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Growing up in a household of seven females and no males seemed the most normal thing in the world to director Mayra Hermosillo. Until it wasn’t.

Her feature directorial debut “Vanilla” (“Vainilla”), which world premieres Sept. 3 in the Venice Film Festival’s Venice Days sidebar, is inspired by her own childhood.

Set in late 1980s Mexico, the drama follows eight-year-old Roberta as she observes the women in her all-female, multi-generational family struggle to keep their home amid growing debt—a battle that slowly transforms her understanding of herself and the women who raise her. The meaning of the title becomes clear at the end.

This deeply personal story delves into the complex journey of breaking away from traditional gender roles passed down through generations. It offers an intimate look at how one’s environment and choices shape who we are—and the grit it takes to face the consequences.

Exclusive: Narcos series director and Good Girls filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella is set to helm an untitled Mennonite crime thriller based on Steve Fisher’s Los Angeles Times article “How a Mennonite Farmer Became a Drug Suspect” at Amazon MGM Studios. The project is currently in development.

The article follows a Mennonite farmer who makes a deal with the Sinaloa Cartel to use his land as an airstrip to traffic cocaine after his wife becomes sick. This leads to him being excommunicated from his community while simultaneously becoming feared by the cartels for his ruthless business dealings. Márquez Abella and Manuel Alcala will write the script.

The film reunites Márquez Abella and producer Select Films with Amazon MGM Studios. Márquez Abella previously wrote and directed the Michael Peña-led and Select Films-produced A Million Miles Away, which the studio released in 2023. The film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with...

As Ventana Sur settles into its stride in its first edition in Montevideo, Uruguay, Screen highlights 10 projects expected to make a splash at the leading Ibero-American audiovisual market.

The titles are at various stages in the production cycle and the filmmakers are in Montevideo looking to establish meaningful partnerships.

Selections include stories of vampires grappling with transformation, quests, coming-of-age stories, coastal erosion, and a project from the inaugural Latam Series Market.

Ventana Sur runs through December 6.

The Condor Daughter (Bol-Per-Uru)

Section: Copia Final

Director: Álvaro Olmos

The Condor Daughter marks the second fiction feature from Olmos, who has directed documentary and television,...

In this episode, we dive into the relationship between writing and editing. Soledad Salfate is a Chilean editor with a 25-year career and over thirty edited films. She began her career working with Alicia Scherson and Rodrigo Sepúlveda and later became a frequent collaborator of Sebastián Lelio, for whom she edited Navidad, Gloria and Una mujer fantástica, winner of the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.In addition to working with renowned Chilean directors like Fernando Guzzoni, Cristián Jiménez and Alejandro Fernández Almendras, her experience also includes projects from edited films from other Latam countries including Plaza Catedral, by Abner Benaim; Delirio, by Alexandra Latishev; Pedro Páramo, by Rodrigo Prieto, and Horizonte, by César Augusto Acevedo,—both of which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. On the other hand, Alejandra Márquez Abella is a Mexican director with fifteen years of experience in film and television. In 2015 she presented in...

The 14th GuadaLAjara Film Festival (Glaff) in Los Angeles running November 1-3 will open with Mexican Oscar submission Sujo.

The Forge holds North American rights to the Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner from Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez about a youngster growing up under the shadow of the murder of his cartel hitman father.

The festival will close with Prime Video’s post-#MeToo series La Liberación from Alejandra Marquez Abella, about three women who team up to persuade a young actress to drop an allegation of sexual harassment against a film director.

The Dia de los Muertos centerpiece gala...

The GuadaLAjara Film Festival (Glaff) will return to Los Angeles for its 14th edition, running from November 1-3, 2024. This year’s event promises a dynamic blend of films and events featuring a stellar lineup of talent, including Zoe Saldaña, Rooney Mara, Raúl Briones, Dylan O’Brien and Nava Mau.

The festival will open with “Sujo,” a Spanish-language drama from directors Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez. Selected as Mexico’s official submission for the Oscars’ best international feature category, “Sujo” delves into the life of a young man growing up amid the violence that looms over rural Mexico. The film is set for a U.S. theatrical release in Dec. by indie distributor The Forge.

Glaff’s short film selections will include standout projects such as “All the Words but the One,” directed and starring recent Emmy nominee Nava Mau (“Baby Reindeer”), and “Dovecote,” produced by and starring Zoe Saldaña, who is...

