Netflix will produce and release 53 Domingos, the new film from Spanish director Cesc Gay, an adaptation of his own award-winning theater play.
The dramedy follows three brothers who meet up to discuss what to do with their octogenarian father who has started behaving oddly. As they debate whether to put him in a nursing home or have him move in with one of them, the polite family meeting descends into an outrageous, out-of-control fight.
Carmen Machi (Piggy), Javier Cámara (Talk to Her) and Javier Gutierrez (Prison 77) star in the film version.
Gay is best known internationally for his 2015 breakout Truman, starring Ricardo Darín and Javier Cámara. His other features include Stories Not to Be Told (2022), En la ciudad (2003), and Nico and Dani (2000).
53 Domingos is one of three features Netflix unveiled this week as part of its new Spanish originals lineup. The other two are the political thriller Un Fantasma en...
The dramedy follows three brothers who meet up to discuss what to do with their octogenarian father who has started behaving oddly. As they debate whether to put him in a nursing home or have him move in with one of them, the polite family meeting descends into an outrageous, out-of-control fight.
Carmen Machi (Piggy), Javier Cámara (Talk to Her) and Javier Gutierrez (Prison 77) star in the film version.
Gay is best known internationally for his 2015 breakout Truman, starring Ricardo Darín and Javier Cámara. His other features include Stories Not to Be Told (2022), En la ciudad (2003), and Nico and Dani (2000).
53 Domingos is one of three features Netflix unveiled this week as part of its new Spanish originals lineup. The other two are the political thriller Un Fantasma en...
- 4/19/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix has boarded a big screen adaptation of Spanish director Cesc Gay’s award-winning theatre play 53 Domingos, which he will direct.
The drama, exploring family relationships, follows three brothers who meet to discuss what to do with their octogenarian father, who has started showing strange behavior.
As they discuss whether to move him to a nursing home, or into one of their homes, the initially civilized family discussion degenerates into an unexpected and hilarious fight.
Cast include Carmen Machi (Piggy), Javier Cámara (Talk To Her) and Javier Gutierrez.
Gay’s previous credits include international breakout Truman, the choral film Stories Not To Be Told and the TV drama Félix.
The Netflix announcement rounds out a trio of Spanish feature productions unveiled by the streamer this week.
The previously announced titles span alongside political thriller Un Fantasma en la Batalla, produced by Society of Snow filmmaker J.A. Bayona,...
The drama, exploring family relationships, follows three brothers who meet to discuss what to do with their octogenarian father, who has started showing strange behavior.
As they discuss whether to move him to a nursing home, or into one of their homes, the initially civilized family discussion degenerates into an unexpected and hilarious fight.
Cast include Carmen Machi (Piggy), Javier Cámara (Talk To Her) and Javier Gutierrez.
Gay’s previous credits include international breakout Truman, the choral film Stories Not To Be Told and the TV drama Félix.
The Netflix announcement rounds out a trio of Spanish feature productions unveiled by the streamer this week.
The previously announced titles span alongside political thriller Un Fantasma en la Batalla, produced by Society of Snow filmmaker J.A. Bayona,...
- 4/19/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Top Spanish Titles brought to market at MipTV:
“Dating in Barcelona,” (Filmax)
Produced by Filmax’s Arca, Catalan public broadcaster 3Cat and Prime Video in Spain, a first season of “Dating in Barcelona” bowed last year in Spain to big ratings, both on its first-window debut on 3Cat and on Prime Video, where it became one of the streaming service’s most-watched debuts. A modern take on romance and sex in an online age, “Dating in Barcelona” also reflects a swing in TV towards a lighter, more episodic fare, whether in crime thrillers or other categories. Each episode features two dates which, as Variety has observed, play off each other. Powered in creative terms by Pau Freixas, behind iconic series from “Red Band Society” To “I Know Who You Are” And “Todos Mienten,” All Produced By Filmax, “Dating In Barcelona” features a top-tier cast, this time round in Season...
“Dating in Barcelona,” (Filmax)
Produced by Filmax’s Arca, Catalan public broadcaster 3Cat and Prime Video in Spain, a first season of “Dating in Barcelona” bowed last year in Spain to big ratings, both on its first-window debut on 3Cat and on Prime Video, where it became one of the streaming service’s most-watched debuts. A modern take on romance and sex in an online age, “Dating in Barcelona” also reflects a swing in TV towards a lighter, more episodic fare, whether in crime thrillers or other categories. Each episode features two dates which, as Variety has observed, play off each other. Powered in creative terms by Pau Freixas, behind iconic series from “Red Band Society” To “I Know Who You Are” And “Todos Mienten,” All Produced By Filmax, “Dating In Barcelona” features a top-tier cast, this time round in Season...
- 4/5/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Antonio Banderas and his girlfriend, Nicole Kimpel, participated in a procession at San Juan Bautista church during Holy Week in Malaga, Spain, on Sunday.
The pair was seen in the crowd of worshippers at the celebration at the Maria Santisima de Lagrimas y Favores procession.
In Easter of last year, the pair attended an Easter procession at the same church. Banderas was seen sporting religious attire while worshipping at both events.
Banderas, known for his role in Puss in Boots, enjoys celebrating Catholic celebrations in his native Spain.
In 2011, Banderas spoke exclusively to uInterview about his work with iconic Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, known for his work on Oscar-winning films like 2002’s Talk To Her.
“It may be painful, but at the end, [Almodovar] resolved that things from you are totally different to what the people may expect,” Banderas said. “So he discovered in the actors spaces that not even [we] knew that we had,...
The pair was seen in the crowd of worshippers at the celebration at the Maria Santisima de Lagrimas y Favores procession.
In Easter of last year, the pair attended an Easter procession at the same church. Banderas was seen sporting religious attire while worshipping at both events.
Banderas, known for his role in Puss in Boots, enjoys celebrating Catholic celebrations in his native Spain.
In 2011, Banderas spoke exclusively to uInterview about his work with iconic Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, known for his work on Oscar-winning films like 2002’s Talk To Her.
“It may be painful, but at the end, [Almodovar] resolved that things from you are totally different to what the people may expect,” Banderas said. “So he discovered in the actors spaces that not even [we] knew that we had,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Gianna Stephens
- Uinterview
Non-English-language movies stormed the Oscars this year, with five films taking home statuettes — the most ever in one ceremony.
Justine Triet and Arthur Harari’s Best Screenplay Academy Award for French-language courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall followed three past non-English-language winners: Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019), Pedro Almodóvar’s Talk To Her (2002) and A Man and a Woman by Claude Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven (1966).
The Best Sound Academy Award for Jonathan Glazer’s German-language Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest marked a first for a non-English-language film. The pic also clinched Best International Feature Film.
Related: ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘The Zone Of Interest’ & ‘Poor Things’ Wins Cap Good Night For Brits At The Oscars
The Best Animation Oscar for The Boy and the Heron marked a second Academy Award for Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki, who took co-directing credits with Toshio Suzuki.
Miyazaki previously triumphed in the category in its second year...
Justine Triet and Arthur Harari’s Best Screenplay Academy Award for French-language courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall followed three past non-English-language winners: Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite (2019), Pedro Almodóvar’s Talk To Her (2002) and A Man and a Woman by Claude Lelouch and Pierre Uytterhoeven (1966).
The Best Sound Academy Award for Jonathan Glazer’s German-language Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest marked a first for a non-English-language film. The pic also clinched Best International Feature Film.
Related: ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘The Zone Of Interest’ & ‘Poor Things’ Wins Cap Good Night For Brits At The Oscars
The Best Animation Oscar for The Boy and the Heron marked a second Academy Award for Japanese animation maestro Hayao Miyazaki, who took co-directing credits with Toshio Suzuki.
Miyazaki previously triumphed in the category in its second year...
- 3/11/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The incontrovertible and immediate effect of muscular tax credits, entering in force in 2023, have powered to a new level the shoot scene in Bilbao and Bizkaia – the Basque city and surrounding province in Northern Spain.
