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Exclusive: A producorial role for Lulu Wang and a script co-written by Oscar-nominated Lily Gladstone are on the roster at the 20th edition of Ontario Creates’ International Financing Forum running in partnership with TIFF.

Fortyfeature producing teams will participate at Iff, theco-financing and co-production market that brings producers together with sales agents, distributors and executives to find potential partners. This year’s pool brings new work from around Canada, the UK, US, Australia, France, Greece, and Iceland, among other countries.

Twenty Canadian projects include Hannah Cheesman’s romantic comedySuccor, an adaptation of her 2015 TIFF short of the same name, from...

Exclusive: New projects involving Lulu Wang and Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone are among the 40 feature producing teams selected for the 20th anniversary edition of Ontario Creates International Financing Forum running in partnership with TIFF.

The feature film co-financing and co-production market brings together producers selected by a jury with sales agents, distributors and executives to find potential partners. This year’s pool brings new work from around Canada, the UK, US, Australia, France, Greece, and Iceland, among other countries.

Twenty Canadian projects include the romantic comedy Succor from Ontario producer Mike MacMillan of Lithium Studios Productions, with The Farewell and...

Basada en el libro de Victoria Martín. © Movistar Plus+

Arranca el rodaje en localizaciones de Madrid de Se tiene que morir mucha gente, una nueva serie original Movistar Plus+ creada por Victoria Martín y basada en su exitosa novela homónima.

Se tiene que morir mucha gente sigue a Bárbara, Maca y Elena, que fueron juntas al colegio y 20 años después siguen siendo amigas, más o menos. Bárbara es una bomba de relojería: está frustrada con su trabajo y enganchada a las benzodiacepinas. Maca, con la que comparte piso, intenta triunfar como actriz, aunque es camarera. Y Elena está embarazada tras casarse con un director de hotel de 60 años. La crisis personal de Bárbara hará que todo explote.

La serie de seis episodios de aproximadamente treinta minutos está protagonizada por Anna Castillo, Macarena García y Laura Weissmahr junto a la joven Sofía Otero (20.000 especies de abejas). Completan el reparto Alba Galocha...

De ser la reina de la noche a ser la reina de España. © Prime Video

Prime Video ha compartido el primer tráiler de su nueva serie original española Su Majestad, una comedia satírica creada por Borja Cobeaga y Diego San José.

Su Majestad está ambientada (ficticiamente) en una España de 2024. Pilar es una joven princesa y futura reina de España que, de forma repentina y precipitada, se ve obligada a permanecer al frente de la institución tras un escándalo protagonizado por su padre, el rey Alfonso Xiv, que le aparta de la primera línea pública durante unos meses. Pilar debe demostrarle al país que no es la mujer irresponsable, insolente, vaga e inútil que todos creen que es. Lo que pasa es que igual tienen razón.

La serie está protagonizada por Anna Castillo como la Princesa Pilar y Ernesto Alterio como Guillermo, el Secretario de la Princesa. Completan el reparto...

Una comedia satírica que llega de la mano de los creadores de ‘Ocho Apellidos Vascos’. © Prime Video

Prime Video ha publcado las primeras imágenes de su nueva serie original española Su Majestad, una comedia satírica creada por Borja Cobeaga y Diego San José.

Su Majestad está ambientada (ficticiamente) en una España de 2024. Pilar es una joven princesa y futura reina de España que, de forma repentina y precipitada, se ve obligada a permanecer al frente de la institución tras un escándalo protagonizado por su padre, el rey Alfonso Xiv, que le aparta de la primera línea pública durante unos meses. Pilar debe demostrarle al país que no es la mujer irresponsable, insolente, vaga e inútil que todos creen que es. Lo que pasa es que igual tienen razón.

La serie está protagonizada por Anna Castillo como la Princesa Pilar y Ernesto Alterio como Guillermo, el Secretario de la Princesa. Completan...

Una comedia satírica que llega de la mano de los creadores de ‘Ocho Apellidos Vascos’. © Prime Video

Prime Video ha anunciado la fecha de estreno de su nueva serie original española Su Majestad, una comedia satírica creada por Borja Cobeaga y Diego San José.

Su Majestad está ambientada (ficticiamente) en una España de 2024. Pilar es una joven princesa y futura reina de España que, de forma repentina y precipitada, se ve obligada a permanecer al frente de la institución tras un escándalo protagonizado por su padre, el rey Alfonso Xiv, que le aparta de la primera línea pública durante unos meses. Pilar debe demostrarle al país que no es la mujer irresponsable, insolente, vaga e inútil que todos creen que es. Lo que pasa es que igual tienen razón.

La serie está protagonizada por Anna Castillo como la Princesa Pilar y Ernesto Alterio como Guillermo, el Secretario de la Princesa.

Basada en la novela homónima de Laia Aguilar. © Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures ha lanzado el primer tráiler y póster de Wolfgang (Extraordinario), una feel good movie familiar basada en la novela homónima de Laia Aguilar y dirigida por Javier Ruiz Caldera a partir de un guion de la propia Laia Aguilar, Carmen Marfà, Yago Alonso y Valentina Viso.

