2024 is a bit slow in terms of good animated films coming out. Besides Kung Fu Panda 4, there are no big releases that are also as good. But we have compiled a list of the best-animated films we could find that came out this year. So, rest up gather your family for most of these films, and enjoy these best-animated films of 2024.
Orion and the Dark (Netflix)
Orion and the Dark is an animated fantasy adventure film directed by Sean Charmatz from a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. Based on a children’s book of the same name by Emma Yarlett, the Netflix film follows the story of an 11-year-old boy Orion who is scared of the dark, but when the embodiment of darkness himself comes to visit to convince him not to fear both of them go on a life-changing adventure. Orion and the Dark’s voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay,...
Orion and the Dark (Netflix)
Orion and the Dark is an animated fantasy adventure film directed by Sean Charmatz from a screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. Based on a children’s book of the same name by Emma Yarlett, the Netflix film follows the story of an 11-year-old boy Orion who is scared of the dark, but when the embodiment of darkness himself comes to visit to convince him not to fear both of them go on a life-changing adventure. Orion and the Dark’s voice cast includes Jacob Tremblay,...
- 5/31/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Descubre qué películas ocupan el segundo y tercer puesto en la taquilla de este fin de semana.
Este fin de semana, marcado por el puente de mayo y los estrenos anticipados el miércoles, en lugar del viernes como es habitual, la taquilla española ha sido dominada por la llegada del querido felino naranja en su película “Garfield: La Película”, de Sony Pictures, que se ha estrenado en 366 cines. La película ha logrado una recaudación de 1.098.941 euros en su primer fin de semana en salas, según los datos de Comscore Movies Spain. Una película familiar animada que ha destronado a la “Dragonkeeper: Guardiana de Dragones” de Salvador Simó y Li Jianping, que a pesar de ello ha conseguido un quinto lugar en la taquilla en su tercera semana en cartelera. Y, con el dominio evidente del felino naranja en la taquilla, no es difícil imaginar que podría seguir liderando la taquilla,...
Este fin de semana, marcado por el puente de mayo y los estrenos anticipados el miércoles, en lugar del viernes como es habitual, la taquilla española ha sido dominada por la llegada del querido felino naranja en su película “Garfield: La Película”, de Sony Pictures, que se ha estrenado en 366 cines. La película ha logrado una recaudación de 1.098.941 euros en su primer fin de semana en salas, según los datos de Comscore Movies Spain. Una película familiar animada que ha destronado a la “Dragonkeeper: Guardiana de Dragones” de Salvador Simó y Li Jianping, que a pesar de ello ha conseguido un quinto lugar en la taquilla en su tercera semana en cartelera. Y, con el dominio evidente del felino naranja en la taquilla, no es difícil imaginar que podría seguir liderando la taquilla,...
- 5/8/2024
- by Marta Medina
- mundoCine
“Dragonkeeper” is a new Spanish-produced animated feature, directed by Salvador Simó and Li Jianping, adapting the “Dragonkeeper” fantasy novels, now playing in theaters:
“…during an ancient imperial age, the plot follows the adventures of enslaved girl ‘Ping’ with her dragon companion ‘Long Danzi’.
“Dragons had been banished from the kingdom. Ping, an orphan, finds one of the last remaining dragon eggs. Palace guards force Ping to run away in order to return the dragon egg to the ocean and save all dragons from extinction…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…during an ancient imperial age, the plot follows the adventures of enslaved girl ‘Ping’ with her dragon companion ‘Long Danzi’.
“Dragons had been banished from the kingdom. Ping, an orphan, finds one of the last remaining dragon eggs. Palace guards force Ping to run away in order to return the dragon egg to the ocean and save all dragons from extinction…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 5/4/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
‘Rivales’ se ha tenido que conformar con un quinto puesto en su fin de semana de estreno.
Este fin de semana, las salas de cine en España vibraron con la acción trepidante de “El Especialista” (“The Fall Guy”), una producción de Universal Pictures dirigida por David Leitch y protagonizada por Ryan Gosling y Emily Blunt. La película, un homenaje a los dobles de escenas de acción, se posicionó en lo más alto del ranking de taquilla en España según los datos provisionales de Comscore Movies Spain.
La película ha logrado una recaudación de 904.100 euros en su primer fin de semana en salas, siendo la opción elegida por 118.221 espectadores y situándose en lo más alto de la taquilla española con una cuota de mercado del 21,31%. Se ha estrenado en 332 cines y 522 pantallas de nuestro país, con un promedio de recaudación de 2.723€ y 1.732€ respectivamente.
El segundo puesto en taquilla ha sido para...
Este fin de semana, las salas de cine en España vibraron con la acción trepidante de “El Especialista” (“The Fall Guy”), una producción de Universal Pictures dirigida por David Leitch y protagonizada por Ryan Gosling y Emily Blunt. La película, un homenaje a los dobles de escenas de acción, se posicionó en lo más alto del ranking de taquilla en España según los datos provisionales de Comscore Movies Spain.
La película ha logrado una recaudación de 904.100 euros en su primer fin de semana en salas, siendo la opción elegida por 118.221 espectadores y situándose en lo más alto de la taquilla española con una cuota de mercado del 21,31%. Se ha estrenado en 332 cines y 522 pantallas de nuestro país, con un promedio de recaudación de 2.723€ y 1.732€ respectivamente.
El segundo puesto en taquilla ha sido para...
- 4/29/2024
- by Marta Medina
- mundoCine
“Dragonkeeper” is a new Spanish-produced animated feature, directed by Salvador Simó and Li Jianping, adapting the “Dragonkeeper fantasy novels, opening May 3, 2024 in theaters:
“…during an ancient imperial age, the plot follows the adventures of enslaved girl ‘Ping’ with her dragon companion ‘Long Danzi’.
“Dragons had been banished from the kingdom. Ping, an orphan, finds one of the last remaining dragon eggs. Palace guards force Ping to run away in order to return the dragon egg to the ocean and save all dragons from extinction…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
“…during an ancient imperial age, the plot follows the adventures of enslaved girl ‘Ping’ with her dragon companion ‘Long Danzi’.
“Dragons had been banished from the kingdom. Ping, an orphan, finds one of the last remaining dragon eggs. Palace guards force Ping to run away in order to return the dragon egg to the ocean and save all dragons from extinction…”
Click the images to enlarge…...
- 4/28/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
The Indigenous-language drama Yana-Wara has sold to Exit Media in Italy for producer and sales agent Quechua Films after screening at Spain’s Malaga Film Festival this week.
Quechua, which is based in both Madrid and Cusco in Peru, is now in talks for Germany, Japan and Uruguay.
Shot in the Aymara language, the film is the story of a girl suffering abuse in a remote village in the Andes.
Co-diected by Peruvian filmmakers Óscar Catacora and Tito Catacora, Catacora died early in the film’s production aged just 34. He had previously directed Wiñaypacha (Eternity), the first Peruvian film shot entirely in Aymara,...
Quechua, which is based in both Madrid and Cusco in Peru, is now in talks for Germany, Japan and Uruguay.
Shot in the Aymara language, the film is the story of a girl suffering abuse in a remote village in the Andes.
Co-diected by Peruvian filmmakers Óscar Catacora and Tito Catacora, Catacora died early in the film’s production aged just 34. He had previously directed Wiñaypacha (Eternity), the first Peruvian film shot entirely in Aymara,...
- 3/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Salvador Simó, the Spanish co-director of Málaga film festival opener Dragonkeeper is readying his next animation Caramel’s Words, about the friendship between a deaf child and a camel.
The story takes place in the Sahara desert, depicting the harsh life of the Sahrawi camps and is based on the young adult novel ‘Caramel’s Words,’ by Gonzalo Moure.
The 2D animation will be a co-production between Spain’s Sygnatia Films and France’s Les Films du Cygne. Sygnatia previously produced Simó’s Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles in 2019 which the award for best European animated feature and...
The story takes place in the Sahara desert, depicting the harsh life of the Sahrawi camps and is based on the young adult novel ‘Caramel’s Words,’ by Gonzalo Moure.
