Ten years after clinching Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize with “Aquí y allá,” and half a decade following “Life and Nothing More,” which earned a John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards – a film Variety hailed as ‘outstanding’—Antonio Méndez Esparza returns with his fourth feature, “Something is About to Happen.”
Co-written with Clara Roquet, a Critics’ Week-selected director for “Libertad,” Esparza’s latest film delves into the life of Lucía, who loses her It job at a failing dental firm and becomes a taxi driver.
The profession she chooses is apt as we follow a character sat in loneliness moving among people while longing to connect deeply with someone. The clarity of the title and immediate rising strings of the soundtrack set the screw of tension turning in this fascinating character piece.
Esparza’s previous two features have a neorealist, almost documentary-like quality, working with non actors and using improvisation heavily.
Co-written with Clara Roquet, a Critics’ Week-selected director for “Libertad,” Esparza’s latest film delves into the life of Lucía, who loses her It job at a failing dental firm and becomes a taxi driver.
The profession she chooses is apt as we follow a character sat in loneliness moving among people while longing to connect deeply with someone. The clarity of the title and immediate rising strings of the soundtrack set the screw of tension turning in this fascinating character piece.
Esparza’s previous two features have a neorealist, almost documentary-like quality, working with non actors and using improvisation heavily.
- 11/7/2023
- by Callum McLennan
- Variety Film + TV
Bringing one of Spain’s biggest potential box office hits onto the market at the AFM, Filmax has secured international sales to “A Moroccan Affair,” the third instalment in the most successful Spanish movie franchise in history.
“Moroccan Affair” is produced by Telecinco Cinema and Lazona, the duo behind the first two instalments of the saga, comedies “Spanish Affair” (2014) and “Spanish Affair 2” (2015), which still rank as the biggest, and third-biggest, respectively, Spanish-produced box office hits of all time at Spain’s box office, grossing a combined €90.9 million ($96.3 million).
Set to open in Spain Dec. 1, released by Universal Pictures Intl. Spain, “A Moroccan Affair” is directed by Alvaro Fernández Armero, who called the film “a comedy in which culture shocks are the driving comedic force.”
The film stars Julián López (“Undercover Wedding Crashers”), Michelle Jenner (“Our Lovers”), Elena Irureta (“Patria”) and María Ramos (“El Cid”).
Written by Daniel Castro (“Vote for Juan...
“Moroccan Affair” is produced by Telecinco Cinema and Lazona, the duo behind the first two instalments of the saga, comedies “Spanish Affair” (2014) and “Spanish Affair 2” (2015), which still rank as the biggest, and third-biggest, respectively, Spanish-produced box office hits of all time at Spain’s box office, grossing a combined €90.9 million ($96.3 million).
Set to open in Spain Dec. 1, released by Universal Pictures Intl. Spain, “A Moroccan Affair” is directed by Alvaro Fernández Armero, who called the film “a comedy in which culture shocks are the driving comedic force.”
The film stars Julián López (“Undercover Wedding Crashers”), Michelle Jenner (“Our Lovers”), Elena Irureta (“Patria”) and María Ramos (“El Cid”).
Written by Daniel Castro (“Vote for Juan...
- 10/31/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Spain’s Festival de Málaga, through its industry arm Mafiz (Málaga Festival Industry Zone), heads to the Cannes Marché du Film with five works-in-progress from burgeoning Andalusian talent.
“The Malaga Festival wants to support the completion of these works and make their international distribution viable,” commented Malaga head of industry, Annabelle Aramburu.
This year, as Cannes more broadly celebrates Spain, the event curates two titles that tackle its tumultuous history and one which takes audiences on an unconventional road trip questioning the biological clock alongside narratives that dissect the minutiae of new forms of co-existing and the baffling concept of destiny.
The second edition of Málaga Goes to Cannes takes place on Monday May 22.
“Alone In The Night,” (Guillermo Rojas)
A wry take on the eve of Feb. 23, 1981 when an attempted coup in Spain threatened its young democracy, profoundly changing the lives of the protagonists, an ensemble cast that includes...
“The Malaga Festival wants to support the completion of these works and make their international distribution viable,” commented Malaga head of industry, Annabelle Aramburu.
This year, as Cannes more broadly celebrates Spain, the event curates two titles that tackle its tumultuous history and one which takes audiences on an unconventional road trip questioning the biological clock alongside narratives that dissect the minutiae of new forms of co-existing and the baffling concept of destiny.
The second edition of Málaga Goes to Cannes takes place on Monday May 22.
“Alone In The Night,” (Guillermo Rojas)
A wry take on the eve of Feb. 23, 1981 when an attempted coup in Spain threatened its young democracy, profoundly changing the lives of the protagonists, an ensemble cast that includes...