Introduced on Jan. 1, 2023, the new incentives offer an up-to-60% tax deduction for national and international co-productions of film and TV projects.
Enticing studios such as Toboggan and production houses Buendía Estudios and Tornasol to set up in Bizkaia and streaming giant Netflix to invest in original productions, the territory is fast capitalizing on its breaks.
Over 2023, 151 shoots filmed in Bilbao-Bizkaia, 76 from the Basque Country, 47 from Spain and 28 from abroad, according to the Bilbao-Bizkaia 2023 Year Book.
Total shoot spend in 2023 came in at €58.5 million ($63.7 million), 324% up on 2019’s figure of €13.8 million, six times up on €23.5 million ($25.6 million) in 2021. In all, productions shot 1,026 days in Bilbao or in the rest of Bizkaia, 74% more than 2022. The fact that...
Introduced on Jan. 1, 2023, the new incentives offer an up-to-60% tax deduction for national and international co-productions of film and TV projects.
Enticing studios such as Toboggan and production houses Buendía Estudios and Tornasol to set up in Bizkaia and streaming giant Netflix to invest in original productions, the territory is fast capitalizing on its breaks.
Over 2023, 151 shoots filmed in Bilbao-Bizkaia, 76 from the Basque Country, 47 from Spain and 28 from abroad, according to the Bilbao-Bizkaia 2023 Year Book.
Total shoot spend in 2023 came in at €58.5 million ($63.7 million), 324% up on 2019’s figure of €13.8 million, six times up on €23.5 million ($25.6 million) in 2021. In all, productions shot 1,026 days in Bilbao or in the rest of Bizkaia, 74% more than 2022. The fact that...
- 3/5/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Filmax has acquired international rights to Spanish thriller “Nina,” the new feature written and directed by Andrea Jaurrieta (“Ana by Day”) that bows at this week’s Málaga Film Festival as one of its higher profile titles in main competition.
Loosely based on the play of the same name by José Ramón Fernández, which borrows elements of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” “Nina” tells the story of a woman, an actress, who returns to her home town on Spain’s rugged northern coast seeking to take revenge on a celebrated writer. As she encounters past acquaintances, including a once close childhood friend, and faces dark memories, she begins to question whether vengeance is the only way forward.
“Nina” stars Goya-winning actress Patricia López Arnaiz (“Ane is Missing”) as the titular character and San Sebastián Silver Shell winner Darío Grandinetti, famed for his performance in Pedro Almodovar’s “Talk to Her,...
Loosely based on the play of the same name by José Ramón Fernández, which borrows elements of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” “Nina” tells the story of a woman, an actress, who returns to her home town on Spain’s rugged northern coast seeking to take revenge on a celebrated writer. As she encounters past acquaintances, including a once close childhood friend, and faces dark memories, she begins to question whether vengeance is the only way forward.
“Nina” stars Goya-winning actress Patricia López Arnaiz (“Ane is Missing”) as the titular character and San Sebastián Silver Shell winner Darío Grandinetti, famed for his performance in Pedro Almodovar’s “Talk to Her,...
- 3/4/2024
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
At 48, Pedro Pascal is at the peak of his acting career with studios queuing up for a date from the actor. While Pascal currently has roles in fan-favorite projects with Disney and HBO, there was one special project that the Game of Thrones actor loved working on in 2023. Pascal played one of the leads in Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar’s short film, Strange Way of Life. The encounter with the legendary director was like meeting a king for Pascal.
Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones
Almodóvar is one of the few Spanish language directors who has a cult following globally. Pascal’s short film was the director’s second English-language effort after the 2020 short film, The Human Voice.
Pedro Pascal Had A Life Changing Moment Working For Pedro Almodóvar Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke in Pedro Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life
From his breakout role as...
Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones
Almodóvar is one of the few Spanish language directors who has a cult following globally. Pascal’s short film was the director’s second English-language effort after the 2020 short film, The Human Voice.
Pedro Pascal Had A Life Changing Moment Working For Pedro Almodóvar Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke in Pedro Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life
From his breakout role as...
- 2/22/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Julianne Moore will star alongside Tilda Swinton in The Room Next Door, the first English-language feature from acclaimed, Oscar-winning Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, his production company has confirmed.
Almodóvar first spoke about Swinton’s casting last year. The Scottish actress starred in Almodovar’s 2021 short The Human Voice, which premiered in Venice and was one of the director’s first steps towards an English-language feature. He followed up with the short Strange Way of Life starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, which screened at Cannes last year. Almodóvar said the shorts were a testing ground to make him more comfortable with directing actors in English. He had been attached to direct the English-language feature A Manual for Cleaning Women, with Cate Blanchett set to star and produce, but pulled out in 2022.
Almodóvar is considered one of the greatest European directors of his generation and has won international acclaim with features...
Almodóvar first spoke about Swinton’s casting last year. The Scottish actress starred in Almodovar’s 2021 short The Human Voice, which premiered in Venice and was one of the director’s first steps towards an English-language feature. He followed up with the short Strange Way of Life starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal, which screened at Cannes last year. Almodóvar said the shorts were a testing ground to make him more comfortable with directing actors in English. He had been attached to direct the English-language feature A Manual for Cleaning Women, with Cate Blanchett set to star and produce, but pulled out in 2022.
Almodóvar is considered one of the greatest European directors of his generation and has won international acclaim with features...
- 1/25/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Julianne Moore is set to star in “The Room Next Door,” the first full-length English-language feature from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar.
Moore — whose casting was confirmed by Variety after being posted by Almodóvar’s production company El Deseo on social media — joins Tilda Swinton in the film. Swinton previously starred in Almodovar’s 2021 short “The Human Voice.”
The Instagram post said that the “The Room Next Door” is a “drama between a mother and daughter,” adding that it would be filmed in the spring in New York and Madrid. No other details about the plot or Moore and Swinton’s roles was revealed.
Representatives for Moore did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Almodóvar had previously stated that his shorts “The Human Voice” and “Strange Way of Life” — which are both in English — were merely warm-ups so he could grow accustomed to directing English-speaking actors. He had...
Moore — whose casting was confirmed by Variety after being posted by Almodóvar’s production company El Deseo on social media — joins Tilda Swinton in the film. Swinton previously starred in Almodovar’s 2021 short “The Human Voice.”
The Instagram post said that the “The Room Next Door” is a “drama between a mother and daughter,” adding that it would be filmed in the spring in New York and Madrid. No other details about the plot or Moore and Swinton’s roles was revealed.
Representatives for Moore did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Almodóvar had previously stated that his shorts “The Human Voice” and “Strange Way of Life” — which are both in English — were merely warm-ups so he could grow accustomed to directing English-speaking actors. He had...
- 1/25/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
We all know that if there’s one thing harder than predicting the winners of the three short film categories at the Oscars, it’s predicting which films will get nominated in those categories. Well Derbyites, we’re here to help make predicting those nominees a little easier. Below we have listed all 15 shortlisted titles for Best Live Action Short along with descriptions of each one. We’ve also included information and links on where you can view the finalists.
Among the plots of this year’s crop are a rideshare driver dealing with grief, a chance meeting between a trans woman and a cis man, a woman traveling out of state to obtain an abortion, and a fighter pilot in need of a miracle to make it home for Christmas.
SEEDozens of video interviews with 2024 awards contenders
“The After” – In the midst of his grief, a rideshare driver picks...
Among the plots of this year’s crop are a rideshare driver dealing with grief, a chance meeting between a trans woman and a cis man, a woman traveling out of state to obtain an abortion, and a fighter pilot in need of a miracle to make it home for Christmas.
SEEDozens of video interviews with 2024 awards contenders
“The After” – In the midst of his grief, a rideshare driver picks...
- 12/25/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
“Anatomy of a Fall” continues its festival run at the 61st New York Film Festival on October 7. It had its world premiere earlier this year at Cannes where it won the grand prize, the Palme d’Or. Despite that, though, the film was not selected by France as the nation’s representative for Best International Feature at the Oscars. “The Taste of Things” was chosen instead. But that’s okay. “Anatomy” stands a good chance at recognition anyway.