Wolfgang, un niño de diez años con un coeficiente intelectual de 152 y trastorno del espectro autista se ve obligado a vivir con su padre Carles, al que nunca ha visto, tras la repentina muerte de su madre. Carles afronta el reto con ganas y voluntad, pero Wolfgang no soporta su desorden ni su desorganización y lo considera un “bajocien” por su falta de intelecto. Así que, a escondidas, Wolfgang planea conseguir su sueño: entrar en la academia de música Grimald de París, donde estudió su madre, y convertirse en el mejor pianista del mundo.

Hybrid doc series “The Letelier File,” drilling down on what is often said to be the first act of international terrorism committed on U.S. soil, looks like one potential highlight among 11 projects selected for one-to-one meetings at Ventana Sur’s Latam Series Market.

“The Letelier File” unites big creative forces in Chilean film-tv – “Prison in the Andes” creator Felipe Carmona and helmers Rafael Valdeavellano and Nicolás Acuña, a director on Fox’s “Besieged” and Rtve/Tnc’s “The 1,000 Days of Allende.”

Also among the 11 projects is hybrid doc series “Blessed,” the first TV series developed by “The Settlers” producer Quijote Films.

Also in the mix is “Couple’s Apartment,” created by Azul Lombardia – creator-director of “Según Roxi,” seen on Netflix, Latin America’s Movistar and Tvp, movie “Doberman” and big Netflix hit “No me rompan” – and Lucas Mirvois, co-creator of podcast success “Malas Decisiones,” starring Anna Castillo, and “Según Roxi.

Nuevas citas que protagonizan Leonor Watling, Óscar Casas o Anna Castillo, entre otros. © Prime Video

Prime Video ha publicado el tráiler y póster de la segunda temporada de Citas Barcelona. Continuando con la línea de la primera temporada, esta segunda entrega sigue a varios personajes que se encuentran cara a cara después de conocerse por internet, en su búsqueda de amor, sexo o simplemente una compañía que les aleje de la soledad.

Una segunda temporada que constará de seis episodios, cada uno de los cuales narrará las historias de dos citas diferentes. En esta ocasión, nombres destacados como Leonor Watling, Asier Etxeandía, Óscar Casas, Verónica Echegui, Anna Castillo, Yolanda Ramos, Bruna Cusí, Ricardo Gómez, Aitor Luna, Jorge Suquet, Fran Perea, Lola Rodríguez o Asia Ortega, entre otros, protagonizan estas citas.

La dirección correrá a cargo de Nely Reguera, Gemma Ferraté, Paco Caballero, David Selvas y el propio Eric Navarro, que...

San Sebastian — Is this the San Sebastián Catalan Film Festival? Always boasting a sterling presence at San Sebastián, Catalonia has a massive 27 titles this year, counting five projects in doc forum Lau Haizetara and including four of the five Spanish movies in main Competition and 10 in Made in Spain. Following a break-down of major section titles:

Main Competition

“Afternoons of Solitude,” (Andergraun Films, Ideale Audience, Lacima Producciones)

Albert Serra’s not at all obvious follow-up to Cannes competition player “Pacifiction,” a portrait of star bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey at work. The results remain to be seen. Serra has shot the disc feature “with respect and innocence, without prejudice nor provocation,” he tells Spain’s ABC Cultural.

“Glimmers,” (Inicia Films, Mod Producciones, Misent Producciones)

The latest from Pilar Palomero. A top-notch Spanish cast led by Patricia López Arnaíz and Antonio de la Torre drive the tale of a woman asked by...

El Festival se celebra del 20 al 28 de septiembre. © Ssiff

La 72ª edición del Festival de Cine de San Sebastián contará con una notable presencia de cineastas, actores, guionistas y productoras de renombre que se darán cita en la ciudad.

La Sección Oficial será el epicentro de muchas de estas figuras, quienes presentarán sus últimas producciones y participarán en diversas actividades del festival. La inauguración del festival estará marcada por la película Emmanuelle, que llegará acompañada de la directora Audrey Diwan y los actores Noémie Merlant, Will Sharpe, Jamie Campbell Bower y Chacha Huang. Por otro lado, para clausurar el festival, el director John Crowley y el actor Andrew Garfield presentarán We Live In Time (Vivir el momento), una de las películas más anticipadas de esta edición.

El Festival de San Sebastián también recibirá a destacadas personalidades como la directora Gia Coppola y la icónica Pamela Anderson, quienes asistirán a la proyección de The Last Showgirl.

La película está protagonizada por Martin Scorsese. © Beta Fiction

Escape, la nueva película de Rodrigo Cortés, producida por Martin Scorsese y basada en la novela homónima de Enrique Rubio, se presentará en el Festival de San Sebastián, dentro de las galas de Rtve.

Escape sigue a N. (Mario Casas), un hombre estropeado. Algo no va bien en su interior. No quiere tomar una sola decisión más, sólo apearse del mundo. Dejar de tener opciones. El psicólogo a quien visita no sabe cómo abordarlo. Tampoco su hermana, que intenta apoyarlo sin frutos. N. sólo quiere vivir en la cárcel, y hará cuanto sea necesario para conseguirlo. ¿Lograrán sus allegados que desista de cometer delitos cada vez más graves? ¿Hasta dónde será capaz de llegar el juez para no concederle su propósito?

La película está protagonizada por Mario Casas (3 metros sobre el cielo). Completan el reparto Anna Castillo (Nowhere), José Sacristán (La...