The 2D animation will be a co-production between Spain’s Sygnatia Films and France’s Les Films du Cygne. Sygnatia previously produced Simó’s Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles in 2019 which the award for best European animated feature and...
- 3/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Homegrown hits led by A Moroccan Affair and Championext, an explosion of comedies and the solid performance of several European indies have helped the Spanish box office to withstand the lack of US releases following the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.
Local productions were the highest grossing independent films at the Spanish box office in the year ending February 2024, with Álvaro Fernández Armero’s A Moroccan Affair at the top of the list.
The 2023 Spanish box office total was €504 million, with 77.8 million tickets sold, representing a 26% increase on 2022.
The two biggest Spanish films are both part of existing franchises.
Local productions were the highest grossing independent films at the Spanish box office in the year ending February 2024, with Álvaro Fernández Armero’s A Moroccan Affair at the top of the list.
The 2023 Spanish box office total was €504 million, with 77.8 million tickets sold, representing a 26% increase on 2022.
The two biggest Spanish films are both part of existing franchises.
- 3/8/2024
- ScreenDaily
Malaga — Opening last Friday with “Dragonkeeper,” also in competition, Spain’s Malaga Festival, its biggest dedicated event for movies from Spain and Latin America, is studded by latest films by Isaki Lacuesta – “Saturn Return,” reportedly fun, broad audience and radical – David Trueba – “The Good Man,” small scale but almost certainly ingratiating – and Antonio Chavarrías’ “Holy Mother,” about an extraordinary real life female figure in Spain’s 9th century Reconquista.
Also in the running is “Rest in Peace,” from notable Argentine writer-director Sebastián Borensztein (“Chinese Takeaway”).
All are front-runners for some kind of award next Saturday. Prominent also is a bevy of first or second features, featuring from Spain three titles from women directors – gender abuse drama “The Snows,” “Nina,” reportedly a Western set in a northern Spanish town, and tragi-comedy “We Treat Women Too Well” – plus a clutch of debuts from Latin America.
This year’s Competition may, in the final analysis,...
Also in the running is “Rest in Peace,” from notable Argentine writer-director Sebastián Borensztein (“Chinese Takeaway”).
All are front-runners for some kind of award next Saturday. Prominent also is a bevy of first or second features, featuring from Spain three titles from women directors – gender abuse drama “The Snows,” “Nina,” reportedly a Western set in a northern Spanish town, and tragi-comedy “We Treat Women Too Well” – plus a clutch of debuts from Latin America.
This year’s Competition may, in the final analysis,...
- 3/4/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The 27th edition of the Malaga Film Festival (Mff) opens today (March 1) with animated feature Dragonkeeper and a strong line-up of Spanish and Latin American world premieres. The festival is a popular annual meeting point for the Spanish film industry, attended by most buyers and sellers, and showcases the best in new Spanish-language filmmaking.
The world premiere of Salvador Simó and Jian-Ping Li’s Dragonkeeper opens the festival, marking the first time Malaga has raised its curtain with an animated movie. A Spain-China co-production, Dragonkeeper is based on books by Carol Wilkinson, with an English-language voice cast that includes Bill Nighy and Mayalinee Griffiths.
The world premiere of Salvador Simó and Jian-Ping Li’s Dragonkeeper opens the festival, marking the first time Malaga has raised its curtain with an animated movie. A Spain-China co-production, Dragonkeeper is based on books by Carol Wilkinson, with an English-language voice cast that includes Bill Nighy and Mayalinee Griffiths.
- 3/1/2024
- ScreenDaily
Descubre las películas que estarán en el 27 Festival de Málaga: una lista de las películas en competición y fuera de concurso.
Todos los años se celebra en Málaga, el Festival de Cine de Málaga. Un festival que se centra principalmente en producciones españolas y tiene como objetivo promover y celebrar la industria cinematográfica en España, así como proporcionar una plataforma para el reconocimiento y la difusión del cine español. Un festival en el que han tenido su estreno mundial muchas películas que después han sido nominadas a los premios Goya, como es el caso de “20.000 Especies de Abejas” en esta pasada edición de los premios más grandes del cine español.
Este año, el 27 Festival de Málaga se celebra del 1 al 10 de marzo y cuenta con un total de 19 películas (11 españolas y 8 latinoamericanas), que concursarán en la Sección Oficial y 18 películas (15 españolas y 3 latinas) en sección Oficial no competitiva. Una...
Todos los años se celebra en Málaga, el Festival de Cine de Málaga. Un festival que se centra principalmente en producciones españolas y tiene como objetivo promover y celebrar la industria cinematográfica en España, así como proporcionar una plataforma para el reconocimiento y la difusión del cine español. Un festival en el que han tenido su estreno mundial muchas películas que después han sido nominadas a los premios Goya, como es el caso de “20.000 Especies de Abejas” en esta pasada edición de los premios más grandes del cine español.
Este año, el 27 Festival de Málaga se celebra del 1 al 10 de marzo y cuenta con un total de 19 películas (11 españolas y 8 latinoamericanas), que concursarán en la Sección Oficial y 18 películas (15 españolas y 3 latinas) en sección Oficial no competitiva. Una...
- 2/16/2024
- by Marta Medina
- mundoCine
Spain’s Revelations showcase has focused on shorts, not features, unveiling the huge breadth of animation talent and techniques in Spain.
Some shorts directors are already stars, such as Alberto Mielgo with the Oscar-winner “The Windshield Wiper.” Diego Porral, director of “Leopoldo From the Bar,” served as animation lead on “Love, Death + Robots” episode “Kill Team Kill.”
Standouts among new projects in Revelations included “Latente,” a Next Lab Generation winner from Carlos Zaragoza and Aurora Jiménez, and Martín Romero’s “To Bird or Not to Bird,” from Uniko and Abano Producións, which is a 2D short made largely in black and white featuring an angst-ridden clock cuckoo and other birds beset by environmental destruction.
Revelations climaxes with a special screening, the first in a cinema, of “Sith,” Rodrigo Blaas’ episode in Disney+’s “Star Wars: Visions.”
As for features, here are 10 toon titles to track. Further international co-productions – Mr.
Some shorts directors are already stars, such as Alberto Mielgo with the Oscar-winner “The Windshield Wiper.” Diego Porral, director of “Leopoldo From the Bar,” served as animation lead on “Love, Death + Robots” episode “Kill Team Kill.”
Standouts among new projects in Revelations included “Latente,” a Next Lab Generation winner from Carlos Zaragoza and Aurora Jiménez, and Martín Romero’s “To Bird or Not to Bird,” from Uniko and Abano Producións, which is a 2D short made largely in black and white featuring an angst-ridden clock cuckoo and other birds beset by environmental destruction.
Revelations climaxes with a special screening, the first in a cinema, of “Sith,” Rodrigo Blaas’ episode in Disney+’s “Star Wars: Visions.”
As for features, here are 10 toon titles to track. Further international co-productions – Mr.
- 5/21/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Few European arthouse-crossover film sales agents have better weathered the ebb and flow of international market dynamics than Madrid’s Latido Films, which turns 20 in 2023.
Proof of that came at April’s Platino Awards, where Latido scored six statuettes, split between an acting double for Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s “Lullaby” and four for Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “The Beasts,” which has already swept Spain’s Goya Awards and scored a French Cesar for foreign film.
Scoring €6.8 million ($7.5 million) in Spain, and 327,000 admissions in France, “The Beasts” also rates as one of the top-performing recent Spanish-language movies.
If Latido has survived for so long, insists director general Antonio Saura, it’s because of a core strategy of “working with talent, our search for talent.” Beyond that, other keys have been “collaboration with production companies that understand long-term relationships, and well-established relationships with clients.”
Companies with which Latido has held or holds...
Proof of that came at April’s Platino Awards, where Latido scored six statuettes, split between an acting double for Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s “Lullaby” and four for Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “The Beasts,” which has already swept Spain’s Goya Awards and scored a French Cesar for foreign film.