Directed by Justine Triet, “Anatony” is a courtroom drama about Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller), a German woman living in France with her family when her husband mysteriously dies from a fall at their home. She is accused of murdering him, and their vision-impaired son is the only witness. The trial that follows showcases Huller’s emotional performance, which conveys fear and frustration without tipping her hand as to her character’s guilt or innocence.
Directed by Justine Triet, “Anatony” is a courtroom drama about Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller), a German woman living in France with her family when her husband mysteriously dies from a fall at their home. She is accused of murdering him, and their vision-impaired son is the only witness. The trial that follows showcases Huller’s emotional performance, which conveys fear and frustration without tipping her hand as to her character’s guilt or innocence.
- 9/27/2023
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Pedro Almodóvar has flirted with making a Hollywood movie on multiple occasions throughout his four-decade career. But he’s never found an opportunity to make his distinct aesthetic work within the American system.
The Spanish filmmaker does not appear to be losing much sleep over the missed opportunity, as he has made a litany of classic films and won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for “Talk to Her.” In a new interview with The Independent, he explained why he is unwilling to compromise on his auteur-driven approach to filmmaking.
“I mean, I am an artisan,” Almodóvar said. “Everything here, I make the choice. I do everything.”
Almodóvar went on to say that his way of working is more conducive to the European film industry than Hollywood, where he sees most directors as being largely subservient to producers and stars.
“Even when you read [industry newspapers], they talk about the actors but not the directors.
The Spanish filmmaker does not appear to be losing much sleep over the missed opportunity, as he has made a litany of classic films and won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for “Talk to Her.” In a new interview with The Independent, he explained why he is unwilling to compromise on his auteur-driven approach to filmmaking.
“I mean, I am an artisan,” Almodóvar said. “Everything here, I make the choice. I do everything.”
Almodóvar went on to say that his way of working is more conducive to the European film industry than Hollywood, where he sees most directors as being largely subservient to producers and stars.
“Even when you read [industry newspapers], they talk about the actors but not the directors.
- 9/23/2023
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Oscar-winning Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar has made a name for himself with a series of brightly colored, delightfully kinky and unabashedly melodramatic titles, mixing comedy, drama, sex and violence to great success. He shows no signs of slowing down, with his latest outing in 2019 being the Oscar-nominated “Pain and Glory.” Let’s take a look back at all 22 of his films, ranked worst to best.
Born in 1949 in Spain, Almodovar came to prominence during La Movida Madrilena, a cultural renaissance that blossomed at the end of Francoist Spain. Staring with his filmmaking debut “Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom” (1980), the openly gay director showed an affinity for oddballs and outsiders, populating his films with transvestites, transexuals and homosexuals, all of whom had previously been relegated to the closet. He also showed a talent for working with women, and throughout his 40 year career has placed actresses such as Penelope Cruz,...
Born in 1949 in Spain, Almodovar came to prominence during La Movida Madrilena, a cultural renaissance that blossomed at the end of Francoist Spain. Staring with his filmmaking debut “Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom” (1980), the openly gay director showed an affinity for oddballs and outsiders, populating his films with transvestites, transexuals and homosexuals, all of whom had previously been relegated to the closet. He also showed a talent for working with women, and throughout his 40 year career has placed actresses such as Penelope Cruz,...
- 9/22/2023
- by Zach Laws and Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
The great Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar won’t be crossing over to the dark side anytime soon.
Almodóvar, proclaiming himself an unquestioned auteur who makes all the big decisions in his films, pinpointed the reason he has abstained from making even one American movie in his nearly 50-year career in cinema.
“I have a specific way of working and my intuition has told me that it is not the way to work in Hollywood or with the studios,” Almodóvar said in an interview with the Independent. “I mean, I am an artisan.”
Almodóvar, whose gay Western short “Strange Way of Life” starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke debuts in theaters next month, stopped short of calling himself a “control freak” but made no bones about the fact he not only holds the cards in his movies — he keeps the whole deck close at hand.
“Everything here, I make the choice,...
Almodóvar, proclaiming himself an unquestioned auteur who makes all the big decisions in his films, pinpointed the reason he has abstained from making even one American movie in his nearly 50-year career in cinema.
“I have a specific way of working and my intuition has told me that it is not the way to work in Hollywood or with the studios,” Almodóvar said in an interview with the Independent. “I mean, I am an artisan.”
Almodóvar, whose gay Western short “Strange Way of Life” starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke debuts in theaters next month, stopped short of calling himself a “control freak” but made no bones about the fact he not only holds the cards in his movies — he keeps the whole deck close at hand.
“Everything here, I make the choice,...
- 9/22/2023
- by Jeremy Bailey
- The Wrap
Pedro Almodóvar, the most celebrated Spanish filmmaker since Luis Buñuel, will be the toast of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. There, his latest film — Strange Way of Life, a short Western starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal and set to be distributed by Sony Classics — will have its North American premiere; he’ll receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media at the TIFF Tribute Awards; and he’ll participate in an “In Conversation” discussion on Sept. 9.
Almodóvar has made 21 features, among them classics like 1988’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which was nominated for the best foreign-language film Oscar; 1999’s All About My Mother, which won that Oscar; and 2002’s Talk to Her, for which he was nominated for best director and won the best original screenplay Oscar, marking only the fifth time that a non-English-language script had been awarded that trophy. But his past two...
Almodóvar has made 21 features, among them classics like 1988’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, which was nominated for the best foreign-language film Oscar; 1999’s All About My Mother, which won that Oscar; and 2002’s Talk to Her, for which he was nominated for best director and won the best original screenplay Oscar, marking only the fifth time that a non-English-language script had been awarded that trophy. But his past two...
- 9/8/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fest runs September 7-17.
Pedro Almodóvar, Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, and Andy Lau will take part in the TIFF In Conversation With… series of on-stage talks next month.
“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF chief programming officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse line-up of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”
Almodóvar will present the North American premiere of his short film Strange Way Of Life starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. His credits include All About My Mother,...
Pedro Almodóvar, Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, and Andy Lau will take part in the TIFF In Conversation With… series of on-stage talks next month.
“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF chief programming officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse line-up of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”
Almodóvar will present the North American premiere of his short film Strange Way Of Life starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. His credits include All About My Mother,...
- 8/11/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Toronto International Film Festival has announced the participants for this year’s “In Conversation With…” series, including headliners Pedro Almodóvar, Andy Lau and Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun.
“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel transformation,” said TIFF Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”
The 2023 lineup represents a global and diverse gathering which will weave together unique perspectives that contribute to shaping the global entertainment landscape.
Almodóvar will receive this year’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media at the TIFF Tribute Awards. The Oscar-winning director of “All About My Mother,” “Talk to Her” and “Pain and Glory” will present the North American premiere of his short feature “Strange Way of Life.” The western romance, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal,...
“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel transformation,” said TIFF Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”
The 2023 lineup represents a global and diverse gathering which will weave together unique perspectives that contribute to shaping the global entertainment landscape.
Almodóvar will receive this year’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media at the TIFF Tribute Awards. The Oscar-winning director of “All About My Mother,” “Talk to Her” and “Pain and Glory” will present the North American premiere of his short feature “Strange Way of Life.” The western romance, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal,...
- 8/11/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
The Toronto Film Festival has tapped Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar, Hong Kong multihyphenate Andy Lau and Korean superstars Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun to topline its In Conversation With… series next month.
Almodóvar, earlier announced to receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media from Participant at TIFF, has been among the most successful European directors since his 1988 melodrama Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, winning two Oscars for All About My Mother in 1999 and Talk to Her in 2002.
Lau ranks near the top of China’s A-list as both an actor and a pop performer and will also be in Toronto for the world premiere of Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, where he plays a movie star seeking relevance via a film festival–baiting art-house role.
And Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, co-stars of the disaster epic Concrete Utopia, will also be in Toronto to discuss...