¿Qué tiene que hacer un hombre honrado para que lo metan en la cárcel? © Beta Fiction

Ya se ha publicado el primer tráiler de “Escape”, la nueva película de Rodrigo Cortés, producida por Martin Scorsese y basada en la novela homónima de Enrique Rubio.

“Escape” sigue a N. (Mario Casas), un hombre estropeado. Algo no va bien en su interior. No quiere tomar una sola decisión más, sólo apearse del mundo. Dejar de tener opciones. El psicólogo a quien visita no sabe cómo abordarlo. Tampoco su hermana, que intenta apoyarlo sin frutos. N. sólo quiere vivir en la cárcel, y hará cuanto sea necesario para conseguirlo. ¿Lograrán sus allegados que desista de cometer delitos cada vez más graves? ¿Hasta dónde será capaz de llegar el juez para no concederle su propósito?

La película está protagonizada por Mario Casas (“3 Metros sobre el Cielo”). Completan el reparto Anna Castillo (“Nowhere”), José Sacristán...

Amazon hosted its annual Prime Video Presents event in Madrid this afternoon, where the streaming giant made a raft of announcements, including new theatrical features, true crime docuseries, returning drama programs and the next season of Spain’s uber-popular singing competition “Operación Triunfo.”

Ricardo Carbonero, director of Prime Video in Spain and Portugal, and Maria José Rodríguez, head of Amazon Studios’ Spanish Originals, were in attendance. Joining them were local stars Mario Casas (“Tres metros sobre el cielo”), Elena Anaya (“The Skin I Live In”), Malena Alterio (“Aquí no hay quien viva”), Najwa Nimri (“Money Heist”), Anna Castillo (“Nowhere”) and Maxi Iglesias (“Los artistas: primeros trazos”). Also in attendence were several of the streamer’s current filmakers, including Dani de la Torre (“La sombra de la ley”), Paula Ortiz (“La novia”), Hugo Stuven (“El desafio”) and Ginesta Guindal (“Élite”).

Prime Video Presents, Madrid

According to the streamer, the first half...

The movie is set in a dystopian Spain under a totalitarian regime, where Mia and her husband Nico attempt to escape. Mia and Nico get separated, and Mia gives birth to her baby, Noa, while adrift in the ocean. Mia and Noa are eventually rescued by an Irish family, while Nico's fate remains uncertain. Mia's survival is an allegory for Christian themes of hope and miracles.

The ending of the Nowhere movie sees Mia and Noa rescued by a boat near Ireland, but how did they get there, what happened to Nico, and how did they survive the crazy events on their floating shipping container? Nowhere (2023) is a Spanish survival thriller from Netflix directed by Albert Pint, starring Anna Castillo as Mia and Tamar Novas as Nico.

After a totalitarian regime takes over Spain, conditions for the civilians deteriorate. Essential resources become scarce, people are required to stay locked in their homes all day,...

Conoce todos los detalles de la adaptación de la novela homónima de Laia Aguilar para Universal Pictures. © Universal Pictures

Comienza el rodaje de “Wolfgang (Extraordinario)”, una feel good movie familiar basada en la novela homónima de Laia Aguilar.

Wolfgang, un niño de diez años con un coeficiente intelectual de 152 y trastorno del espectro autista se ve obligado a vivir con su padre Carles, al que nunca ha visto, tras la repentina muerte de su madre. Carles afronta el reto con ganas y voluntad, pero Wolfgang no soporta su desorden ni su desorganización y lo considera un “bajocien” por su falta de intelecto. Así que, a escondidas, Wolfgang planea conseguir su sueño: entrar en la academia de música Grimald de París, donde estudió su madre, y convertirse en el mejor pianista del mundo. Cuando Carles lo descubre, debe decidir entre su gran oportunidad como actor o convertirse en el padre que un chico como Wolfgang necesita.

Descubre los detalles de la serie y los lugares emblemáticos de Madrid que han sido escenario de esta apasionante serie. © Prime Video

El rodaje de la serie original de Prime Video, “Su Majestad”, ha llegado a su fin. Se trata de una comedia se sitúa en el año 2024. Pilar es una joven Princesa y futura Reina de España que, de forma repentina y precipitada, se ve obligada a quedarse al frente de la institución después de que un escándalo protagonizado por su padre, el Rey Alfonso Xiv, le aparte de la escena pública durante unos meses. Pilar debe demostrar al país que no es la mujer irresponsable, insolente, vaga e inútil que todos creen que es. Lo que ocurre es que, de todos modos, tienen razón.

“Su Majestad” está protagonizada por Anna Castillo como la Princesa Pilar y Ernesto Alterio como Guillermo, el Secretario de la Princesa. Completan el reparto...

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...

Spain’s film and TV industries are in their second wave as standout content providers for global streamers. Some of the country’s most intriguing titles will take the international stage this weekend at MipTV in Cannes.

Built on a foundation of hits such as “The Red Band Society,” “Grand Hotel,” “Velvet” and “Locked Up,” a new era of internationally renowned content creation in Spain kicked off in 2018 with Alex Pina’s blockbuster series “Money Heist,” picked up by Netflix.

Since then, Spain has enjoyed a place among the steadiest content suppliers for major players worldwide, taking advantage of its often character-driven dramas, high-quality creators and producers, and a language spoken by more than 600 million people around the globe.