Scoring €6.8 million ($7.5 million) in Spain, and 327,000 admissions in France, “The Beasts” also rates as one of the top-performing recent Spanish-language movies.
If Latido has survived for so long, insists director general Antonio Saura, it’s because of a core strategy of “working with talent, our search for talent.” Beyond that, other keys have been “collaboration with production companies that understand long-term relationships, and well-established relationships with clients.”
Companies with which Latido has held or holds...
- 5/16/2023
- by John Hopewell and Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Buzz titles include animation ’Dragonkeeper’ and ‘Co-Husbands’.
Mafiz, the industry sector of the Málaga Film Festival, which closed on Sunday March 19, attracted its highest numbers of attendees to date, up 54% on last year.
In total. 1,897 industry players came from 64 countries, with a gender parity of 963 men and 934 women.
International promotion platform Spanish Screenings registered the highest number of participants at 206 buyers and producers. Overall by sector Mafiz attracted 1,095 producers, 206 buyers, 70 festivals delegates, 26 sales agents and 36 exhibitors and local distributors.
The Málaga Festival Fund & Co-Production Event project (Maff) scored 152 attendants and 568 one-to-one meetings around 39 Ibero-American projects.
The response from buyers has...
Mafiz, the industry sector of the Málaga Film Festival, which closed on Sunday March 19, attracted its highest numbers of attendees to date, up 54% on last year.
In total. 1,897 industry players came from 64 countries, with a gender parity of 963 men and 934 women.
International promotion platform Spanish Screenings registered the highest number of participants at 206 buyers and producers. Overall by sector Mafiz attracted 1,095 producers, 206 buyers, 70 festivals delegates, 26 sales agents and 36 exhibitors and local distributors.
The Málaga Festival Fund & Co-Production Event project (Maff) scored 152 attendants and 568 one-to-one meetings around 39 Ibero-American projects.
The response from buyers has...
- 3/20/2023
- by Emilio Mayorga
- ScreenDaily
Malaga’s Animation Day showcases some of the most important animation features in the pipeline in Spain, all made with international partners.
On Tuesday, March 14, five recent outstanding Spanish animated works in progress will be pitched by their producers to the international industry during the event.
Animation Day forms part of Spanish Screenings Content at Malaga Festival’s industry zone Mafiz, supported by Icex Spain’s Trade & Investment entity with the collaboration of Diboos, the Spanish Federation of Animation Producers and the VFX Production Companies Associations.
The five Wip animated titles selected are “4 Days Before Christmas,” a produced by 3Doubles Producciones and Capitán Araña with Canada’s Pvp Media; Barcelona-based Doce Entertainment’s Latin American project “Dalia and the Red Book”; Salvador Simó’s Spain-China toon feature “Dragonkeeper”; Abano Producions, El Gatoverde and Uniko’s German co-production “Sultana’s Dream”; and “Rock Bottom,” a Spain-Poland co-production from Alba Sotorra, Jaibo Films and Gs Animation.
On Tuesday, March 14, five recent outstanding Spanish animated works in progress will be pitched by their producers to the international industry during the event.
Animation Day forms part of Spanish Screenings Content at Malaga Festival’s industry zone Mafiz, supported by Icex Spain’s Trade & Investment entity with the collaboration of Diboos, the Spanish Federation of Animation Producers and the VFX Production Companies Associations.
The five Wip animated titles selected are “4 Days Before Christmas,” a produced by 3Doubles Producciones and Capitán Araña with Canada’s Pvp Media; Barcelona-based Doce Entertainment’s Latin American project “Dalia and the Red Book”; Salvador Simó’s Spain-China toon feature “Dragonkeeper”; Abano Producions, El Gatoverde and Uniko’s German co-production “Sultana’s Dream”; and “Rock Bottom,” a Spain-Poland co-production from Alba Sotorra, Jaibo Films and Gs Animation.
- 3/14/2023
- by Emiliano De Pablos and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
58 feature projects selected for event, which takes place in Bordeaux from March 7-9.
Top international animation directors including Unicorn Wars’ Alberto Vázquez, Copellia trio Jeff Tudor, Steven de Beul and Ben Tesseur, and Bunuel In The Labyrinth Of Turtles’ Salvador Simó will unveil their latest projects at Cartoon Movie2023 from March 7-9.
The selection committee of the pitching and co-production forum, which returns for its 25th edition in Bordeaux, France, has unveiled 58 feature projects selected for the event, which includes 27 French films, nearly half of the selection.
Germany will send seven projects, followed by Spain with five, Italy with four,...
Top international animation directors including Unicorn Wars’ Alberto Vázquez, Copellia trio Jeff Tudor, Steven de Beul and Ben Tesseur, and Bunuel In The Labyrinth Of Turtles’ Salvador Simó will unveil their latest projects at Cartoon Movie2023 from March 7-9.
The selection committee of the pitching and co-production forum, which returns for its 25th edition in Bordeaux, France, has unveiled 58 feature projects selected for the event, which includes 27 French films, nearly half of the selection.
Germany will send seven projects, followed by Spain with five, Italy with four,...
- 12/16/2022
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Spain’s Madrid region is riding the crest of a wave towards becoming one of the most important animation/VFX hubs in Europe.
Taking in the country’s capital, the Madrid region hosts more than 32 of Spain’s active audiovisual companies and around 31 of its animation and VFX firms.
Regional animation and VFX players – structured around Pixel Cluster Madrid – scored last year a net revenue of €72.6 million (72.6 million) and generated 1,855 jobs.
“Animation and video games are strategic sectors within the economy of Madrid,” says Ignacio Carballo, head of audiovisual industries in the Madrid region. “They are elements of the future, dynamizers.”
The region is proving the cradle of high-profile toon productions reaping international recognition, an increasing trend in recent years.
Its importance is proved by several standout moves, often related with animated films:
*With its third instalment, “Tad The Lost Explorer. The Emerald Tablet,” currently dominating Spanish box office, the “Tad” saga,...
Taking in the country’s capital, the Madrid region hosts more than 32 of Spain’s active audiovisual companies and around 31 of its animation and VFX firms.
Regional animation and VFX players – structured around Pixel Cluster Madrid – scored last year a net revenue of €72.6 million (72.6 million) and generated 1,855 jobs.
“Animation and video games are strategic sectors within the economy of Madrid,” says Ignacio Carballo, head of audiovisual industries in the Madrid region. “They are elements of the future, dynamizers.”
The region is proving the cradle of high-profile toon productions reaping international recognition, an increasing trend in recent years.
Its importance is proved by several standout moves, often related with animated films:
*With its third instalment, “Tad The Lost Explorer. The Emerald Tablet,” currently dominating Spanish box office, the “Tad” saga,...
- 9/21/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
The rise of Spain’s animation power promises to provide one of the leading narratives at this year’s Cartoon Forum.
In one of its strongest representations ever at the Toulouse event, eight high-profile TV series projects from Spain will be pitched, trailing only France.
To complete its standout presence, a spotlight on Spain will take place at the Forum, with several networking activities to promote local industry, backed by Spanish trade promotion broad Icex in collaboration with Diboos, the country’s toon and VFX federation.
In recent years, the animation scene has experienced a historic growth, becoming a key sector in the rapidly growing local audiovisual market.
By Icex estimates, the animation and VFX sector generates 20 of all audiovisual industry jobs. Its annual turnover – €900 million (900 million) – reps 9 of total revenues.
This year, the animation TV industry has released six TV series and is preparing at least 26 more projects at different production stages,...
In one of its strongest representations ever at the Toulouse event, eight high-profile TV series projects from Spain will be pitched, trailing only France.
To complete its standout presence, a spotlight on Spain will take place at the Forum, with several networking activities to promote local industry, backed by Spanish trade promotion broad Icex in collaboration with Diboos, the country’s toon and VFX federation.
In recent years, the animation scene has experienced a historic growth, becoming a key sector in the rapidly growing local audiovisual market.
By Icex estimates, the animation and VFX sector generates 20 of all audiovisual industry jobs. Its annual turnover – €900 million (900 million) – reps 9 of total revenues.