Almodóvar, earlier announced to receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media from Participant at TIFF, has been among the most successful European directors since his 1988 melodrama Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, winning two Oscars for All About My Mother in 1999 and Talk to Her in 2002.
Lau ranks near the top of China’s A-list as both an actor and a pop performer and will also be in Toronto for the world premiere of Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, where he plays a movie star seeking relevance via a film festival–baiting art-house role.
And Lee Byung-hun and Park Seo-jun, co-stars of the disaster epic Concrete Utopia, will also be in Toronto to discuss...
- 8/11/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Spike Lee and Pedro Almodóvar are the first honourees announced for this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards. ‘Do the Right Thing’ director Spike, 66, will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, which recognises filmmakers who have “exemplified greatness in their careers”. ‘Live Flesh’ filmmaker Pedro, 73 – who won the best original screenplay for his 2022 movie ‘Talk to Her’ – will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant, which recognises “leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema”. Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, said about Spike, who won the adapted screenplay Oscar for his ‘BlacKkKlansman’ film: “A foremost storyteller of our era… Spike has inspired audiences and made a lasting impact on the art of filmmaking.” He added about Pedro – one of the most renowned international auteurs of his generation: “It’s a true thrill to acknowledge Pedro Almodóvar as the distinguished recipient of the Jeff Skoll Impact...
- 8/4/2023
- by BANG Showbiz Reporter
- Bang Showbiz
TIFF is honouring big talent.
On Thursday, the Toronto International Festival announced the first recipients of its 2023 Tribute Awards, to be handed out during the fest in September.
Read More: TIFF Reveals First-Look At Nicolas Cage In ‘Dream Scenario’, Announces Movie As Platform Programme Opener
The first pair of recipients will be directors Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee, both well-recognized lights of international filmmaking.
A Spanish filmmaker, Almodóvar is known for his brightly coloured, melodramatic films dealing with sex, relationships and much more. He has frequently worked with actors like Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
His films include “Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!”, “All About My Mother”, “Talk To Her”, “Volver”, “Pain and Glory” and more.
“It’s a true thrill to acknowledge Pedro Almodóvar as the distinguished recipient of the Jeff Skoll Impact Media Award for 2023,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “Pedro has been coming to TIFF for...
On Thursday, the Toronto International Festival announced the first recipients of its 2023 Tribute Awards, to be handed out during the fest in September.
Read More: TIFF Reveals First-Look At Nicolas Cage In ‘Dream Scenario’, Announces Movie As Platform Programme Opener
The first pair of recipients will be directors Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee, both well-recognized lights of international filmmaking.
A Spanish filmmaker, Almodóvar is known for his brightly coloured, melodramatic films dealing with sex, relationships and much more. He has frequently worked with actors like Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
His films include “Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!”, “All About My Mother”, “Talk To Her”, “Volver”, “Pain and Glory” and more.
“It’s a true thrill to acknowledge Pedro Almodóvar as the distinguished recipient of the Jeff Skoll Impact Media Award for 2023,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “Pedro has been coming to TIFF for...
- 8/3/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Directors Pedro Almodovar and Spike Lee will receive special awards at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey announced on Thursday.
Almodovar will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media, which is sponsored by Participant, while Lee will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, named for the late film critic Roger Ebert. The honors will be presented during the TIFF Tribute Awards on Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, on the fourth night of the 11-day festival.
“Pedro has been coming to TIFF for years and each time is better than the time before,” Bailey said in a statement. “His artistic vision, bold storytelling, and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of cinema have had a profound impact on cinema. He challenges societal norms, champions diversity, and illuminates the human experience with sensitivity and grace.”
Almodovar, whose films include “Talk to Her,” “All About My Mother,...
Almodovar will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media, which is sponsored by Participant, while Lee will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, named for the late film critic Roger Ebert. The honors will be presented during the TIFF Tribute Awards on Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, on the fourth night of the 11-day festival.
“Pedro has been coming to TIFF for years and each time is better than the time before,” Bailey said in a statement. “His artistic vision, bold storytelling, and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of cinema have had a profound impact on cinema. He challenges societal norms, champions diversity, and illuminates the human experience with sensitivity and grace.”
Almodovar, whose films include “Talk to Her,” “All About My Mother,...
- 8/3/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Celebrated directors Pedro Almodóvar and Spike Lee will be honored at at the fifth annual TIFF Tribute Awards on Sept. 10, during the 2023 Toronto Film Festival, organizers said on Thursday.
Spanish auteur Almodóvar will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media from Participant, while the Do the Right Thing and Da 5 Bloods filmmaker Lee will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel gala.
Toronto tips its marquee awards show as an awards-season bellwether, as past honorees include Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi and Chloé Zhao.
Almodóvar has been among the most successful European directors since his 1988 melodrama Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown won the best young film honor at the inaugural European Film Awards and went on to art house success worldwide. He has won five more European Film honors, as well as five BAFTAs,...
Spanish auteur Almodóvar will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media from Participant, while the Do the Right Thing and Da 5 Bloods filmmaker Lee will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel gala.
Toronto tips its marquee awards show as an awards-season bellwether, as past honorees include Michelle Yeoh, Brendan Fraser, Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi and Chloé Zhao.
Almodóvar has been among the most successful European directors since his 1988 melodrama Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown won the best young film honor at the inaugural European Film Awards and went on to art house success worldwide. He has won five more European Film honors, as well as five BAFTAs,...
- 8/3/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Coming of age drama is currently in production.
Spanish sales company Filmax has boarded coming of age drama Rita, the directorial debut of leading Spanish actress Paz Vega, which is currently in production.
Rita is produced by Marta Velasco and Gonzalo Bendala at Aralan Films in association with Oda Films, with the participation of Andalusian pubcaster Canal Sur Radio y Televisión.
The film follows 7-year Rita and her 5-year old brother Lolo from a working class family as the whole country goes crazy over the European football championships, with Spain in the quarter-finals.
“The project is touching. We loved it...
Spanish sales company Filmax has boarded coming of age drama Rita, the directorial debut of leading Spanish actress Paz Vega, which is currently in production.
Rita is produced by Marta Velasco and Gonzalo Bendala at Aralan Films in association with Oda Films, with the participation of Andalusian pubcaster Canal Sur Radio y Televisión.
The film follows 7-year Rita and her 5-year old brother Lolo from a working class family as the whole country goes crazy over the European football championships, with Spain in the quarter-finals.
“The project is touching. We loved it...
- 5/20/2023
- by Emilio Mayorga
- ScreenDaily
Nine more minutes of footage would take Pedro Almodóvar’s film “Strange Way of Life” from a live action short frontrunner to a best picture contender.
To be eligible for the Academy Awards’ best picture category, a film must have a minimum 40-minute runtime. Almodóvar’s movie runs 31 minutes. With those extra nine minutes, we could also highlight the worthiness of actors Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal and the project’s artisan categories. But for his second English language endeavor, coming three years after “The Human Voice” with Tilda Swinton, the Spanish auteur’s sensibilities are never lacking. His new Spanish Western stands proudly next to some of his most audacious movies such as “Talk to Her” and “Volver.”
A rainy Wednesday in the south of France didn’t keep crowds of ticket rushers and fans from trying to get a glimpse of Almodóvar’s short film starring Pascal and Hawke.
To be eligible for the Academy Awards’ best picture category, a film must have a minimum 40-minute runtime. Almodóvar’s movie runs 31 minutes. With those extra nine minutes, we could also highlight the worthiness of actors Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal and the project’s artisan categories. But for his second English language endeavor, coming three years after “The Human Voice” with Tilda Swinton, the Spanish auteur’s sensibilities are never lacking. His new Spanish Western stands proudly next to some of his most audacious movies such as “Talk to Her” and “Volver.”
A rainy Wednesday in the south of France didn’t keep crowds of ticket rushers and fans from trying to get a glimpse of Almodóvar’s short film starring Pascal and Hawke.