Although the market is continuously evolving, local industry has adapted to different new business models, entering bigger and more ambitious productions, often via co-production. Spanish fiction’s global popularity continues to grow to accommodate audience appetites.

“I’m Nevenka,” a Movistar Plus+ original film and the awaited next feature from Spain’s Iciar Bollaín, has closed its earliest pre-sales, struck by Film Factory Entertainment, including a bellwether deal in France.

The deals come as “I’m Nevenka” has wrapped production, shooting in the Basque city of Bilbao before transferring to rural Zamora, western Spain.

Daniel Chabannes’ Epicentre Films, a classic 30-year-old distributor and producer of non-English language art pics, especially from Europe and Latin America, whose recent acquisitions take in San Sebastian Gold Shell winner “The Rye Horn” and Amos Gitai’s “It’s Not Over,” has acquired French rights.

A distributor of both big Cannes winners – “Triangle of Sadness,” “Rosetta,” “The Child” – and slightly more out-there propositions, such as Pablo Berger’s silent movie “Blancanieves,” Xenix Film Distribution has clinched rights to Switzerland.

Iciar Bollaín: A Broader Audience Auteur

The early pre-sales are hardly surprising. Since her big breakout,...

La segunda temporada de la serie se estrenará en Prime Video este año. © Filmax

“Citas Barcelona”, adaptación del popular formato Cites, ha comenzado el rodaje de su segunda temporada. Una serie que sigue la estela de la primera temporada, donde los personajes se encuentran cara a cara después de conocerse por internet; buscando amor, sexo o simplemente alguien que les aleje de la soledad.

Esta nueva temporada tendrá 6 episodios y estará protagonizada por actores y actrices del calibre de Joan Solé, Bruna Cusí, Anna Castillo, Ricardo Gómez, Elisabet Casanovas, Asia Ortega, Yolanda Ramos, Betsy Túrnez, Mara Jiménez, Arnau Puig, Emma Arquillué, Alfons Nieto, Aina Clotet, Aitor Luna, Jorge Suquet, Adrián Lastra, Natalia Tena, Tomy Aguilera, Margarida Corceiro, Lola Rodríguez, Óscar Casas, Leonor Watling, Asier Etxeandia, Verónica Echegui y Fran Perea.

La dirección de la segunda temporada de “Citas Barcelona” correrá a cargo de Nely Reguera, Gemma Ferraté, Paco Caballero, David Selvas...

Todos los detalles de la próxima serie española de vampiros encabezada por Anna Castillo y Ester Expósito.

Después de abordar temas crudos y socialmente relevantes en “Cerdita”, Carlota Pereda se sumerge en el género del thriller vampírico con su primera serie titulada “Que Muera el Amor”, protagonizada por las talentosas Anna Castillo y Ester Expósito.

Aunque no se conocen muchos detalles de la trama, la serie trata de una vampiresa abandonada que intenta superar la separación de su ex, también vampiresa, a lo largo de varios siglos. La directora, además, ha descrito la serie como “una propuesta visceral y romántica”.

Anna Castillo, ganadora del Goya a la mejor actriz revelación en 2016, ha protagonizado éxitos en Netflix como “Un Cuento Perfecto” o “Nowhere”. Por otro lado, Ester Expósito, conocida por su papel en las primeras temporadas de “Élite”, ha diversificado su repertorio con proyectos como “Alguien Tiene que Morir” y “Venus...

Two Spanish female stars who have broken out to huge global audiences in Netflix hits – “Nowhere” and “A Perfect Story” lead Anna Castillo and Ester Expósito, highly prominent in “Elite” in early seasons – are set to star in dramedic vampire thriller “Death to Love,” (“Que muera el amor”), the first series created by “Piggy” director Carlota Pereda, who will also serve as its showrunner.

“If there are two actresses you can believe are immortals, with their out-of-this-world allure and talent, it’s Anna and Ester. I can’t wait to explore this world of darkness, joy and Eternal Love with them,” Pereda told Variety.

With that talent package, and the backing of two Spanish powerhouse producers, Morena Films and Buendía Estudios, “Death to Love” is shaping up as one of the hottest packages to come to market from Spain after it emerged from February’s Berlinale Series Market as one...

Madrid-based Rock & Ruz – the production company of Netflix’s “Nowhere,” which has just been confirmed by Netflix as its most-viewed Spanish-language movie of all time – has pacted new projects with Italy’s Leonardo Fasoli, a head-writer of “Gomorrah” and creator of “ZeroZeroZero,” and Spain-based Alejandro Hernández, a co-writer on Alejandro Amenábar’s “While at War” and “La Fortuna.”

Targeting the key to high-end fiction success in Europe – its screenwriters – and added to “Nowhere” and an upcoming Spanish-Mexican remake of hit Korean movie “Miracle in Cell No. 7” – the freshly-announced projects mark out Rock & Ruz as a new and significant Spain-based international player.

As international markets – both theatrical and global streamers – are asking for bigger films with identifiable audiences, Rock & Ruz’s bold slate looks like a ready source of titles.

“Our company is focused on producing global strategic projects. No matter if they are in English or Spanish,” Rock & Ruz...