This year, the animation TV industry has released six TV series and is preparing at least 26 more projects at different production stages,...
- 9/19/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Viva Kids has acquired North American distribution rights to Dragonkeeper, the animated action-adventure film from Spanish firm Guardián de Dragones and China Film Animation. Hulu will release domestically after the film’s theatrical bow, which is slated for August 2023. Based on the first book in Carole Wilkinson’s series of fantasy novels, the film follows Ping, a young orphan who must venture across ancient China to help the last surviving dragons from extinction. Across her wild and dangerous journey Ping finds a way to unlock her power and discover that she is a true dragonkeeper. Visual development on the film comes from animation vet Sergio Pablos (Despicable Me), while English-language voice cast includes Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Bill Bailey (Hot Fuzz), Anthony Howell (Alien: Isolation) and newcomer Mayalinee Griffiths as Ping. Dragonkeeper is directed by Salvador Simó, who also directed the Annecy title Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles.
- 9/7/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Roc Espinet
“I’m a big fan of 2D, keeping a handcrafted look and strong emotions, like in Ghibli movies. Having said that, I always want to complement it with a contemporary narrative concept and bold and crazy camera movements,” Catalan animator Espinet says. He’s a regular collaborator of Alberto Vázquez and has worked as an animator and layout artist for HBO (“Deadly Class”) and Amazon (“Niko and the Sword of Light”).
A pick-up from Latido when in in development, “Girl and Wolf” is Espinet’s debut feature, currently in pre-production and based on Espinet’s eponymous graphic novel. Produced by Sygnatia Films and Hampa Studio, it tells the story of an innocent girl who grew up in a medieval orphanage besieged by wolves. Espinet is also developing “Colossal Jane,” set up at Nexus Studios, a comedy series “where musicals, ghost hunting, Kung Fu and womanhood meet in a super energetic way,...
“I’m a big fan of 2D, keeping a handcrafted look and strong emotions, like in Ghibli movies. Having said that, I always want to complement it with a contemporary narrative concept and bold and crazy camera movements,” Catalan animator Espinet says. He’s a regular collaborator of Alberto Vázquez and has worked as an animator and layout artist for HBO (“Deadly Class”) and Amazon (“Niko and the Sword of Light”).
A pick-up from Latido when in in development, “Girl and Wolf” is Espinet’s debut feature, currently in pre-production and based on Espinet’s eponymous graphic novel. Produced by Sygnatia Films and Hampa Studio, it tells the story of an innocent girl who grew up in a medieval orphanage besieged by wolves. Espinet is also developing “Colossal Jane,” set up at Nexus Studios, a comedy series “where musicals, ghost hunting, Kung Fu and womanhood meet in a super energetic way,...
- 6/14/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Europe’s emerging upscale movie animation power, Spain, saw eight titles selected for March’s Cartoon Movie meet, trailing only France. Meanwhile, Spaniard Alberto Mielgo won an Academy Award for his animated short film “The Windshield Wiper.”
Spain’s animation industry generated revenues of over 950 million in 2021, according to Spanish trade promotion board Icex.
Growing a dedicated animation film fund, Catalonia looks set to grab an ever-larger piece of this action. Of Spain’s eight animation movie titles in 2022, up from five in 2019, three features have Catalan production input: Enrique Gato’s “Tad, The Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet” produced by Ikiru, Jesús García Galocha’s “Momias,” from 4 Cats Pictures and Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s “They Shot the Piano Player,” selected for a Work in Progress presentation at Annecy.
The number of eagerly awaited Catalan animation features in different stages of production is way up, however,...
Spain’s animation industry generated revenues of over 950 million in 2021, according to Spanish trade promotion board Icex.
Growing a dedicated animation film fund, Catalonia looks set to grab an ever-larger piece of this action. Of Spain’s eight animation movie titles in 2022, up from five in 2019, three features have Catalan production input: Enrique Gato’s “Tad, The Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet” produced by Ikiru, Jesús García Galocha’s “Momias,” from 4 Cats Pictures and Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s “They Shot the Piano Player,” selected for a Work in Progress presentation at Annecy.
The number of eagerly awaited Catalan animation features in different stages of production is way up, however,...
- 5/18/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
After a two-and-a half year hiatus, renowned Spanish producer Manuel Cristobal has returned to toon production, joining the team behind animated feature project “The Glassworker,” directed by Usman Riaz, and created by Pakistan-based Mano Animation Studios.
“The Glassworker” marks the first hand-drawn animated feature from Pakistan. Scheduled for a 2023 release, the project is tipped for a big fest Wip berth in the upcoming months.
Targeting family audiences, the film is set in a location loosely inspired by Pakistan, telling the story of young Vincent and his father Tomas, who run the finest glass workshop in the country and find their lives upended by an approaching war in which they want no part.
The arrival in their town of an army colonel and his young talented, violinist daughter, Alliz, shakes their reality and tests the relationship between father and son.
The love that develops between Vincent and Alliz is challenged constantly...
“The Glassworker” marks the first hand-drawn animated feature from Pakistan. Scheduled for a 2023 release, the project is tipped for a big fest Wip berth in the upcoming months.
Targeting family audiences, the film is set in a location loosely inspired by Pakistan, telling the story of young Vincent and his father Tomas, who run the finest glass workshop in the country and find their lives upended by an approaching war in which they want no part.
The arrival in their town of an army colonel and his young talented, violinist daughter, Alliz, shakes their reality and tests the relationship between father and son.
The love that develops between Vincent and Alliz is challenged constantly...
- 5/2/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
For the third year in a row, Spain trails only France in the number of animated projects set to pitch in March at Bordeaux’s 2022 Cartoon Movie, a key international event for the artform.
Spanish producers will bring 10 feature projects to the event, including two from Lorena Ares and Carlos Fernández de Vigo in “Moonbeam” and “DinoGames,” María Trenor’s “Rock Bottom,” Lorenzo Degl’Innocenti and Xosé Zapata’s “Draw” and Carmen Córdoba’s “A World of Their Own.”
From the slate, four are international co-productions, two boast budgets more than €8 million ($9.04 million) and seven of the 10 projects are aimed at adult audiences, mirroring a recent global trend.
With a glut of projects currently in the works from Spain, several other possible gems include Pablo Berger’s Elle Driver-sold “Robot Dreams,” Warner Bros. España and 4 Cats Pictures’ co-production “Mummies,” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s “They Shot the Piano Player...
Spanish producers will bring 10 feature projects to the event, including two from Lorena Ares and Carlos Fernández de Vigo in “Moonbeam” and “DinoGames,” María Trenor’s “Rock Bottom,” Lorenzo Degl’Innocenti and Xosé Zapata’s “Draw” and Carmen Córdoba’s “A World of Their Own.”
From the slate, four are international co-productions, two boast budgets more than €8 million ($9.04 million) and seven of the 10 projects are aimed at adult audiences, mirroring a recent global trend.
With a glut of projects currently in the works from Spain, several other possible gems include Pablo Berger’s Elle Driver-sold “Robot Dreams,” Warner Bros. España and 4 Cats Pictures’ co-production “Mummies,” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal’s “They Shot the Piano Player...
- 2/11/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
France’s Les Film d’Ici and Netherlands’ Submarine have boarded “They Shot the Piano Player,” the much-awaited new animated project from Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal after their 2012 Oscar-nominated “Chico & Rita.” The producers join existing producers Trueba PC, Mariscal Studios and Peru’s Tondero production team.
Sold internationally by Films Constellation, the animated feature is a celebratory evocation of the eruption of world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova in the ’60s and ’70s through the personal story of a young Brazilian piano virtuoso, Tenorio Jr, whose disappearance is being researched by a journalist – Jeff Goldblum attached to voice.
“Fernando and Javier have developed a powerful and moving film combining a unique artistic, political and humanistic approach. It is an important story, given the film’s many layers that will entertain audiences worldwide,” Serge Lalou at Les Films D’ici told Variety.
The French company – always stimulated by genre hybridization,...