- 5/17/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Four “Hunger Games” movies are coming to Fox’s free streaming service Tubi beginning May 1. The games begin with one girl and one boy from each district trained in the art of survival and ultimately, battling to the death. Unless your character is played by Jennifer Lawrence, in which case, all bets are off.
Watch the trailer for “The Hunger Games”:
Also coming is the Tubi original comedy “Pastacolypse” on May 21. When a global ban on gluten destroys the life of billionaire celebrity chef Alfredo Manicotti, he leads a pasta uprising that threatens humanity. It’s up to his spoiled heiress daughter to save the world.
The true-crime story of Joseph DeAngelo arrives May 10. A devoted family man and police officer, DeAngelo was also the Golden State Killer. For 40 years, he raped and murdered women in California. “Evil Among Us: The Golden State Killer” reveals how a genetic match...
Watch the trailer for “The Hunger Games”:
Also coming is the Tubi original comedy “Pastacolypse” on May 21. When a global ban on gluten destroys the life of billionaire celebrity chef Alfredo Manicotti, he leads a pasta uprising that threatens humanity. It’s up to his spoiled heiress daughter to save the world.
The true-crime story of Joseph DeAngelo arrives May 10. A devoted family man and police officer, DeAngelo was also the Golden State Killer. For 40 years, he raped and murdered women in California. “Evil Among Us: The Golden State Killer” reveals how a genetic match...
- 4/29/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
A new trailer as been released for “Strange Way of Life”, the latest from Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar.
In his new movie, Almodóvar — whose acclaimed films include “Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down”, “Talk to Her” and “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” — tackles a same-sex relationship between two gunfighters, played by Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke.
“A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, worked together as hired gunmen,” reads the synopsis for the short film, which reportedly clocks in at just 31 minutes in length.
Read More: Johnny Depp’s Comeback Project ‘Jeanne du Barry’ To Open Cannes Film Fest
“Silva visits him with the excuse of reuniting with his friend from his youth, and they do indeed celebrate their meeting,...
In his new movie, Almodóvar — whose acclaimed films include “Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down”, “Talk to Her” and “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” — tackles a same-sex relationship between two gunfighters, played by Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke.
“A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, worked together as hired gunmen,” reads the synopsis for the short film, which reportedly clocks in at just 31 minutes in length.
Read More: Johnny Depp’s Comeback Project ‘Jeanne du Barry’ To Open Cannes Film Fest
“Silva visits him with the excuse of reuniting with his friend from his youth, and they do indeed celebrate their meeting,...
- 4/26/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Sheila Francisco is magnificent as a grieving mother and retired screenwriter in this delightfully meta mash-up that pays homage to Filipino action films
Writer-director Martika Ramirez Escobar’s feature film debut (after making a bunch of shorts) is a total delight. A homage to the pulpy Filipino action films shot on video from the 1970s and 80s, this extremely meta, self-referential comedy-drama-thriller mash-up stars the magnificent Sheila Francisco as not especially well-off housewife Leonor Reyes. Leonor is living with her son Rudy (Bong Cabrera), a middle manager planning to emigrate – but she was once a successful screenwriter, a force to be reckoned with in Manila’s local film industry until a tragic on-set accident took the life of Rudy’s brother Ronwaldo (Anthony Falcon), who as a ghost still haunts his mother’s house, sometimes visibly and sometimes not.
When Leonor notices there’s a screenwriting competition with a large...
Writer-director Martika Ramirez Escobar’s feature film debut (after making a bunch of shorts) is a total delight. A homage to the pulpy Filipino action films shot on video from the 1970s and 80s, this extremely meta, self-referential comedy-drama-thriller mash-up stars the magnificent Sheila Francisco as not especially well-off housewife Leonor Reyes. Leonor is living with her son Rudy (Bong Cabrera), a middle manager planning to emigrate – but she was once a successful screenwriter, a force to be reckoned with in Manila’s local film industry until a tragic on-set accident took the life of Rudy’s brother Ronwaldo (Anthony Falcon), who as a ghost still haunts his mother’s house, sometimes visibly and sometimes not.
When Leonor notices there’s a screenwriting competition with a large...
- 4/4/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Running March 10-19, and now hosting the Spanish Screenings, the Malaga Film Festival is now firmly established as Spain’s biggest movie event in the early part of the year. Strategically positioned fairly sharp on the heels of the Berlinale, the Spanish event offers top Spanish titles at the German festival the chance to consolidate their reputations while often producing new discoveries, especially from first-time directors.
Many titles, from a Spanish film industry whose younger directors are highly social conscience and favor art-house, are issue driven.
“There’s a search for identity, whether a young trans girl’s exploration of gender identity or young leads to understand the world they live in, or the search for love and a sense pf strangeness, of being a stranger to oneself,” Juan Antonio Vigar, Málaga Film Festival director said of this year’s main Competition. Following, a brief breakdown of its titles.
“20,000 Species of Bees,...
Many titles, from a Spanish film industry whose younger directors are highly social conscience and favor art-house, are issue driven.
“There’s a search for identity, whether a young trans girl’s exploration of gender identity or young leads to understand the world they live in, or the search for love and a sense pf strangeness, of being a stranger to oneself,” Juan Antonio Vigar, Málaga Film Festival director said of this year’s main Competition. Following, a brief breakdown of its titles.
“20,000 Species of Bees,...
- 3/13/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Three years ago, “Parasite” became the sixth non-English language film to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar. Best Adapted Screenplay, however, has exclusively awarded English language films, but that can all change with “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
Written by Edward Berger, who also directed, Lesley Paterson and Ian Stokell, the German adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque‘s novel stands a very good chance at becoming the first non-English language winner in Best Adapted Screenplay. Currently in second place in the odds, it’s been been on an uphill trajectory since it ruled the BAFTAs with seven wins, including for its script. At 18/5 odds with 12 Experts and six editors in its corner, it trails Sarah Polley‘s “Women Talking,” which sits at all 69/20 with eight Experts and six editors predicting it. “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and “Living,” all at 9/2, round out the list.
“Women Talking...
Written by Edward Berger, who also directed, Lesley Paterson and Ian Stokell, the German adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque‘s novel stands a very good chance at becoming the first non-English language winner in Best Adapted Screenplay. Currently in second place in the odds, it’s been been on an uphill trajectory since it ruled the BAFTAs with seven wins, including for its script. At 18/5 odds with 12 Experts and six editors in its corner, it trails Sarah Polley‘s “Women Talking,” which sits at all 69/20 with eight Experts and six editors predicting it. “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and “Living,” all at 9/2, round out the list.
“Women Talking...
- 3/3/2023
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
Oscar flashback 20 years ago to 2003: Adrien Brody, Nicole Kidman, Eminem and a ‘Chicago’ domination
It was a night of surprise wins, of records being broken or tied, of Oscar firsts and of honoring acting legends. On March 23, 2003, Steve Martin hosted the 75th Academy Awards ceremony, which had the lowest viewership of any Oscar telecast up to that point. Even though there were memorable moments, it was a more somber ceremony, as the war on Iraq had been declared a few days prior, and the event was nearly delayed. It was decided to carry on with less fanfare and a less extravagant red carpet, and a few actors chose to bow out of presenting. Let’s flashback 20 years to 2003 and revisit that event on ABC.
Five films were up for Best Picture, with two coming into the night with strong leads in nominations; one ended the night at the forefront with six wins, and the other left empty-handed. Martin Scorsese‘s historical epic “Gangs of New York...
Five films were up for Best Picture, with two coming into the night with strong leads in nominations; one ended the night at the forefront with six wins, and the other left empty-handed. Martin Scorsese‘s historical epic “Gangs of New York...
- 2/27/2023
- by Susan Pennington
- Gold Derby
As Oscar rituals become ever more calcified, the biggest news when the annual nominations are announced is not necessarily who’s made the cut but rather who’s been snubbed. While a nom is worth a momentary celebration, a snub can turn into weeks, if not years, of outraged commentary. Nominations, and even wins, are often soon forgotten. But a snub can be eternal. For example, die-hard Barbra Streisand fans haven’t forgiven the Academy for denying her directing noms for either 1983’s Yentl (for which she won a Golden Globe) or 1991’s The Prince of Tides (a best picture nominee) even as it showered gold on male stars like Robert Redford (Ordinary People) and Kevin Costner (Dances With Wolves) for their directorial debuts.