“Hacks,” “Fellow Travelers,” “Black Cake” and Ava DuVernay’s “Origin” were among the big winners on Thursday as Humanitas revealed its 2024 Humanitas Prize recipients. The ceremony, held at Avalon Hollywood, revealed honors in nine juried categories, including TV, film and documentary fields.

“We actually got something friends,” “Origin” filmmaker Ava DuVernay said in accepting the award for drama feature — which had been previously snubbed through last year’s Oscars season. “We went through that whole awards gauntlet, and then this popped up in the summer, and I thought, ‘wow, they’re kind of off kilter for the award season!’ Because they don’t care about that… they’re doing something different. This award show that is about doing something with this medium that matters. Yes, entertainment matters, but we have such a powerful voice, such a powerful platform. So I commend everyone that’s trying to say something.”

Max’s “Hacks” Season 3 episode “Yes,...

A Million Miles Away and The Long Game were the big film winners the 39th annual Imagen Awards, which were handed out Sunday night at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles.

Amazon MGM Studios’ A Million Miles Away took Best Director for Alejandra Márquez Abella and three other awards, including Best Actress-Film for Rosa Salazar. The Long Game from Mucho Mas Media was named Best Feature Film and also won two trophies for acting. See the full list below.

Winners on the TV side included ABC’s Will Trent for Best Drama Series, Hulu’s This Fool for Comedy Series, True Detective: Night Country director Issa López, Griselda‘s Sofia Vergara, Not Dead Yet‘s Gina Rodriguez, The Bear‘s Liza Colón-Zayas, Mayans M.C.‘s Edward James Olmos and HBO’s Sesame Street

Apple’s comedy Acapulco came into the ceremony with a leading nine Imagen...

Streamers lead the field for the 2024 Imagen Awards nominations. The Imagen Foundation said today Prime Video scored a leading 27 noms, followed by Apple TV+ with 17 and Netflix with 14.

Apple’s comedy Acapulco is tops among programs with nine noms, and Prime Video’s A Million Miles Away topped the movie field with eight, including Best Actor for Michael Peña and Best Actress for Rosa Salazar. See the full list of 30 categories below.

The Imagen Awards, which honor Latinos who made significant contributions to the television, film, and streaming spaces, will be handed out Sunday, September 8, at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles.

“As the Latino talent community is often overlooked in other major entertainment awards, we recognize the extraordinary caliber of talent and the diverse roles and projects that Latinos contribute to advance the industry,” Imagen Foundation President Helen Hernandez said in a statement. “The nominations received surpassed all expectations.

Humanitas has announced nominations for the 2024 Humanitas Prize in nine juried categories, including TV, film and documentary fields. Noms in the comedy field include “Hacks,” “The Simpsons,” “Girls5eva” and “Act Your Age,” while drama entrants include “The Crown,” “The Morning Show,” “Station 19” and “Black Cake.”

“For fifty years, The Humanitas Prizes have recognized writers who explore the human condition in a nuanced, meaningful way, with stories that entertain and uplift audiences,” said Humanitas executive director Michelle Franke. “The Humanitas Prizes champion work that enhances the lives of viewers, even if these projects are not always rewarded by the marketplace.”

Humanitas has tapped actors/writers June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer as host of this year’s Humanitas Prizes event, which will take place on Thursday, September 12 (three days before the Emmy Awards) at Avalon Hollywood. The 2024 New Voices Fellowship, David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award and Carol Mendelsohn...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Oscars Predictions:

Best Original Screenplay Past Lives, from left: Teo Yoo, Greta Lee, John Magro, 2023. © A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

Weekly Commentary: Following its victories at the Golden Globes for best screenplay and the BAFTA for original screenplay, it appears almost inevitable that “Anatomy of a Fall” will secure the Oscar for its co-writers,...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2024 Oscars Predictions:

Best Achievement in Directing The Zone Of Interest, 2023. © A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

Weekly Commentary: Christopher Nolan… in a walk. It’s not really worth going over any other potential upsets, but if you prefer — Jonathan Glazer for “The Zone of Interest.”

After a year hit with Hollywood...

Diego Boneta is set to lead the newly greenlit bilingual series El Gato (w/t), based on the comic book series El Gato Negro by Richard Dominguez. Production is anticipated to begin this spring in Mexico.

Boneta was previously attached to a project based on the same comic book titled El Gato Negro: Nocturnal Warrior from MGM Television and Mark Burnett in 2019 that stalled.