Sold internationally by Films Constellation, the animated feature is a celebratory evocation of the eruption of world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova in the ’60s and ’70s through the personal story of a young Brazilian piano virtuoso, Tenorio Jr, whose disappearance is being researched by a journalist – Jeff Goldblum attached to voice.
“Fernando and Javier have developed a powerful and moving film combining a unique artistic, political and humanistic approach. It is an important story, given the film’s many layers that will entertain audiences worldwide,” Serge Lalou at Les Films D’ici told Variety.
The French company – always stimulated by genre hybridization,...
- 9/24/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Though The Descendants’ animated special, Descendants: The Royal Wedding, last Friday celebrated the marriage of main characters Mal and Ben, the episode also honored late actor Cameron Boyce, who played Carlos in the Disney Channel franchise.
The television special acknowledged the absence of Carlos early on when Mal receives a wedding present of a charm bracelet with all of their family crests, including one of Carlos. The character Evie explained it represents “the four VKs, linked together forever.”
At the end of the episode, as the wedded pair reflected on their memorable day, Mal suggested that “another story could be just beginning,” before the camera pans to a pile of white roses painted red and fading to black in a rabbit hole, teasing that a fourth installment of the Descendants franchise might be on the way.
Before the credits rolled, the musical series memorialized Boyce with a tribute card that...
The television special acknowledged the absence of Carlos early on when Mal receives a wedding present of a charm bracelet with all of their family crests, including one of Carlos. The character Evie explained it represents “the four VKs, linked together forever.”
At the end of the episode, as the wedded pair reflected on their memorable day, Mal suggested that “another story could be just beginning,” before the camera pans to a pile of white roses painted red and fading to black in a rabbit hole, teasing that a fourth installment of the Descendants franchise might be on the way.
Before the credits rolled, the musical series memorialized Boyce with a tribute card that...
- 8/16/2021
- by Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney Channel Greenlights ‘Descendants: The Royal Wedding;’ Animated Special To Honor Cameron Boyce
Disney Channel has ordered Descendants: The Royal Wedding, an animated special set to premiere this summer.
The Descendants special, which will feature a number of stars including Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart, will also pay memory to late cast member Cameron Boyce. The actor, who appeared as Carlos, died in July 2019 of epilepsy. He was 20. The absence of Boyce’s character will also be acknowledged.
Descendants: The Royal Wedding will follow Auradon’s epic social event, the marriage between Cameron’s Mal and Mitchell Hope’s Ben. Also reprising their roles for the special are Sarah Jeffery , Melanie Paxson, China Anne McClain, Jedidiah Goodacre, Anna Cathcart, Dan Payne, Bobby Moynihan and Cheyenne Jackson.
“‘Descendants’ introduced a fantasy world of stories and characters anchored in Disney mythology. For the past six years, it captivated young viewers and grew to become among Disney Channel’s biggest entertainment franchises ever. It...
The Descendants special, which will feature a number of stars including Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson and Booboo Stewart, will also pay memory to late cast member Cameron Boyce. The actor, who appeared as Carlos, died in July 2019 of epilepsy. He was 20. The absence of Boyce’s character will also be acknowledged.
Descendants: The Royal Wedding will follow Auradon’s epic social event, the marriage between Cameron’s Mal and Mitchell Hope’s Ben. Also reprising their roles for the special are Sarah Jeffery , Melanie Paxson, China Anne McClain, Jedidiah Goodacre, Anna Cathcart, Dan Payne, Bobby Moynihan and Cheyenne Jackson.
“‘Descendants’ introduced a fantasy world of stories and characters anchored in Disney mythology. For the past six years, it captivated young viewers and grew to become among Disney Channel’s biggest entertainment franchises ever. It...
- 3/13/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Disney Channel has announced that the animated special “Descendants: The Royal Wedding” will premiere on the network this summer.
Based on the “Descendants” franchise, the special will bring viewers back to the United States of Auradon and feature Mal and King Ben’s royal wedding. Reprising their popular roles are Dove Cameron as Mal, Sofia Carson as Evie, Booboo Stewart as Jay, Mitchell Hope as Ben, Sarah Jeffery as Audrey, Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother, China Anne McClain as Uma, Jedidiah Goodacre as Chad, Anna Cathcart as Dizzy, Dan Payne as Beast, Bobby Moynihan as Dude the Dog and Cheyenne Jackson as Hades.
The late Cameron Boyce was one of the main cast members in the “Descendants” franchise, playing Carlos, the son of Cruella de Vil. He later reprised the character for the animated shorts “Descendants: Wicked World” and later on in the sequels “Descendants 2” and “Descendants 3.” On...
Based on the “Descendants” franchise, the special will bring viewers back to the United States of Auradon and feature Mal and King Ben’s royal wedding. Reprising their popular roles are Dove Cameron as Mal, Sofia Carson as Evie, Booboo Stewart as Jay, Mitchell Hope as Ben, Sarah Jeffery as Audrey, Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother, China Anne McClain as Uma, Jedidiah Goodacre as Chad, Anna Cathcart as Dizzy, Dan Payne as Beast, Bobby Moynihan as Dude the Dog and Cheyenne Jackson as Hades.
The late Cameron Boyce was one of the main cast members in the “Descendants” franchise, playing Carlos, the son of Cruella de Vil. He later reprised the character for the animated shorts “Descendants: Wicked World” and later on in the sequels “Descendants 2” and “Descendants 3.” On...
- 3/13/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
“Sorya,” “Starseed,” and “Caramel’s Words” are among 55 projects from 16 countries set to be pitched at this year’s Cartoon Movie, Europe’s leading animated feature co-production event.
The 23rd edition will move totally online, running March 9-11.
Part of an In Development showcase, “Sorya” is directed by Denis Do, an Annecy Fest best feature film winner for “Funan.” That debut depicted the brutality of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime. In “Sorya,” in contrast, he takes a more intimate approach, following a Cambodian teen woman arriving in Phnom Penh to work in a textile factory, flirting with dreams of becoming a singer, flirting with singing stardom and finally trying to find some stability in her life. Special Touch Studios’ Sébastien Onomo produces. “Funan” composer Thibault Kientz Agyeman will create the film’s the score.
French highlights also take in Pierre Földes’ “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman” (produced by Cinema Defacto), Sarah Van Den Boom...
The 23rd edition will move totally online, running March 9-11.
Part of an In Development showcase, “Sorya” is directed by Denis Do, an Annecy Fest best feature film winner for “Funan.” That debut depicted the brutality of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime. In “Sorya,” in contrast, he takes a more intimate approach, following a Cambodian teen woman arriving in Phnom Penh to work in a textile factory, flirting with dreams of becoming a singer, flirting with singing stardom and finally trying to find some stability in her life. Special Touch Studios’ Sébastien Onomo produces. “Funan” composer Thibault Kientz Agyeman will create the film’s the score.
French highlights also take in Pierre Földes’ “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman” (produced by Cinema Defacto), Sarah Van Den Boom...
- 2/1/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
‘Money Heist’ scooped the most awards in the TV categories.
Pedro Almodovar’s Pain And Glory swept the Platino Xcaret Awards for Ibero-American films on June 29 winning six trophies including best Ibero-American film.
Almodovar was also awarded best director and best screenplay while Antonio Banderas - who was Oscar-nominated for his performance and won the actor prize at Cannes - picked up best actor. The film also won best editing for the work of Teresa Font, and best original score, for composer Alberto Iglesias.
The awards were originally meant to take place in Riviera Maya, Mexico, in early May but...
Pedro Almodovar’s Pain And Glory swept the Platino Xcaret Awards for Ibero-American films on June 29 winning six trophies including best Ibero-American film.
Almodovar was also awarded best director and best screenplay while Antonio Banderas - who was Oscar-nominated for his performance and won the actor prize at Cannes - picked up best actor. The film also won best editing for the work of Teresa Font, and best original score, for composer Alberto Iglesias.
The awards were originally meant to take place in Riviera Maya, Mexico, in early May but...
- 6/30/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Salvador Simó’s animated feature won at the European Film Awards in December.