But not all so-called “snubs” are so obvious. In fact, the very word now suffers from overuse since it implies Academy members somehow get together and...
But not all so-called “snubs” are so obvious. In fact, the very word now suffers from overuse since it implies Academy members somehow get together and...
- 2/20/2023
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
When, at the Sundance Film Festival two years ago, Apple bought worldwide rights to Sian Heder’s Coda for a reported 25 million, it triggered panic across the independent film industry.
International distributors who had pre-bought the movie — Heder’s remake of 2014 French hit La Famille Bélier was a top seller for Pathé at Cannes’ Marché du Film a year earlier — thought the Apple deal might signal the end of their business model. Why bother taking the up-front risk by investing in movie scripts and talent packages — the core activity at most international film markets — if a deep-pocketed tech company can come in after the fact and buy up the movie when it is finished? In the wake of the Coda deal, there was talk of sales companies and Hollywood talent agencies wanting to insert mandatory buyback clauses into indie distribution contracts, treating independent buyers, from their perspective, as little more...
International distributors who had pre-bought the movie — Heder’s remake of 2014 French hit La Famille Bélier was a top seller for Pathé at Cannes’ Marché du Film a year earlier — thought the Apple deal might signal the end of their business model. Why bother taking the up-front risk by investing in movie scripts and talent packages — the core activity at most international film markets — if a deep-pocketed tech company can come in after the fact and buy up the movie when it is finished? In the wake of the Coda deal, there was talk of sales companies and Hollywood talent agencies wanting to insert mandatory buyback clauses into indie distribution contracts, treating independent buyers, from their perspective, as little more...
- 2/16/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For his new yet familiarly expansive contemplation of life’s transitions and the dynamics of love, Spanish director Fernando Trueba (“Belle Epoque”) introduces a simple but effective visual proposition that toys with the way we conventionally understand time in cinema.
In “Memories of My Father,” adapted from Colombian author Héctor Abad Faciolince’s autobiographical novel “Forgotten We Will Be” (El olvido que seremos), the past, set during the early 1970s, is presented in color, while the story’s present, 1983, appears in black-and-white. Bygone days, evidently, were the happiest and brightest for the central family.
Adored by students and locals in the city of Medellín, doctor and professor Héctor Abad Gómez, played by seasoned Spanish actor Javier Cámara (“Talk to Her”), walks tall as a beacon of disinterested kindness and dedication to the collective well-being. His wife Cecilia (Patricia Tamayo), however, wishes he cared more about their financial stability.
Through the...
In “Memories of My Father,” adapted from Colombian author Héctor Abad Faciolince’s autobiographical novel “Forgotten We Will Be” (El olvido que seremos), the past, set during the early 1970s, is presented in color, while the story’s present, 1983, appears in black-and-white. Bygone days, evidently, were the happiest and brightest for the central family.
Adored by students and locals in the city of Medellín, doctor and professor Héctor Abad Gómez, played by seasoned Spanish actor Javier Cámara (“Talk to Her”), walks tall as a beacon of disinterested kindness and dedication to the collective well-being. His wife Cecilia (Patricia Tamayo), however, wishes he cared more about their financial stability.
Through the...
- 11/16/2022
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Replacement directed yet to be announced.
A Manual For Cleaning Women will no longer be Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language feature directorial debut after the Spanish directorr withdrew, citing “a very painful decision”.
Cate Blanchett will star and produce through Dirty Films, however Almodóvar said he was not ready to tackle a project of such magnitude. No replacement director has been announced yet.
A Manual For Cleaning Women is an adaptation of Lucia Berlin’s short story collection of the same name comprising 43 tales of women in challenging jobs. Almodóvar and Berlín co-wrote the screenplay adaptation.
The feature is also being...
A Manual For Cleaning Women will no longer be Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language feature directorial debut after the Spanish directorr withdrew, citing “a very painful decision”.
Cate Blanchett will star and produce through Dirty Films, however Almodóvar said he was not ready to tackle a project of such magnitude. No replacement director has been announced yet.
A Manual For Cleaning Women is an adaptation of Lucia Berlin’s short story collection of the same name comprising 43 tales of women in challenging jobs. Almodóvar and Berlín co-wrote the screenplay adaptation.
The feature is also being...
- 9/13/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga
- ScreenDaily
Replacement directed yet to be announced.
A Manual For Cleaning Women will no longer be Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language feature directorial debut after the Spanish master withdrew, citing “a very painful decision”.
Cate Blanchett will star and produce through Dirty Films, however Almodóvar said he was not ready to tackle a project of such magnitude. No replacement director has been announced yet.
A Manual For Cleaning Women is an adaptation of Lucia Berlin’s short story collection of the same name comprising 43 tales of women in challenging jobs. Almodóvar and Berlín co-wrote the screenplay adaptation.
The feature is also being...
A Manual For Cleaning Women will no longer be Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language feature directorial debut after the Spanish master withdrew, citing “a very painful decision”.
Cate Blanchett will star and produce through Dirty Films, however Almodóvar said he was not ready to tackle a project of such magnitude. No replacement director has been announced yet.
A Manual For Cleaning Women is an adaptation of Lucia Berlin’s short story collection of the same name comprising 43 tales of women in challenging jobs. Almodóvar and Berlín co-wrote the screenplay adaptation.
The feature is also being...
- 9/13/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga
- ScreenDaily
In a bid to further extend its Shooting in Spain brand around the world, the Spain Film Commission (Sfc) began in 2018 to name prominent figures in the international entertainment biz as honorary ambassadors. Among them are former HBO executive and U.S. ambassador to Spain James Costos; director Terry Gilliam; actors Emily Blunt and Aitana Sánchez- Gijón; NBCUniversal executive Veronica Sullivan; Dp Javier Aguirresarobe and Indian location manager Ramji Natarajan.
Variety approached three of them to give their take on helping to promote Spain as a key destination for film-tv shoots and assess the challenges that remain.
As the U.S. ambassador to Spain from 2013-17, Costos was laser focused on supporting U.S. studios’ efforts to find growth opportunities. However, despite the country’s many advantages, other European destinations offered better incentives and it was often outbid. Notwithstanding, some major productions landed, led by “Game of Thrones” and “The Bourne Identity,...
Variety approached three of them to give their take on helping to promote Spain as a key destination for film-tv shoots and assess the challenges that remain.
As the U.S. ambassador to Spain from 2013-17, Costos was laser focused on supporting U.S. studios’ efforts to find growth opportunities. However, despite the country’s many advantages, other European destinations offered better incentives and it was often outbid. Notwithstanding, some major productions landed, led by “Game of Thrones” and “The Bourne Identity,...
- 9/11/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
An eerily quaint and picturesque Galician town sets the scene for a chilling high-profile murder in “Rapa,” the highly anticipated follow-up to Spain’s Movistar Plus hit “Hierro.”
After coming to the aid of bloodied Mayor Amparo Seoane (Mabel Rivera), lone witness and stymied professor Tomás becomes obsessed with her murder case and forms an unlikely bond with unyielding Civil Guard Sargent, Maite. As word of the crime shakes the town, a community’s secrets rise to the surface.
Produced by Movistar Plus in conjunction with Portocabo, led by Alfonso Blanco, and expertly directed by Jorge Coira, the six-part series offers up complex and riveting plot twists as questions arise regarding the salient nature between victim and perpetrator.
The drama, distributed by Beta Film, reunites creators Pepe Coira and Fran Araújo. Stunning and vast local landscapes take a front seat and intimate shots are used to elicit high-emotion, the cast delivering exceptional performances,...