“There are really only two things that can turn a bad day into a great one: The first is love. But to be honest, that’s not for today. My third wife just dumped me. The second is a heist worth millions of euros,” future Spanish Mint robber Berlin, played again by Pedro Alonso, says at the very beginning of “Berlin,” the spinoff of from Money Heist (“La Casa de Papel”) which Netflix drops Dec. 29.

More precisely, in “Berlin,” he aims with his gang to steal €44 million’s ($47.5 million) worth in 63 jewels from 34 cities across Europe – Zurich, Milan, Saint Petersburg, and so on – in just one night, as they come together in Paris’ biggest auction house.

Netflix has also shared in exclusivity with Variety one of the very first images from “Berlin.”

From “Money Heist” creators Alex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, like the original “Berlin” is a notably Latin makeover of a U.

The film I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, puts the audiences in a dilemma as to whether it is a real-life incident or just a work of fiction. Juan Pablo Villalobos, the Mexican author, is the protagonist in his own autobiographical fiction novel. The story centers around a Ph.D. candidate who travels from Mexico to Barcelona to complete his thesis paper and gets tangled up with a dangerous drug racket. The film stars actors like Natalia Solian, Anna Castillo, Dario Yazbek Bernal, and others. The life-like narration of Juan Pablo puts us in a catch-22 situation, as we keep wondering if the incidents are real or fictional. He has explored real-life issues in his other novels, like ‘The Other Side’, where he has highlighted the issue of illegal immigration. Nonetheless, coming back to I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me, will the protagonist be able to survive the harsh situations in Barcelona?...

This is the second Mexican film I’ve seen within the span of a month, and it’s yet another adaptation of a body of work that is deeply culturally significant. If Hurricane Season was raw and gritty, I Don’t Expect Anyone to Believe Me is absurd and humorous. The film follows a young man, Juan Pablo Villalobos (also the author of the actual novel), as he moves from Mexico to Barcelona on a scholarship, only to be sucked into a vicious world of crime and illogicality. Interestingly, the thugs (of said crime world) are playing around with the man’s little heart in order to catch a big fish. I do feel that if I reveal anything further, we’d be in spoiler territory, so that’s where I’m going to leave the summary. Personally, I watched this film with no prior information, not even having seen the trailer,...

As 2023 hits its final straights, Spain’s “Nowhere,” a mother-baby survival thriller, rates as the most-viewed non-English title – film or series – of 2023, with 77.9 million views. It also ranks as Netflix’s second most-watched non-English movie of all time, currently punching 141.6 million hours, bettered only by Norway’s “Troll.”

“Nowhere” also has legs: No other non-English Netflix movie has punched 1.6 million views on its seventh week of release.

That achievement is all the more remarkable given that “Nowhere” is also the first title by the film’s producer Miguel Ruz and exec producer Jordi Roca at their new Madrid-based production company Rock & Ruz which they launched after the success of their first film together, Mario Casas-starrer “The Paramedic” (“El Practicante”), also on Netflix.

Made for an above-average budget for Spain, based on an original story by Indiana Lista (“Scandinoir”), “Nowhere” is co-written by producers Ruz and Ernest Riera alongside...

"Who do you think you're working with, buddy?" Netflix has revealed an official trailer for a crime thriller from Mexico titled I Don't Expect Anyone to Believe Me, which sounds much more like a film for a sci-fi or supernatural horror than a drama like this. It's the latest film from the acclaimed filmmaker Fernando Frias of the sensational Mexican drama I'm No Longer Here from a few years ago (which is also on Netflix to watch). In this film, Juan Pablo Villalobos travels with his girlfriend to study for a PhD in Literature in Barcelona. But before he leaves Mexico, he gets involved in a criminal network, which inspires him to write the novel of his dreams (called "I Don't Expect Anyone to Believe Me"), while his life takes many absurd & sinister turns. Based on the novel by Juan Pablo Villalobos, this stars Darío Yazbek with Natalia Solián, Alexis Ayala,...

Netflix viewing figures might be a mostly meaningless mess, but they're getting a little more transparent. They also provide a fascinating picture of global viewing habits that give us a real-time look at how audiences are responding to the deluge of media being funneled directly into their collective visual cortex.

In an age where streaming has truly upended the movie industry, leaving studios scrambling to catch up with the modern paradigm, getting a look under the hood is always interesting. For instance, nobody liked "The Snowman" when it was released back in 2017, but apparently, we all lapped it up when it hit Netflix this year. What does that say about what we expect from our home entertainment? Has streaming lowered all our standards? Perhaps we were always this way ...

The point is, there's clearly something to be learned in an age where we all have access to viewing metrics in real time.

Mia, the character played by Anna Castillo, in Nowhere, tries to flee an atrocious regime along with her husband, facing several hardships in the process. Anna Castillo has been able to do justice to the character, displaying the traits eccentric to a mother, who selflessly stands up to all the hardships to save her unborn child. She loses her husband on their way out, and later, while trying to hide from the barbaric army, ends up in a shipping vessel. She goes into labor and gives birth to her child there, all by herself, and toils day and night to provide proper care for the baby in the middle of the ocean. Her survival instincts and will to live help her keep the hope alive for the two of them. Directed by Albert Pintó, Nowhere centers on the crafty nature of humans that help them to survive in any situation,...

Martin Scorsese is executive producing “Escape,” the next film from Spanish writer-director Rodrigo Cortés, who burst onto the international scene directing Ryan Reynolds in the 2010 Sundance hit “Buried.”