BFI Distribution has secured UK and Ireland rights to award-winning animation Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles in a deal with Madrid-based sales company Latido Films.
As cinemas remain closed in the UK due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the film will launch on streaming platform BFI Player on July 9 and will be made available to other digital platforms as a transactional title.
When theatres do begin opening, BFI Distribution plan to make the film available for theatrical exhibition, including at London’s BFI Southbank. The UK...
BFI Distribution has secured UK and Ireland rights to award-winning animation Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles in a deal with Madrid-based sales company Latido Films.
As cinemas remain closed in the UK due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the film will launch on streaming platform BFI Player on July 9 and will be made available to other digital platforms as a transactional title.
When theatres do begin opening, BFI Distribution plan to make the film available for theatrical exhibition, including at London’s BFI Southbank. The UK...
- 6/12/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Bordeaux, France — Madrid-based Latido Films has taken international rights to Roc Espinet’s feature debut “Girl and Wolf,” an animated feature for young audiences based on Espinet’s eponymous graphic novel. “Girl and Wolf” is one of the projects offered at the ongoing Cartoon Movie, Europe’s leading animated movie co-production event, where Variety has learned of the acquisition.
Currently in development, the project gathers part of the production team behind Salvador Simó’s “Buñuel in The Labyrinth of The Turtles,” a Special Jury Prize laureate at Los Angeles’ Animation is Film, winner of Annecy’s Jury Award, Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards and Best Animated Feature at the Spanish Academy Goya Awards.
“Girl and Wolf” is produced by Xosé Zapata at Sygnatia Films and Álex Cervantes at Hampa Studio. It tells the story of Paula, an innocent girl who grew up in an orphanage in a medieval village besieged by wolves.
Currently in development, the project gathers part of the production team behind Salvador Simó’s “Buñuel in The Labyrinth of The Turtles,” a Special Jury Prize laureate at Los Angeles’ Animation is Film, winner of Annecy’s Jury Award, Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards and Best Animated Feature at the Spanish Academy Goya Awards.
“Girl and Wolf” is produced by Xosé Zapata at Sygnatia Films and Álex Cervantes at Hampa Studio. It tells the story of Paula, an innocent girl who grew up in an orphanage in a medieval village besieged by wolves.
- 3/5/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Pedro Almodóvar calls for “protection” of independent cinema in Spain.
Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory was the big winner at the Spanish Film Academy Awards in Málaga on Saturday night (25) with seven Goyas including best film, best director and best actor for Antonio Banderas.
With 17 and 16 nominations respectively, Alejandro Amenábar’s While At War and Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory started the night as the two favourites and the race looked close until almost the end, when Antonio Banderas went onstage to collect the Goya for best actor.
A moved Banderas – who had already seen his work recognised with...
Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory was the big winner at the Spanish Film Academy Awards in Málaga on Saturday night (25) with seven Goyas including best film, best director and best actor for Antonio Banderas.
With 17 and 16 nominations respectively, Alejandro Amenábar’s While At War and Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory started the night as the two favourites and the race looked close until almost the end, when Antonio Banderas went onstage to collect the Goya for best actor.
A moved Banderas – who had already seen his work recognised with...
- 1/26/2020
- by 1100969¦Elisabet Cabeza¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Pedro Almodóvar calls for “protection” of independent cinema in Spain.
Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory was the big winner at the Spanish Film Academy Awards in Málaga on Saturday night (25) with seven Goyas including best film, best director and best actor for Antonio Banderas.
With 17 and 16 nominations respectively, Alejandro Amenábar’s While At War and Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory started the night as the two favourites and the race looked close until almost the end, when Antonio Banderas went onstage to collect the Goya for best actor.
A moved Banderas – who had already seen his work recognised with...
Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory was the big winner at the Spanish Film Academy Awards in Málaga on Saturday night (25) with seven Goyas including best film, best director and best actor for Antonio Banderas.
With 17 and 16 nominations respectively, Alejandro Amenábar’s While At War and Almodóvar’s Pain & Glory started the night as the two favourites and the race looked close until almost the end, when Antonio Banderas went onstage to collect the Goya for best actor.
A moved Banderas – who had already seen his work recognised with...
- 1/26/2020
- by 1100969¦Elisabet Cabeza¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
There are a multitude of reasons why any film may get unfairly overlooked. It could be a lack of marketing resources to provide a substantial push, or, due to a minuscule roll-out, not enough critics and audiences to be the champions it might require. It could simply be the timing of the picture itself; even in the world of studio filmmaking, some features take time to get their due. With an increasingly crowded marketplace, there are more reasons than ever that something might not find an audience and we’ve rounded up the releases that deserved more attention.
Note that all of the below films made less than $100K at the domestic box office at the time of posting–with a few exceptions for stellar Netflix/VOD films that went completely under the radar–and are, for the most part, left out of most year-end conversations. Sadly, many documentaries would qualify for this list,...
Note that all of the below films made less than $100K at the domestic box office at the time of posting–with a few exceptions for stellar Netflix/VOD films that went completely under the radar–and are, for the most part, left out of most year-end conversations. Sadly, many documentaries would qualify for this list,...
- 12/20/2019
- by The Film Stage
- The Film Stage
Gkids is hoping to continue their strength in the Best Animated Feature category at the Oscars this year. One of the films they’re hoping to do this with, “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles,” actually chronicles the creative journey of one of cinemas great legends, Luis Buñuel. It’s directed by Salvador Simó.
In the aftermath of his first feature, “L’Age d’Or,” Buñuel is unable to get financing for any future projects. An anthropologist gives him a book about the destitute Las Hurdes village in Spain and is asked to make a documentary about it. Buñuel takes the concept to a friend of his, Ramón Acin, who promises that if he wins the local lottery, he will finance the project. Sure enough, Acin wins the lottery, Buñuel puts together a crew and they all head to the village to start filming what will become, “Land Without Bread.” The...
In the aftermath of his first feature, “L’Age d’Or,” Buñuel is unable to get financing for any future projects. An anthropologist gives him a book about the destitute Las Hurdes village in Spain and is asked to make a documentary about it. Buñuel takes the concept to a friend of his, Ramón Acin, who promises that if he wins the local lottery, he will finance the project. Sure enough, Acin wins the lottery, Buñuel puts together a crew and they all head to the village to start filming what will become, “Land Without Bread.” The...
- 12/15/2019
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Update: The 32 European Film Awards crowned The Favourite with a number of its prizes, even though the film was playing catch-up with last year. Still a lovely evening also bestowed wins on newcomers like Ladj Ly and increasingly promising talent like Céline Sciamma. Best Actor winner Antonio Banderas sent a message to say Pedro Almodovar is “a miracle in my life.” Following some early controversy, and four nominations, Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy did not pick up any trophies, while the European Film Academy made a point of saying it is looking to “revise its disciplinary measures.” See below for the full list of winners announced tonight.
Previous: The European Film Academy is handing out its top European Film Awards tonight in Berlin. Nominations for the final 32nd EFAs are tied in the main categories by three films with four mentions each: Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy,...
Previous: The European Film Academy is handing out its top European Film Awards tonight in Berlin. Nominations for the final 32nd EFAs are tied in the main categories by three films with four mentions each: Roman Polanski’s An Officer And A Spy,...
- 12/7/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2019 European Film Awards unfolded today in Berlin across an unhinged and hilarious ceremony. “The Favourite,” a 2018 awards-season triumph in the U.S., took home top prizes including for European film, director Yorgos Lanthimos and Academy Award-winning star Olivia Colman. While released stateside in fall 2018, the revisionist period romp’s international release window made it eligible for the European Film Awards this year.
Antonio Banderas’ Oscar-bidding turn in Pedro Almodóvar’s “Pain and Glory” earned the Spanish star the European Actor prize. Neither Banderas nor Colman were available to attend the ceremony, but both chimed in with video messages thanking European voters for their wins. “Pain and Glory” is Spain’s pick for the 2020 foreign Oscar.
Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” which lost out as France’s pick for the 2020 foreign Oscar to European Film Award winner “Les Miserables,” won the screenplay prize. Sciamma also won...