After coming to the aid of bloodied Mayor Amparo Seoane (Mabel Rivera), lone witness and stymied professor Tomás becomes obsessed with her murder case and forms an unlikely bond with unyielding Civil Guard Sargent, Maite. As word of the crime shakes the town, a community’s secrets rise to the surface.
Produced by Movistar Plus in conjunction with Portocabo, led by Alfonso Blanco, and expertly directed by Jorge Coira, the six-part series offers up complex and riveting plot twists as questions arise regarding the salient nature between victim and perpetrator.
The drama, distributed by Beta Film, reunites creators Pepe Coira and Fran Araújo. Stunning and vast local landscapes take a front seat and intimate shots are used to elicit high-emotion, the cast delivering exceptional performances,...
- 4/3/2022
- by Holly Jones
- Variety Film + TV
The films in contention for the 2022 Best Original Screenplay Oscar are “Belfast,” “Don’t Look Up,” “King Richard,” “Licorice Pizza,” and “The Worst Person in the World.” Our odds currently indicate that “Licorice Pizza” (10/3) will take the prize, followed in order of likelihood by “Belfast” (18/5), “Don’t Look Up” (9/2), “King Richard” (9/2), and “The Worst Person in the World” (9/2).
For the fifth time in eight years, multiple original writing nominees – namely, Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”) and Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”) – also picked up bids for directing and producing their films. Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay are now the sixth and seventh unique categories that Branagh has earned notices in after Best Actor, Best Director (“Henry V” and “Belfast”), Best Live Action Short, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor.
Anderson was previously recognized here for his “Boogie Nights” (1998) and “Magnolia” (2000) scripts. The 22-year gap between his “Magnolia” and “Licorice Pizza” nominations is...
For the fifth time in eight years, multiple original writing nominees – namely, Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”) and Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”) – also picked up bids for directing and producing their films. Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay are now the sixth and seventh unique categories that Branagh has earned notices in after Best Actor, Best Director (“Henry V” and “Belfast”), Best Live Action Short, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor.
Anderson was previously recognized here for his “Boogie Nights” (1998) and “Magnolia” (2000) scripts. The 22-year gap between his “Magnolia” and “Licorice Pizza” nominations is...
- 3/25/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Chicago – Elena Anaya has had an adventure in her career of over 50 films … from the role of Dracula’s Bride in “Van Helsing” to notable work with director Pedro Almodóvar in “The Skin I Live In,” and up to her current role as Dr. Jo Rojas in “Rifkin’s Festival,” she has embraced the journey with a grateful enthusiasm.
“Rifkin’s Festival” – written and directed by Woody Allen – features Wallace Shawn as Mort Rifkin, a struggling novelist who used to be a film studies professor. Through his academia he met and married Sue (Gina Gershon), a movie publicist who saw potential in his literary pursuit. But the ex-professor doesn’t like modern cinema, and distracts himself at a film festival he’s attending with his wife by pursuing a local cardiologist, portrayed by Elena Anaya, and creating dreams and fantasies from his film heroes.
Wallace Shawn and Elena Anaya in ‘Rifkin’s...
“Rifkin’s Festival” – written and directed by Woody Allen – features Wallace Shawn as Mort Rifkin, a struggling novelist who used to be a film studies professor. Through his academia he met and married Sue (Gina Gershon), a movie publicist who saw potential in his literary pursuit. But the ex-professor doesn’t like modern cinema, and distracts himself at a film festival he’s attending with his wife by pursuing a local cardiologist, portrayed by Elena Anaya, and creating dreams and fantasies from his film heroes.
Wallace Shawn and Elena Anaya in ‘Rifkin’s...
- 2/8/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Pedro Almodovar’s ‘Parallel Mothers’ also hits cinemas.
Universal animation Sing 2 is the latest challenger to the six-week consecutive run atop the UK-Ireland box office chart of Sony behemoth Spider-Man: No Way Home this weekend.
Sing 2 is opening in 635 sites – a 14.4% increase on the 555-site opening of first title Sing in 2017. That film took a huge £6.25m at a location average of £11,261; this figure was boosted to a £10.5m total opening by two days of previews that brought in £4.19m.
That is still the biggest-ever opening for an original animated film, ahead of the likes of The Secret Life of Pets...
Universal animation Sing 2 is the latest challenger to the six-week consecutive run atop the UK-Ireland box office chart of Sony behemoth Spider-Man: No Way Home this weekend.
Sing 2 is opening in 635 sites – a 14.4% increase on the 555-site opening of first title Sing in 2017. That film took a huge £6.25m at a location average of £11,261; this figure was boosted to a £10.5m total opening by two days of previews that brought in £4.19m.
That is still the biggest-ever opening for an original animated film, ahead of the likes of The Secret Life of Pets...
- 1/28/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Before we get to parsing the list of Writers Guild nominations, let’s look at those who were ineligible. This year’s list is massive, from UK entries Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” (Focus Features), Rebecca Hall’s “Passing” (Netflix), and Joe Wright’s “Cyrano” (MGM/UA) to Netflix contenders from Jane Campion (”The Power of the Dog”) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter”). Among last year’s ineligibles were 2021 Oscar nominees “Nomadland” and “Minari.”
The WGA maintains jurisdiction over whether scripts are produced under a Writer’s Guild contract, and who finally gets credit on a screenplay. The guild insists on withholding non-signatories from being part of the WGA Awards.
A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination. Exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” European...
The WGA maintains jurisdiction over whether scripts are produced under a Writer’s Guild contract, and who finally gets credit on a screenplay. The guild insists on withholding non-signatories from being part of the WGA Awards.
A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination. Exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” European...
- 1/27/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Before we get to parsing the list of Writers Guild nominations, let’s look at those who were ineligible. This year’s list is massive, from UK entries Kenneth Branagh’s “Belfast” (Focus Features), Rebecca Hall’s “Passing” (Netflix), and Joe Wright’s “Cyrano” (MGM/UA) to Netflix contenders from Jane Campion (”The Power of the Dog”) and Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Lost Daughter”). Among last year’s ineligibles were 2021 Oscar nominees “Nomadland” and “Minari.”
The WGA maintains jurisdiction over whether scripts are produced under a Writer’s Guild contract, and who finally gets credit on a screenplay. The guild insists on withholding non-signatories from being part of the WGA Awards.
A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination. Exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” European...
The WGA maintains jurisdiction over whether scripts are produced under a Writer’s Guild contract, and who finally gets credit on a screenplay. The guild insists on withholding non-signatories from being part of the WGA Awards.
A WGA nomination isn’t essential for Oscar nomination. Exceptions include American indie “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” Iranian Oscar-winner “A Separation” Oscar-winning British films “Les Miserables,” and “The Favourite,” and all Pixar animated contenders, from “Up” to “Incredibles 2.” European...
- 1/27/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s “Drive My Car” has been a critical darling, after garnering stellar reviews and winning the top prize from the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics. The last films to win those three prestigious groups were Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker” (2009) and David Fincher’s “The Social Network” (2010), with the former winning the Oscar for best picture. Interestingly, those two films’ years were among the last time the Academy nominated 10 picture nominees, which will happen again this year.
Co-distributed by Janus Films, which had Oscar success with “Revanche” (2009) and “Sideshow,” Hamaguchi’s feature is representing Japan and on the Oscars shortlist for best international feature. With this added success on the circuit, the film aims to contend outside of its traditional space, notably in best picture, director, actor (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and adapted screenplay (Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe). But can the three-hour, non-English language...
Co-distributed by Janus Films, which had Oscar success with “Revanche” (2009) and “Sideshow,” Hamaguchi’s feature is representing Japan and on the Oscars shortlist for best international feature. With this added success on the circuit, the film aims to contend outside of its traditional space, notably in best picture, director, actor (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and adapted screenplay (Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe). But can the three-hour, non-English language...
- 1/25/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
With his new film Parallel Mothers, the director dials down the camp to address the shadow of fascism hanging over his homeland
Pedro Almodóvar is in Madrid at his production company El Deseo (The Desire). El Deseo could not be a more fitting name: desire has been at the heart of his films. All sorts of desire: for love, sex, justice, acceptance and truth. Behind him are DVDs, books and a phalanx of awards. He has five Baftas, five Goyas and is the only Spanish director to have won two Oscars (best foreign film in 1999 for All About My Mother and best original screenplay for Talk to Her in 2002).