- 5/21/2023
- by Holly Jones
- Variety Film + TV
The heirs of a mansion will have to face a great game that will expose something more brutal than their ambition, the family's best kept secret... This looks fun. Our friends at Filmsharks have picked up the World Wide Rights for Chiqui Carabante's Whodunnit/Black-Comedy, La fortaleza (The Fortress). They will be repping the film at Cannes in a couple weeks. The international trailer in now available, check it out below. Guido Rud of Filmsharks says, "... this film has the best of the 2 worlds (Whodunnit/Black-Comedy) creating a magical cinematic gem, it’s Death at a Funeral meets Knives Out". La fortaleza stars Fernando Cayo, José Manuel Poga (Money Heist), Vito Sanz, Carla Nieto (If...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 5/9/2023
- Screen Anarchy
Jaione Camborda’s “The Rye Horn,” Enrique Buleo’s “Still Life with Ghosts” and Eva Saiz’s “Casa de fieras” feature among a bevy of new Spanish film projects to be offered at the 4th Madrid-based Incubator.
A mentorship program hosted by Madrid’s Ecam Film School, the Incubator has fast consolidated as one of the foremost development labs in Spain targeting producers of first and second features.
The 4th Incubator runs from April through October.
Projects were chosen from a preselection made from over 200 submitted projects led by The Screen program manager Gemma Vidal. All Incubator’s projects receive €10,000 for development. As valuable, however, will be the tutorship led, among directors, by Arantxa Echevarría (“Carmen & Lola”), Rodrigo Sorogoyen (“May God Save Us”), Juan Cavestany (“Spanish Shame”) and director-producer Alberto Marini (“Summer Camp”).
Producer mentors, packing a large experience and multiple hits, take in Simón de Santiago (“While at War...
A mentorship program hosted by Madrid’s Ecam Film School, the Incubator has fast consolidated as one of the foremost development labs in Spain targeting producers of first and second features.
The 4th Incubator runs from April through October.
Projects were chosen from a preselection made from over 200 submitted projects led by The Screen program manager Gemma Vidal. All Incubator’s projects receive €10,000 for development. As valuable, however, will be the tutorship led, among directors, by Arantxa Echevarría (“Carmen & Lola”), Rodrigo Sorogoyen (“May God Save Us”), Juan Cavestany (“Spanish Shame”) and director-producer Alberto Marini (“Summer Camp”).
Producer mentors, packing a large experience and multiple hits, take in Simón de Santiago (“While at War...
- 4/8/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish producer-distributor Wanda Films is set to co-produce Antonio Méndez Esparza‘s “Madrid Is It,” a thriller with comedic touches produced by Pedro Hernández’s Aquí y Allí Films, the Madrid-based outfit that has backed all of the features directed by Esparza, one of Spain’s most laureled and lauded directors.
“Madrid Is It” focuses on Lucía, who leads a discrete life, has a peculiar sense of humor and sense of duty, and a dreamy personality. Her quiet life suddenly changes, however, when her boss embezzles funds at the company and everybody lose their jobs. She decides to reinvent her life, working as a taxi driver. When her life finally seems to regain a certain stability and ease, Lucía sees how everything takes another turn for the worst and the film, to this point a comedy, turns into a revenge thriller.
“‘Madrid Is It’ will also be a road movie across Madrid,...
“Madrid Is It” focuses on Lucía, who leads a discrete life, has a peculiar sense of humor and sense of duty, and a dreamy personality. Her quiet life suddenly changes, however, when her boss embezzles funds at the company and everybody lose their jobs. She decides to reinvent her life, working as a taxi driver. When her life finally seems to regain a certain stability and ease, Lucía sees how everything takes another turn for the worst and the film, to this point a comedy, turns into a revenge thriller.
“‘Madrid Is It’ will also be a road movie across Madrid,...
- 11/18/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
“Beautiful Youth’s” Ingrid García-Jonsson and “Instinto’s” Silvia Alonso head the ensemble cast of “Veneciafrenia,” the first feature from The Fear Collection, a horror film anthology backed by Sony Pictures Intl. Prods. (Spip) and Alex de la Iglesia’s Pokeepsie Films, in association with Amazon Prime Video.
Announced in May, The Fear Collection saw De la Iglesia, one of Spain’s most bankable directors whose remake “Perfectos Desconocidos” earned $25.8 million in Spain in 2018, commit to direct or produce The Fear Collection’s titles via his Madrid-based Abel Pokeepsie.