Set to go into production at the end of May, Cortés’ first Spanish-language film since his debut feature, 2007 madcap dark comedy “The Contestant,” “Escape” stars Mario Casas, a Spanish Academy Award Goya winner for 2020’s “Cross the Line.”

One of Spain’s biggest film-tv stars, Casas leads a top-notch Spanish cast in “Escape” which takes in Anna Castillo, José Garcia (“Bastille Day”), Guillermo Toledo (“I’m So Excited”), Josep Maria Pou (“The Realm”), Blanca Portillo (“Maixabel”), and Jose Sacristán (“Velvet”).

Produced by Adrián Guerra and Núria Valls at Barcelona-based Nostromo Pictures, “Escape” is a free adaptation of the same-title novel penned by Spanish author Enrique Rubio.

“Escape” turns on N., a young man who wants to live in prison and will do whatever...

Cementing their place as auteurs of the absurd, Spanish writer-directors Juan González and Nando Martínez, of creative outfit Burnin Percebes, presented their latest feature “The Fantastic Golem Affairs,” to audiences at the Malaga Film Festival.

A sci-fi caper that embodies the duo’s freeform, standalone filmmaking style, it competed alongside further buzz titles “20.000 Species Of Bees,” from Spanish director Estíbaliz Urresola, and Gerardo Herrero’s,“Under Therapy.”

Selected for Canada’s Fantasia Film Festival, it begins after a night of heavy drinking, with quintessential bachelor Juan and his friend David playing a game of charades on the roof. During a highly-animated round, David falls from the ledge and shatters into a million ceramic pieces. The event sets off a fiendishly ludicrous odyssey through Juan’s daily affairs as he seeks to uncover the truth behind his ruptured relationship.

With a keen eye on the absurd, the film ponders death,...

As expected, Danny and Lexi's travels have come to a close. The Blood & Treasure drama has been officially cancelled so, the action-adventure series won't be back for a third season on Paramount+.

An action-adventure series, the Blood & Treasure TV show stars Matt Barr, Sofia Pernas, James Callis, Katia Winter, Michael James Shaw, and Mark Gagliardi. The story centers on Danny McNamara (Barr), a former FBI agent who's now a lawyer specializing in repatriating stolen art, and Lexi Vaziri (Pernas), a con woman and thief. She's haunted by the tragic loss of her father, which she blames on Danny. When terrorist Karim Farouk (Oded Fehr) absconds with a priceless artifact and kidnaps Danny's mentor, Dr. Anna Castillo (Alicia Coppola), Danny recruits Lexi for help. As the duo travels the world, hot on the tail of their target,...

“Blood & Treasure” won’t be returning for a third season at CBS or Paramount+, Variety has confirmed.

The action-adventure drama followed an antiquities expert Danny McNamara and a cunning art thief Lexi Vaziriwho teamed up to catch a cold-blooded terrorist who funds his attacks through stolen treasure. “When terrorist Karim Farouk absconds with a priceless artifact and kidnaps Danny’s mentor Dr. Anna Castillo, Danny recruits Lexi to help him bring Farouk to justice and rescue Anna. As they chase down Farouk, they encounter unscrupulous individuals who may either be useful allies or dangerous enemies, including Aiden Shaw, an arms dealer who acts solely in his self-interest, and Simon Hardwick, an expert at procuring pilfered artifacts,” reads the official series description.

The unlikely pair are assisted throughout their adventures by Father Chuck, a childhood friend of Danny’s who works at the Vatican Foreign Ministry in Rome. Their hunt...

In a sign of a new ebullience in Spain’s film industry, Spain’s Elamedia Estudios, founded by Roberto Butragueño is launching Sideral, an integrated production-distribution-sales label which makes its debut presenting at the Berlinale Co-Production Market the feature project “Cheaper Than Stealing.”

Titles Sideral handles either in international sales, production or distribution take in “In the Sultan’s Bedchamber,” from San Sebastian best director winner Javier Rebollo (“Woman Without Piano”), a Sideral production; “The Fantastic Golem,” Affairs” from hot Spanish duo Burning Percebes, which it sells abroad, and “I Have Electric Dreams,” Costa Rican Valerie Maurel’s Locarno best director, actor and actress winner.

Underscoring its status as a new force on Spain’s movie scene, Sideral has confirmed 22 production, distribution or sales titles.

“From several years back, Elamedia has been backing many titles. Now we’re ramping up production and domestic distribution and want to create a brand which is identifiable,...

Mario Casas, one of Spain’s biggest film and TV stars, and Goya Award winner actress Anna Castillo, will headline “Escape,” the new film by writer-director Rodrigo Cortés.

Produced by Adrián Guerra and Núria Valls at Barcelona-based Nostromo Pictures, “Escape” is a free adaptation of same-title novel penned by Spanish author Enrique Rubio.

Nostromo announced the new film project after completing an intense 2022, in which the company lensed seven films and released two more titles – Marçal Forés’ “Through My Window” and Oriol Paulo’s “God’s Crooked Lines” – both achieving a standout global reach.

“Escape’s” story turns on N., a young man who wants to live in prison and will do whatever it takes to get there, raising questions such as if those who care about him will get to stop him from committing increasingly serious crimes and how far will the judge go to not grant him his proposal.

Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s ’The Beasts’ has 17 nominations.

Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beasts leads the nominees for Spain’s prestigious Goya awards, with 17, followed closely by Alberto Rodríguez’s Prison 77 on 16.

The Beasts, which had its world premiere at Cannes, centres around a French couple who cause tensions in the local village to which they move. The psychological thriller is nominated in all major categories including best film where it lines up with Prison 77, Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Lullaby, Pilar Palomero’s La Maternal and Carla Simón’s Golden Bear winner Alcarràs.

Scroll down for the full nominations

Alcarràs is...

Argentina’s Impacto Cine (“Lady Di”) has swooped on all Latin American sales rights to Cesc Gay’s comedy “Stories Not To Be Told” (“Historias Para No Contar”), propelling it into the territory and cementing its regional footing.

International sales on the title are handled by Filmax, in a longterm relationship with Gay.

News of the sale comes as Filmax readies to present Alex de la Iglesia’s shook-up black comedy “Four’s a Crowd” (“El cuarto pasajero”), a wayward romance tale that takes a dark turn, to industry peers at Argentina’s Ventana Sur this week in Buenos Aires.

“We’re proud to have the opportunity to join forces with Filmax and bring this Spanish film, from the excellent Cesc Gay to Latin American audiences,” Impacto Cine’s Luis Ignacio Perez Endara told Variety, talking “Stories Not To Be Told.”

He added:“The director, now in full creative maturity and with his trademark fluid,...

Continuing to tap top series from Spain, Munich-based Beta Film has snapped up international distribution rights to “Simple,” the new dramedy by Anna R. Costa, the co-creator of Movistar Plus+‘s most-binged series, “Arde Madrid.”

Costa’s directorial debut, “Simple” world premiered earlier this week in San Sebastian as a Movistar Plus+ world premiere.

Produced by Movistar Plus+ in collaboration with Destrucción y Salvación, “Simple” turns on four young women in their twenties and thirties, who have reached a milestone in their lives: Sharing an apartment as truly independent adults. The series follows the flat mates, all of whom have disabilities, as they navigate the pressures of adulthood and the absurd norms imposed on them by society.

As Costa asked in a Variety interview: “How on earth has society relegated certain people to the margins based solely on their gender, race, cognition, forcing them into social isolation, challenging and abusing...

The scene opens on Barceloneta, by the shore, and four girls sit together near the boardwalk, looking out at the beach. The Movistar+ original series “Simple” begins as its title suggests, with a concise portrait of each of the four characters, prominent personality traits on display.

Scripting ebullient women is something Spanish director Anna R. Costa never shies from, molding distinctive characters that permeate their scenes long after their exit. On the heels of her prior work on the Movistar+ sensation “Arde Madrid,” the streamer’s most-binged series after its premiere, “Simple” further proves that diverse female leads are in-demand, though, Costa admits, perhaps on account of their numbers. “In a matter of five years the audiovisual industry has made a strong commitment to the feminine.

But let’s not forget that we’re fashionable because we’re currency, our topics are interesting because they generate money,” she says. “What...

Amazon Prime Video’s ‘The Lake’ Producer Amaze Signs COO & Business Affairs VP

Canadian TV and film studio Amaze has forged a Chief Operating Officer role and hired a Senior Vice President of Business Affair as it clears a path to growth. Michael Souther and Teza Lawrence’s outfit, which is behind Amazon Prime Video’s debut Canadian series The Lake, has brought in Alex Lalonde in the former role and Gina Vanni in the latter, both of whom join from Stratagem Rx. Lalonde, who produced The Desperate Hour and the Canadian shoot for Marvel’s Hawkeye and Secret Invasion while at Stratagem, is tasked with managing corporate operations, as well as sourcing IP and co-production opportunities, packaging, financing, sales and acting as an Executive Producer across projects. Vanni will oversee business affairs and finance for the Amaze slate. “Alex and Gina are leaders in global treaty co-production, commercial co-production,...

#QueMéxicoSeVea designed to showcase work of local industry.

Netflix has announced the latest film from Fernando Frias and the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto as it launches an initiative to raise the profile of local filmmakers in the run-up to Mexico’s national cinema day on Monday (August 15).

Under #QueMéxicoSeVea, which translates as Let Mexico Be Seen, Netflix will present the latest from Frias – I Don’t Expect Anyone To Believe Me (No Voy A Pedirle A Nadie Que Me Crea) – whose I’m No Longer Here was acquired by the streamer and represented Mexico in the international feature...

Netflix has reaffirmed its 300 million commitment to Mexican cinema and series, announcing a slew of new movie projects to celebrate the country’s National Day of Cinema on Aug. 15 and as part of its #QueMéxicoSeVea initiative.

The year-old initiative, which can be roughly translated to “Let Mexico Be Seen” has the mission “to make visible the work of Mexican creators, screenwriters, writers, directors, actors and people who make national cinema possible,” as well as its wealth of original stories.

Leading the pack is the widely anticipated directorial debut of Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto who is helming an adaptation of Juan Rulfo’s seminal novel, “Pedro Paramo.” Produced by Redrum, the film’s crew includes Oscar-nominated production designer Eugenio Caballero and costume designer Anna Terrazas, whose notable credits include “Roma,” “Spectre” and “Bardo.”

“Our commitment to Mexican culture also includes adapting great Mexican works to the cinema, and ‘Pedro Páramo’ will...