Antonio Banderas’ Oscar-bidding turn in Pedro Almodóvar’s “Pain and Glory” earned the Spanish star the European Actor prize. Neither Banderas nor Colman were available to attend the ceremony, but both chimed in with video messages thanking European voters for their wins. “Pain and Glory” is Spain’s pick for the 2020 foreign Oscar.
Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” which lost out as France’s pick for the 2020 foreign Oscar to European Film Award winner “Les Miserables,” won the screenplay prize. Sciamma also won...
- 12/7/2019
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Other nominees include ‘Intemperie’, ’The Endless Trench’ and ’Fire Will Come’.
Alejandro Amenábar’s While At War leads the nominations for Spain’s 34th Goya Academy Awards but will face-off against Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain And Glory at the ceremony on January 25 in Malaga.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Amenábar’s Spanish Civil War drama has secured 17 nominations while Almodóvar’s semi-autobiographical film has 16 nods.
While At War has proved a box office hit following its debut at Toronto, ranking as Spain’s third highest-grossing domestic film of 2019 and taking more than $11.3m to date.
Pain and Glory...
Alejandro Amenábar’s While At War leads the nominations for Spain’s 34th Goya Academy Awards but will face-off against Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain And Glory at the ceremony on January 25 in Malaga.
Scroll down for full list of nominations
Amenábar’s Spanish Civil War drama has secured 17 nominations while Almodóvar’s semi-autobiographical film has 16 nods.
While At War has proved a box office hit following its debut at Toronto, ranking as Spain’s third highest-grossing domestic film of 2019 and taking more than $11.3m to date.
Pain and Glory...
- 12/2/2019
- by 1101324¦Elisabet Cabeza¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Pedro Almodóvar’s “Pain and Glory” will go head-to-head with two other big Spanish films – Alejandro Amenábar’s “While at War” and “The Endless Trench,” from Aitor Aguirre, Jon Garaño and José Mari Goenaga – at Spain’s 34th Goya Academy Awards, to be held Jan. 25 in Malaga.
“Pain and Glory” garnered 16 nominations,” “While at War” 17 and “The Endless Trench” 15.
Though most pundits would put “Pain and Glory” as the frontrunner, the outcome is difficult to predict. World-premiering in Spain before competing in Cannes, where Antonio Banderas won the best actor prize, “Pain and Glory” was reckoned by Spanish critics to be Almodóvar’s best film in a decade.
But ever since the screenplay for Luis Buñuel’s “Viridiana,” which went on to win the Palme d’Or, was written off in Spain as nonsense, the Spanish industry has steadfastly refused to kowtow to internationally acclaimed directors or indeed talent.
Screening at Ventana Sur,...
“Pain and Glory” garnered 16 nominations,” “While at War” 17 and “The Endless Trench” 15.
Though most pundits would put “Pain and Glory” as the frontrunner, the outcome is difficult to predict. World-premiering in Spain before competing in Cannes, where Antonio Banderas won the best actor prize, “Pain and Glory” was reckoned by Spanish critics to be Almodóvar’s best film in a decade.
But ever since the screenplay for Luis Buñuel’s “Viridiana,” which went on to win the Palme d’Or, was written off in Spain as nonsense, the Spanish industry has steadfastly refused to kowtow to internationally acclaimed directors or indeed talent.
Screening at Ventana Sur,...
- 12/2/2019
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Marco Bellocchio’s “The Traitor,” Roman Polanski’s “An Officer and a Spy” and Pedro Almodóvar’s “Pain and Glory” lead the race for the 32nd European Film Awards with four nominations apiece in the major categories. The awards, voted on by more than 3,600 members of the European Film Academy, will be presented at the awards ceremony on Dec. 7 in Berlin.
Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” followed with three nominations in the top categories each, while Ladj Ly’s “Les Misérables” and Nora Fingscheidt’s “System Crasher” were both short-listed in two major categories.
“The Favourite” picked up an additional nomination in the comedy category, while “Les Misérables” received a further nomination in the Discovery section for newcomers.
A single nomination each went to “A White, White Day,” “And Then We Danced,” “Beanpole,” “Gundermann” and “Queen of Hearts.”
Competing for best documentary are “For Sama,...
Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” followed with three nominations in the top categories each, while Ladj Ly’s “Les Misérables” and Nora Fingscheidt’s “System Crasher” were both short-listed in two major categories.
“The Favourite” picked up an additional nomination in the comedy category, while “Les Misérables” received a further nomination in the Discovery section for newcomers.
A single nomination each went to “A White, White Day,” “And Then We Danced,” “Beanpole,” “Gundermann” and “Queen of Hearts.”
Competing for best documentary are “For Sama,...
- 11/9/2019
- by Leo Barraclough and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Amid the big-budget Hollywood sequels jockeying for position, this year’s awards race has a sizable contingent of contenders from overseas, including both foreign-made films and co-productions. The pack is led by indie animation mainstay GKids, but Netflix has also entered the fray as a distribution partner and entries from China are slipping into the mix.
Pearl Studio and DreamWorks Animation’s “Abominable,” a family film set in modern-day China and featuring Chinese characters, is a major challenger. From its inception, the CG-animated Yeti adventure was a “true collaboration” between the two studios in terms of artistic leadership, according to Pearl chief creative officer Peilin Chou.
“It’s an historic co-production in the sense that we really worked side-by-side with DreamWorks in terms of creative decision-making,” she says.
From Spain, Sergio Pablos’ “Klaus” is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated contenders. The hand-drawn holiday feature, which arrives from Netflix on Nov.
Pearl Studio and DreamWorks Animation’s “Abominable,” a family film set in modern-day China and featuring Chinese characters, is a major challenger. From its inception, the CG-animated Yeti adventure was a “true collaboration” between the two studios in terms of artistic leadership, according to Pearl chief creative officer Peilin Chou.
“It’s an historic co-production in the sense that we really worked side-by-side with DreamWorks in terms of creative decision-making,” she says.
From Spain, Sergio Pablos’ “Klaus” is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated contenders. The hand-drawn holiday feature, which arrives from Netflix on Nov.
- 10/29/2019
- by Jennifer Wolfe
- Variety Film + TV
Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, I Lost My Body, Marona's Fantastic Tale and The Swallows of Kabul are vying for the European Animated Feature Film award. The European Film Awards have announced the nominations for the award category European Animated Feature Film 2019. The nominations were determined by a committee comprised of Efa Board Deputy Chairman Antonio Saura (Spain), Efa Board Member Graziella Bildesheim (Italy) and producer Paul Young (Ireland) as well as, representing Cartoon, the European Association of Animation Film, film critic Stéphane Dreyfus (France), producer Kristine Mi Knudsen (Germany) and director Janno Põldma (Estonia). The nominees are: European Animated Feature FilmBuñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles - Salvador Simó (Spain/Netherlands)I Lost My Body - Jérémy Clapin (France)Marona's Fantastic Tale - Anca Damian (Romania/France/Belgium)The Swallows of Kabul - Zabou Breitman, Éléa Gobbé-Mévellec (France/Luxembourg/Switzerland) The nominated films will soon be...
- 10/16/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
Cannes Film Festival chiefs Pierre Lescure and Thierry Fremaux have named the six titles that will comprise its inaugural ‘Film Week’ at Hong Kong’s K11 Musea in November (12-17). They include three from this year’s Cannes competition: Young Ahmed, which won best director, Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, which took best screenplay, and Marco Bellocchio’s The Traitor. Screening from the Un Certain Regard section are The Invisible Life Of Euridice Gusmão, which won the sidebar’s top prize, The Climb, which took the jury’s Coup de Cœur prize; and On A Magical Night, which took the best performance award for Chiara Mastroianni. The Hong Kong event will also feature masterclasses with Young Ahmed directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux, who will talk about the works of the Lumiere brothers, and a third as-yet unannounced guest.
Rakuten TV, the European VOD service owned by Japanese retailer Rakuten,...