He is sitting on a purple chair, wearing a pink jumper, his hair quiffed into a punky white meringue. You suspect that every colour in Almodóvar’s life has been carefully handpicked – just as in his films. His back is ramrod straight,...
Pedro Almodóvar is in Madrid at his production company El Deseo (The Desire). El Deseo could not be a more fitting name: desire has been at the heart of his films. All sorts of desire: for love, sex, justice, acceptance and truth. Behind him are DVDs, books and a phalanx of awards. He has five Baftas, five Goyas and is the only Spanish director to have won two Oscars (best foreign film in 1999 for All About My Mother and best original screenplay for Talk to Her in 2002).
He is sitting on a purple chair, wearing a pink jumper, his hair quiffed into a punky white meringue. You suspect that every colour in Almodóvar’s life has been carefully handpicked – just as in his films. His back is ramrod straight,...
- 1/22/2022
- by Simon Hattenstone
- The Guardian - Film News
Penélope Cruz as Janis and Milena Smit as Ana in Parallel Mothers.
Photo Credit: El Deseo D.A. S.L.U., photo by Iglesias Mas. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Pedro Almodovar is famous for Oscar-winning dramas like Talk To Her and All About My Mother but the brilliant Spanish writer/director alternates those dramas with lighter fare, soapy melodramas, sometimes with a campy mystery/thriller side. In his latest, Parallel Mothers, Almodovar re-teams with favorite collaborator Penelope Cruz for a drama that combines these two film types running on parallel tracks, in which a drama about the devastating impact Spain’s political history on families serves as a kind of framing story for another one, a soapy mystery thriller about two mothers, although the two threads come together in the end.
It begins with two expectant mothers, one older and the other younger, sharing a room in a maternity hospital.
Photo Credit: El Deseo D.A. S.L.U., photo by Iglesias Mas. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Pedro Almodovar is famous for Oscar-winning dramas like Talk To Her and All About My Mother but the brilliant Spanish writer/director alternates those dramas with lighter fare, soapy melodramas, sometimes with a campy mystery/thriller side. In his latest, Parallel Mothers, Almodovar re-teams with favorite collaborator Penelope Cruz for a drama that combines these two film types running on parallel tracks, in which a drama about the devastating impact Spain’s political history on families serves as a kind of framing story for another one, a soapy mystery thriller about two mothers, although the two threads come together in the end.
It begins with two expectant mothers, one older and the other younger, sharing a room in a maternity hospital.
- 1/21/2022
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Oscar’s music branch was particularly broad-minded for this year’s Oscar shortlist, choosing 15 scores that run the gamut from conventional to experimental, echoing ancient times as well as anticipating the music of the future.
Academy voters were especially encouraging of women (one score) and people of color (four), statistics that are heartening and may bode well for the nominations themselves.
At this point, “Dune” would seem to be the frontrunner, as Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the Frank Herbert sci-fi classic has been acclaimed for many of its craft accomplishments. Veteran composer Hans Zimmer (already an Oscar winner for “The Lion King”) pulled out all the stops, including months of experimenting with women’s voices, having instruments designed and built, and merging it all with world-music and synthesized sounds appropriate for the desert planet Arrakis.
Also high on many prediction lists are two Jonny Greenwood scores: “The Power of the Dog” and “Spencer.
Academy voters were especially encouraging of women (one score) and people of color (four), statistics that are heartening and may bode well for the nominations themselves.
At this point, “Dune” would seem to be the frontrunner, as Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the Frank Herbert sci-fi classic has been acclaimed for many of its craft accomplishments. Veteran composer Hans Zimmer (already an Oscar winner for “The Lion King”) pulled out all the stops, including months of experimenting with women’s voices, having instruments designed and built, and merging it all with world-music and synthesized sounds appropriate for the desert planet Arrakis.
Also high on many prediction lists are two Jonny Greenwood scores: “The Power of the Dog” and “Spencer.
- 1/10/2022
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Cate Blanchett has officially signed on to star in Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language feature film, “A Manual for Cleaning Women.”
The film is an adaptation of Lucia Berlin’s short story collection of the same name, which includes 43 stories about women in multiple types of demanding jobs.
It was confirmed to Variety exclusively that the project is in the early stages of development, with Blanchett’s production company Dirty Films producing the feature for New Republic Pictures, in association with El Deseo. Andrew Upton and Coco Francini are producing alongside Blanchett for Dirty Films. Brian Oliver and Bradley Fischer are producing for New Republic Pictures alongside Almodóvar.
Blanchett is a revered actress who has won two Academy Awards, for “The Aviator” (2004) in supporting actress and “Blue Jasmine” (2013) in lead actress. She’s in the awards conversation again this year for delivering two powerhouse performances in Guillermo del Toro’s...
The film is an adaptation of Lucia Berlin’s short story collection of the same name, which includes 43 stories about women in multiple types of demanding jobs.
It was confirmed to Variety exclusively that the project is in the early stages of development, with Blanchett’s production company Dirty Films producing the feature for New Republic Pictures, in association with El Deseo. Andrew Upton and Coco Francini are producing alongside Blanchett for Dirty Films. Brian Oliver and Bradley Fischer are producing for New Republic Pictures alongside Almodóvar.
Blanchett is a revered actress who has won two Academy Awards, for “The Aviator” (2004) in supporting actress and “Blue Jasmine” (2013) in lead actress. She’s in the awards conversation again this year for delivering two powerhouse performances in Guillermo del Toro’s...
- 1/7/2022
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Photo: ‘Parallel Mothers’ ‘Parallel Mothers’ is a Spanish drama film directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar, who is also known for popular films such as ‘Talk to Her’ and ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.’ The drama film follows the story of two pregnant single mothers, which include excited middle-aged woman Janis (Penélope Cruz) and not-so-excited adolescent Ana (Milena Smit). The soon-to-be mothers' paths cross while they both find themselves in the same hospital room as they are about to give birth. As always, there are no spoilers to be found here, but I can guarantee this film will feature unexpected twists that were so shocking and brilliant that the film happened to bring about a nine-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival in the Sala Grande. Related article: Exclusive: 'Dune' Full Commentary, Reactions, Making Of - Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac Related article: 'No Time to Die' Full Commentary,...
- 12/28/2021
- by Chelsea Black
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
In Variety‘s Up Next, we asked four Oscar winners to pick the one person who represents the future of Hollywood.
Pedro Almodóvar describes his scripts as making a dish. “They need a lot of cooking time in the oven,” he says. Applying that logic to “Parallel Mothers,” it took about 10 to 12 years. Almodóvar has been writing since he was a child, but his initial goal was to be a novelist. But life had different plans — in the form of 23 scripts (so far) and an Oscar for original screenplay for “Talk to Her” (2002).
Almodóvar is in love with many in film today, but he absolutely gushes over Julia Ducournau, who penned “Titane,” which will be representing France for the international feature Oscar. He calls her movie “amazingly brilliant and completely schizophrenic. She has great promise, and I will continue to follow her.” Ducournau has revered Almodóvar’s work her entire life.
Pedro Almodóvar describes his scripts as making a dish. “They need a lot of cooking time in the oven,” he says. Applying that logic to “Parallel Mothers,” it took about 10 to 12 years. Almodóvar has been writing since he was a child, but his initial goal was to be a novelist. But life had different plans — in the form of 23 scripts (so far) and an Oscar for original screenplay for “Talk to Her” (2002).
Almodóvar is in love with many in film today, but he absolutely gushes over Julia Ducournau, who penned “Titane,” which will be representing France for the international feature Oscar. He calls her movie “amazingly brilliant and completely schizophrenic. She has great promise, and I will continue to follow her.” Ducournau has revered Almodóvar’s work her entire life.
- 12/17/2021
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
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