“Veneciafrenia” went into production on Oct. 5, shooting in Venice and Madrid, with De la Iglesia both directing and producing. Its ensemble cast also features Goize Blanco (“El Futuro”), Nicolás Lloro, Alberto Bang (“Spanish Shame”), Cosimo Fusco (“Angels & Demons”), Enrico Lo Verso (“The Falcon and the Dove”), Armando di Razza (Cavan in De La Iglesia’s breakout “The Day of the Beast...
Announced in May, The Fear Collection saw De la Iglesia, one of Spain’s most bankable directors whose remake “Perfectos Desconocidos” earned $25.8 million in Spain in 2018, commit to direct or produce The Fear Collection’s titles via his Madrid-based Abel Pokeepsie.
“Veneciafrenia” went into production on Oct. 5, shooting in Venice and Madrid, with De la Iglesia both directing and producing. Its ensemble cast also features Goize Blanco (“El Futuro”), Nicolás Lloro, Alberto Bang (“Spanish Shame”), Cosimo Fusco (“Angels & Demons”), Enrico Lo Verso (“The Falcon and the Dove”), Armando di Razza (Cavan in De La Iglesia’s breakout “The Day of the Beast...
- 10/22/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
In a sign of the times, Spain’s San Sebastian Festival, the biggest movie event in the Spanish-speaking world, announced Thursday two of its biggest Spanish premieres, both of which are TV series: Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “Riot Police,” a Movistar Plus original, and Aitor Gabilondo’s “Patria,” a banner title at HBO Europe.
They will be joined in San Sebastian’s official selection by two in-competition movies from directors who underscore other trends now coursing through Spain’s content industries: Pablo Agüero’s “Akelarre” and Antonio Méndez Esparza’s “Courtroom 3H.”
As scripted drama looks to reach far larger audiences, the cream of Spain’s directorial talent has moved into the longer format, few with more lauded results than Sorogoyen, whose “Riot Police” is being talked up by the few who have seen its first episodes as one of the crowning achievements to date of Movistar Plus.
The first full...
They will be joined in San Sebastian’s official selection by two in-competition movies from directors who underscore other trends now coursing through Spain’s content industries: Pablo Agüero’s “Akelarre” and Antonio Méndez Esparza’s “Courtroom 3H.”
As scripted drama looks to reach far larger audiences, the cream of Spain’s directorial talent has moved into the longer format, few with more lauded results than Sorogoyen, whose “Riot Police” is being talked up by the few who have seen its first episodes as one of the crowning achievements to date of Movistar Plus.
The first full...
- 7/30/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Berlin — Teaming two of the most energetic players on the new Spanish-language content scene, El Estudio and Infinity Hill are teaming to produce “Amor es Amor,” Rob Schneider’s Spanish-language movie debut as both an actor and director.
A comedy, “Amor es Amor” turns on Enrique Juarez, an up-and-coming Mexican telenovela actor on the verge of breakthrough as a leading man, who has to hide his true self in order to achieve stardom.
That includes creating a fake relationship with former pop sensation, Sofia. The mastermind behind the whole scheme is Julian Rodin (Schneider), a big TV network honcho, who is secretly having an affair with Sofia.
“Amor es amor” marks the latest turn in a career which saw Schneider debut in 1990 as a writer and soon after cast member on “SNL,” then break out out in movies in “Deuce Bigalow – Male Gigolo” in which he created one of his most famed characters,...
A comedy, “Amor es Amor” turns on Enrique Juarez, an up-and-coming Mexican telenovela actor on the verge of breakthrough as a leading man, who has to hide his true self in order to achieve stardom.
That includes creating a fake relationship with former pop sensation, Sofia. The mastermind behind the whole scheme is Julian Rodin (Schneider), a big TV network honcho, who is secretly having an affair with Sofia.
“Amor es amor” marks the latest turn in a career which saw Schneider debut in 1990 as a writer and soon after cast member on “SNL,” then break out out in movies in “Deuce Bigalow – Male Gigolo” in which he created one of his most famed characters,...
- 2/26/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Sony Pictures Intl. Prods. and El Estudio, a major new independent production player in the Spanish-speaking world, are teaming to produce a Mexican version of breakout Cuban feature “Juan of the Dead,” with Emilio Portés directing.
Chronicling a U.S. zombie invasion of Mexico, the remake marks one in a strong first slate of titles from El Estudio, launched at the Berlin Festival by three of the most connected producers in the Spanish-speaking world: Ex-Canana producer-partner Pablo Cruz, “The Impossible” producer Enrique López Lavigne and former Sony Pictures Intl. Prods. head Diego Suárez Chialvo.