Rakuten TV, the European VOD service owned by Japanese retailer Rakuten,...
- 10/15/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Winners set to be announced in Berlin on December 7.
The European Film Awards (Efa) has unveiled the four features that will compete for the animation prize.
Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles; I Lost My Body; Marona’s Fantastic Tale; and The Swallows of Kabul are all in the running for European Animated Feature Film 2019.
The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on December 7 in Berlin.
Salvador Simó’s Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles has already picked up several festival awards including the jury prize at the Annecy International Animation Festival in June.
The film,...
The European Film Awards (Efa) has unveiled the four features that will compete for the animation prize.
Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles; I Lost My Body; Marona’s Fantastic Tale; and The Swallows of Kabul are all in the running for European Animated Feature Film 2019.
The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony on December 7 in Berlin.
Salvador Simó’s Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles has already picked up several festival awards including the jury prize at the Annecy International Animation Festival in June.
The film,...
- 10/15/2019
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Almodóvar will represent Spain for a record seventh time.
Pedro Almodóvar will represent Spain at the Oscars for a record-setting seventh time, with his drama Pain And Glory chosen as the country’s entry to the best international film award.
The film premiered in Competition at Cannes Film Festival in May, winning two prizes: best actor for Antonio Banderas, and best soundtrack for Alberto Iglesias.
In an autobiographical love letter to cinema from Almodóvar, Banderas stars as a director looking back on his life and career, with fellow frequent collaborator Penelope Cruz playing his mother in flashback.
The film grossed...
Pedro Almodóvar will represent Spain at the Oscars for a record-setting seventh time, with his drama Pain And Glory chosen as the country’s entry to the best international film award.
The film premiered in Competition at Cannes Film Festival in May, winning two prizes: best actor for Antonio Banderas, and best soundtrack for Alberto Iglesias.
In an autobiographical love letter to cinema from Almodóvar, Banderas stars as a director looking back on his life and career, with fellow frequent collaborator Penelope Cruz playing his mother in flashback.
The film grossed...
- 9/5/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Bill Bailey (Hot Fuzz) and Naomi Yang (Lilting) are to lead voice cast in Spain-China animation co-pro Dragonkeeper.
Salvador Simó is newly aboard as lead director on the action-adventure feature, having most recently directed Annecy hit Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles, which was recently picked up for the U.S. by GKids. Simó and producer Manuel Cristobal have just returned from work in China with the film’s co-director Jian-Ping Li.
Dragonkeeper centers on Ping, a slave girl who dreams of freedom while looking after imprisoned dragons in the Emperor’s castle. One fateful day a dragon escapes forcing Ping to go on a mission. She must deliver the last dragon egg to the ocean and save the dragons from extinction. On her journey she learns to unlock her special powers as she discovers she is the last true dragonkeeper.
The feature is...
Salvador Simó is newly aboard as lead director on the action-adventure feature, having most recently directed Annecy hit Buñuel In The Labyrinth Of The Turtles, which was recently picked up for the U.S. by GKids. Simó and producer Manuel Cristobal have just returned from work in China with the film’s co-director Jian-Ping Li.
Dragonkeeper centers on Ping, a slave girl who dreams of freedom while looking after imprisoned dragons in the Emperor’s castle. One fateful day a dragon escapes forcing Ping to go on a mission. She must deliver the last dragon egg to the ocean and save the dragons from extinction. On her journey she learns to unlock her special powers as she discovers she is the last true dragonkeeper.
The feature is...
- 9/5/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Sophisticated chatter about the purpose of artistic expression ushers in Salvador Simó’s “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles,” a genius and layered animated drama that functions as both a revelatory making-of for a seminal 1933 non-fiction film, and a surrealist biopic about the director behind it, who’s tormented by a yearning for his stern father’s approval.
Simó and co-writer Eligio R. Montero find Luis Buñuel (voiced by Jorge Usón), the expat Spanish auteur whose best-known films were made in France and Mexico, fresh off the success and controversy of the groundbreaking “Un Chien Andalou” and “L’Age d’Or,” both of which he co-wrote with the equally iconoclastic Salvador Dalí. Already regarded as a provocateur critical of the Catholic Church, Buñuel was branded persona non grata at home, which hindered his efforts to get another movie financed.
Asymmetrical in its facial features, the 2D animated rendering of...
Simó and co-writer Eligio R. Montero find Luis Buñuel (voiced by Jorge Usón), the expat Spanish auteur whose best-known films were made in France and Mexico, fresh off the success and controversy of the groundbreaking “Un Chien Andalou” and “L’Age d’Or,” both of which he co-wrote with the equally iconoclastic Salvador Dalí. Already regarded as a provocateur critical of the Catholic Church, Buñuel was branded persona non grata at home, which hindered his efforts to get another movie financed.
Asymmetrical in its facial features, the 2D animated rendering of...
- 8/16/2019
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
With “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles”, Salvador Simó proves once again that animation is perfect for expressing the collision of inner and outer worlds. In his first feature, he explores how legendary surrealist director Luis Buñuel found his artistic voice and social consciousness while making the controversial documentary, “Land Without Bread (1933), about the most impoverished region of Spain.
“In this place, something happened with his heart because he changed,” said Spanish animator and VFX artist-turned director Simó (“The Jungle Book”). “He was able to bond with the people and see the suffering first-hand. This was the first time he faced reality in a really raw way. And the way he made films changed.”
After savaging modern French society in the scandalous “L’Age d’Or” (1930), Buñuel humbly turned his provocative sights closer to home with his lone documentary, thanks to financing from his sculptor friend, Ramon Acin, who...
“In this place, something happened with his heart because he changed,” said Spanish animator and VFX artist-turned director Simó (“The Jungle Book”). “He was able to bond with the people and see the suffering first-hand. This was the first time he faced reality in a really raw way. And the way he made films changed.”
After savaging modern French society in the scandalous “L’Age d’Or” (1930), Buñuel humbly turned his provocative sights closer to home with his lone documentary, thanks to financing from his sculptor friend, Ramon Acin, who...
- 8/15/2019
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
On August 16, the animated story of one of the world’s greatest filmmakers, Luis Buñuel, and how he became who he became will be in theaters in the U.S.
Animated out of Spain by The Glow Animation Studio created by Manuel Cristóbal, Salvador Simó and José Mª Fdez. de Vega, in Almendralejo, the region called Extremadura in the Southwest of Spain, this film is shot where Luis Buñuel filmed his documentary Las Hurdas, or Land Without Bread in the 1930s. Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Fermín Solís is about the people in this extreme poverty pocket in Franco’s Spain.
We develop and produce animation and visual effects in projects of our own creation or in co-production. We like to work on independent projects, with a different, innovative vision of the world of entertainment and an international vocation.
Animated out of Spain by The Glow Animation Studio created by Manuel Cristóbal, Salvador Simó and José Mª Fdez. de Vega, in Almendralejo, the region called Extremadura in the Southwest of Spain, this film is shot where Luis Buñuel filmed his documentary Las Hurdas, or Land Without Bread in the 1930s. Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Fermín Solís is about the people in this extreme poverty pocket in Franco’s Spain.
We develop and produce animation and visual effects in projects of our own creation or in co-production. We like to work on independent projects, with a different, innovative vision of the world of entertainment and an international vocation.
- 8/14/2019
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
It’s a truth so universally acknowledged that it seldom bears repeating: America sees animation as a genre, while the rest of the world recognizes it as an art form unto itself. Here, it’s just for kids, and most of the movies that Hollywood makes with it are about ice princesses or angry birds or plastic sporks gripped by existential crises. Beyond our borders, however, animation can be for anyone, and tell stories about anything. One look at something from Studio Ghibli or Cartoon Saloon is enough to appreciate how much we lose by treating “cartoons” as a lesser form of cinema that chiefly exists to placate young children; a massive animation department wasting its talents on the likes of “Wonder Park” is like someone buying a Ferrari just to drive around a golf course.
But, every once in a while, a foreign director makes a work of feature-length...
But, every once in a while, a foreign director makes a work of feature-length...
- 8/13/2019
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
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