Fernando Franco’s coming of age drama “The Rite of Spring” and Mikel Gurrea’s rural drama “Suro” will vie for the top Golden Seashell at September’s 70th San Sebastian Festival, the highest-profile film event in the Spanish-speaking world.

Also making the cut are Jaime Rosales’s female emancipation tale “Wild Flowers” and Pilar Palomero’s teen motherhood story “La Maternal.”

The four titles form part of a Spanish film line-up which looks to be “the strongest Spanish movie presence at San Sebastian in the 11 years I’ve been directing the festival,” San Sebastian director José Luis Rebordinos said on Friday.

One or two more Spanish films could still be added to the selection, including one more in New Directors, he went on.

Galvanizing the selection is new talent. Five of the 10 movies in San Sebastian’s principal sections for new movies – main competition, out of competition, special screenings,...

From Berlin Golden Bear winner ‘Alcarrás’ to Cannes Competition title ‘Pacifiction,’ these projects will represent Catalonia at Cannes.

Alcarràs

Director: Carla Simón

The 2022 Berlin Golden Bear winner, a family farm drama marking the flagship title for Catalonia’s newest generation of cineastes.

Sales: MK2 Films

Amazing Elisa

Director: Sadrac González-Perellón

The next from 2017 BiFan Grand Jury Prize winner González- Perellón (“Black Hollow Cage”), once more mixing fantasy and family dynamics as Elisa, 12, seeks revenge after her mother’s tragic death. La Charito Films produces.

Sales: Filmax

The Beasts

Director: Rodrigo Sorogoyen

One of 2022’s most awaited Spanish titles, selected for Cannes Premiere, a Galicia-set thriller from Oscar-nominee Sorogoyen (“Mother”), produced by Arcadia, Caballo Films and Le Pacte.

Sales: Latido Films

The Communion Girl

Director: Víctor García

Film Factory’s genre play for Cannes: A revenge thriller drawing on an urban legend about a girl in a communion dress.

Sales: Film...

Filmax has announced the first key sale for its award-winning Spanish drama “Mediterráneo: The Law of the Sea” to Adler Entertainment in Italy, hot off the heels of an Audience Award at the Rome Film Festival.

News of the deal comes as Filmax presents “Mediterráneo: The Law of the Sea” at this week’s American Film Market.

Marcel Barrena, a filmmaker with a knack for retelling true stories on the big screen in both documentary and biographical films such as “Little World” and “100 Meters,” directed the film that features Eduard Fernández (“Smoke and Mirrors”), Dani Rovira (“100 Meters”), Anna Castillo (“Holy Camp!”), Sergi López (“Rifkin’s Festival”), Àlex Monner (“The Next Skin”) and Melika Foroutan (“Pari”).

Based on true events in the fall of 2015, “Mediterráneo: The Law of the Sea” turns on a pair of Barcelona lifeguards, Oscar and Gerard, who traveled to the Greek island of Lesbos after...

The cast of the Spanish ‘Bird Box’ spin-off has also been revealed.

Netflix’s upcoming Spanish production slate includes two original feature films: Nowhere, directed by Albert Pintó, and Patxi Amézcua’s Infiesto (both are working titles).

Nowhere stars Anna Castillo and is produced by Miguel Ruz. Set in the near future, a young pregnant woman named Nada escapes from a country at war by hiding in a maritime container aboard a cargo ship. After a violent storm, Nada then gives birth to the child while lost at sea, where she must fight to survive. Pintó previously directed Spanish Netflix series Sky Rojo.

Netflix today unveiled a slate of new Spanish content, including two fiction series and a pair of feature films.

The streamer renewed its popular Spanish YA drama series Elite for a sixth season, well ahead of the series’ Season 5 premiere. Created and written by Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona, Elite is one of the streamer’s best performing Spanish originals.

Netflix also confirmed three new holiday-themed installments of the short-form spinoff Elite: Short Stories: Phillipe, Caye, & Felipe, premiering Wednesday, Dec. 15, Samuel & Omar, premiering Monday, Dec. 20 and Patrick, premiering Thursday, Dec. 23.

On the film side, Patxi Amezcua is writing and directing Infiesto (working title). Isak Férriz and Iria del Río star in the pic, which is set on the first day of a national emergency involving a virus and follows two detectives who are called to a small mining town in the Asturian mountains where a young woman who had...

Netflix’s Spanish adaptation of its hit original movie “Bird Box” is coming together.

Cast and a handful of early details were announced for the previously announced project from Àlex and David Pastor. Leading the international cast are Mario Casas, one of Spain’s most bankable leading men who this year won a best actor Spanish Academy Goya Award for his performance in “Cross the Line,” and Georgina Campbell, a best leading actress BAFTA winner for her work in “Murdered by My Boyfriend.”

Casas was also the star of horror thriller “The Paramedic,” one of Netflix’s best performing Spanish original films to date.

Other cast includes Diego Calva (“I Promise You Anarchy”), Alejandra Howard (“Ana. all in”), Naila Schuberth (“Unbroken”), Patrick Criado (“Riot Police”) and Celia Freijeiro (“Perfect Life”), with Lola Dueñas (“The Sea Inside”), Gonzalo de Castro (“La torre de Suso”), Michelle Jenner (“Isabel”) and Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Pain and Glory...