going home for Christmas or like a hug from my mom -- it's comforting and blissful.
A few weeks ago I got to preview his newest film I'm So Excited and I fell in love all over again.
The title in Spanish, Los amantes pasajeros, hints at the storyline -- a group of travelers aboard a plane flying to Mexico City that seems likely to crash, terrified and fearing for their lives, begin to confess their spicy life secrets.
The cast brings together old Almodóvar favorites with newcomers and well-known actors. The movie stars Javier Camara (Talk to Her), Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother) and Lola Dueñas (Volver). Spanish comedians Carlos Areces, Raúl Arévalo and Mexican actor José María Yazpik round out the cast along with cameos by Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
Almodóvar was present at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater along with some of his actors. The ruckus affair came complete with champagne, popcorn, and many Almodóvarisms. While introducing the film he explained, "there is lots of sex" and the passengers on the plane, "have an incredible orgy." He then told the audience, "to which you are also invited after the movie." And before the lights dimmed Almodóvar told everyone he hoped they enjoyed the film but gave the caveat, "If you don't find it entertaining, blame the subtitles."
I'm So Excited is a return to what Almodóvar does best; it's an absurd sex-filled comedy. It's an orgy in the sky complete with jazz hands, flamboyant flight attendants, binge drinking, drugs, a porn actress, a psychic (who also happens to be a virgin), and a pilot who is exploring his sexual identity. It's a story that only Almodóvar could tell and that's exactly why I fell in love with his films in the first place.
I'm So Excited opened on Friday, June 28 in New York and Los Angeles with other cities to follow in the coming weeks.
Check out the website for a list of theaters and like the Facebook page for updates.
- 7/10/2013
- by Vanessa Erazo
- Sydney's Buzz
The comedy scripted and helmed by , opens on June 28th in New York and Los Angeles-based theaters, and also includes Paz Vega, Blanca Suárez, Hugo Silva, Javier Cámara, Lola Dueñas, José María Yazpik and Cecilia Roth. Agustín Almodóvar and Esther García produce. A very varied group of people are in a precarious situation aboard a plane flying to Mexico City. A technical failure (a kind of justifiable negligence, even though it sounds contradictory, but that’s what human actions are) has endangered the lives of the passengers on Peninsula Flight 2549. The pilots, hardened, experienced professionals are striving, along with their colleagues in the Control Center, to find a solution. The flight attendants and the chief steward...
- 6/6/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We have 2 new UK posters and have updated the image gallery for I'm So Excited, distributed Stateside by Sony Pictures Classics and in France by Pathe's. The Pedro Almodovar film opens in U.S. on June 28th, while U.K. fans can catch it from May 3rd. The film re-unites Almodóvar with Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother), Lola Dueñas (Volver), Javier Cámara (Talk to Her) and Blanca Suárez (The Skin I Live In) as well as many other of his frequent collaborators. Also in the cast are Carlos Areces, Raúl Arévalo, Hugo Silva, Antonio de la Torre, José María Yazpik, Guillermo Toledo, José Luis Torrijo, Miguel Ángel Silvestre with cameo performances from Paz Vega and in their first film together Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
- 5/3/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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