Based out of Mexico, Los Angeles and Madrid, El Estudio has 63 projects in development or production. El Estudio is represented by CAA. Partners on early titles include Sony Pictures Intl. Prods., Netflix, HBO, Lionsgate, Viacom Intl. Pictures, Movistar Plus and Beta Film, El Estudio told Variety, announcing some of its 2020-21 projects:
“Verguenza” stars Mexico’s...
Chronicling a U.S. zombie invasion of Mexico, the remake marks one in a strong first slate of titles from El Estudio, launched at the Berlin Festival by three of the most connected producers in the Spanish-speaking world: Ex-Canana producer-partner Pablo Cruz, “The Impossible” producer Enrique López Lavigne and former Sony Pictures Intl. Prods. head Diego Suárez Chialvo.
Based out of Mexico, Los Angeles and Madrid, El Estudio has 63 projects in development or production. El Estudio is represented by CAA. Partners on early titles include Sony Pictures Intl. Prods., Netflix, HBO, Lionsgate, Viacom Intl. Pictures, Movistar Plus and Beta Film, El Estudio told Variety, announcing some of its 2020-21 projects:
“Verguenza” stars Mexico’s...
- 2/21/2020
- by John Hopewell and Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
San Sebastian — Barcelona-based boutique studio Filmax has acquired international rights to Argentine producer-director Beda Docampo’s “The Curse of the Handsome Man,” produced by Ibón Cormenzana’s Arcadia Motion Pictures alongside Cados Producciones and Damned Besso –based in Spain—in co-production with Cecilia Díez’s Zarlek Producciones (“Medianeras”) in Argentina.
The film is backed by Spanish public broadcaster Tve and national agencies Icaa (Spain) and Incaa Argentina).
“Curse” marks a new partnership between Filmax and Arcadia who teamed on Mateo Gil’s “Lazarus Project” and “Kilian Jornet: Path to Everest.” A scam-driven romantic comedy, its cast includes Gonzalo de Castro (Javier Ruiz Caldera’s “Superlopez”), Juan Grandinetti (Federico Godfrid’s “Pinamar”), Malena Alterio (TV series “Spanish Shame”), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Cesc Gay’s “A Gun in Each Hand”) and Ginés García Millán (TV series “Slaughterhouse”).
“This con-man romantic comedy is not only funny, its elegance is reminiscent of a Woody Allen film,...
The film is backed by Spanish public broadcaster Tve and national agencies Icaa (Spain) and Incaa Argentina).
“Curse” marks a new partnership between Filmax and Arcadia who teamed on Mateo Gil’s “Lazarus Project” and “Kilian Jornet: Path to Everest.” A scam-driven romantic comedy, its cast includes Gonzalo de Castro (Javier Ruiz Caldera’s “Superlopez”), Juan Grandinetti (Federico Godfrid’s “Pinamar”), Malena Alterio (TV series “Spanish Shame”), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Cesc Gay’s “A Gun in Each Hand”) and Ginés García Millán (TV series “Slaughterhouse”).
“This con-man romantic comedy is not only funny, its elegance is reminiscent of a Woody Allen film,...
- 9/23/2019
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish festival will screen The Square and On Body And Soul.
The winning films from this year’s Cannes and Berlin film festivals have been added to the line-up for the San Sebastian Film Festival (22-30 September).
Ilkidó Enyedi’s On Body And Soul, winner of Berlin’s Golden Bear, will compete for the audience award in the Pearls section.
It’s up against Cannes competition titles Loveless by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck, and Grand Jury Prize winner Bpm (Beats Per Minute) by Robin Campillo.
Michael Showalter’s Sundance title The Big Sick and Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, which first screened in Sundance also compete in the strand.
Ruben Östlund’s The Square, winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year, opens the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section.
Also screening are Philippe Garrel’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight title Lover For A Day and Kantemir Balagov’s Un Certain Regard contender Closeness.
For the first...
The winning films from this year’s Cannes and Berlin film festivals have been added to the line-up for the San Sebastian Film Festival (22-30 September).
Ilkidó Enyedi’s On Body And Soul, winner of Berlin’s Golden Bear, will compete for the audience award in the Pearls section.
It’s up against Cannes competition titles Loveless by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck, and Grand Jury Prize winner Bpm (Beats Per Minute) by Robin Campillo.
Michael Showalter’s Sundance title The Big Sick and Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, which first screened in Sundance also compete in the strand.
Ruben Östlund’s The Square, winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year, opens the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section.
Also screening are Philippe Garrel’s Cannes Directors’ Fortnight title Lover For A Day and Kantemir Balagov’s Un Certain Regard contender Closeness.
For the first...
- 8/3/2017
- by orlando.parfitt@screendaily.com (Orlando Parfitt)
- ScreenDaily
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