In El Gato, Boneta will play Frank Guerrero, the black sheep of his family, who finds himself at the center of a vast conspiracy when he discovers his father was the titular ‘70s vigilante. Frank, who returns home to Mexico after the death of his father and finds himself neck-deep in a nest of vipers – his estranged family – who are vying for control of his father’s business empire.

But Frank’s grief is interrupted when he learns his only inheritance,...

Dear Hollywood,

As the Thanksgiving holiday dawns, I urge you to include Latino films and performances on your winter watch list and give Hollywood Latinos and their projects a fair chance to be seen.

While Latinos are a growing and essential part of the cultural and social fabric of America, based on the dismal numbers from the recent USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Report on major Hollywood films released between 2007-2022, it’s clear that Hollywood — America’s narrative-creating and image-defining institution — is broadly failing to acknowledge or include the Latino community.

The Annenberg report notes slow progress over the years. In 2007, no Hispanic/Latino actor held a lead or co-lead role in major Hollywood films. In 2021 and 2022, there were marginal gains, with 10 films where Hispanic/Latino actors held lead or co-lead roles, out of a total of 109 and 118 leading roles, respectively. Among directors and producers of major Hollywood films, less than 5% were Hispanic or Latino,...

A Million Miles Away is a biopic based on the life of NASA Astronaut Jose M. Hernandez, and it closely portrays his inspiring journey from migrant farm worker to space explorer. The film showcases Hernandez's roots as a Mexican-American farmer, emphasizing how his background equipped him for success in his scientific career. It also highlights the crucial support he received from his loved ones, which helped him overcome roadblocks and self-doubt. A Million Miles Away accurately captures the essence of Mexican-American culture and has become popular within the Latino community. While a few details were left out, the biopic provides a realistic depiction of Hernandez's life and received his endorsement.

A Million Miles Away is a biopic based on the life of NASA Astronaut Jose M. Hernandez, and, as with any biopic, it's fair to wonder how closely it sticks to his true story. Directed by Alejandra Marquez Abella,...

“A Million Miles Away” director Alejandra Márquez Abella still has a hard time believing she made a studio feature film.

“I never thought I was going to become a filmmaker,” Márquez Abella told TheWrap shortly after the release of her latest feature — a Prime Video biopic of astronaut Jose Hernandez (Michael Peña), the first migrant farmworker to travel to space. “I never thought I was going to make one film. This is my fourth.”

Her career started over 15 years ago, writing and directing shorts in her native Mexico. And though it was just north across the border, Hollywood seemed very far away.

“I think I’ve crossed through the Hollywood doors, as Jose crossed NASA’s,” Márquez Abella said, drawing comparisons with her film subject, who was rejected to the space program 11 times. “I had to find the confidence in myself to just not die of a panic attack every day.

A real-life story of a Mexican-American farmworker-turned-NASA flight engineer is the inspiration behind Amazon Studio’s latest hit, which is now available to stream online.

A Million Miles Away follows the story of José Hernández, and his journey to becoming the first Mexican-American astronaut. Based on Hernández’s autobiography, “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut,” the film was originally tapped for Netflix, before being greenlit for Amazon Prime in February. A Million Miles Away is now streaming online free for Amazon Prime members.

Not an Amazon Prime member? Get a 30-day free trial here to watch A Million Miles Away online for free.

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Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella, the film stars Michael Pena as Hernández, whose early life sees him joining his family as migrant farm workers in California’s San Joaquin Valley. As Hernández details in his book,...

Sports and music representation powerhouse Wasserman has finalized its acquisition of Brillstein Entertainment Partners, the venerable Hollywood management and production company. Terms were not disclosed. Deadline exclusively revealed the acquisition talks back in February.

Wasserman chairman and CEO Casey Wasserman and Brillstein co-CEOs Cynthia Pett and Jon Liebman made the announcement. It puts Wasserman, grandson of the iconic Hollywood representative and studio chief Lew Wasserman, directly into the film and TV representation and production game for the first time. It is the second strategic alignment for Wasserman, who took over the lucrative music touring business that was once the most profitable part of the Paradigm agency, at a time when the pandemic grounded live touring revenues.

It would be the latest move in management after 3Arts made a deal with Lionsgate, and Range Media Partners linked with Automatik.

Wasserman, Pett and Liebman believe their cultures will mesh in their compatible business and staffs.

[Editor's note: The following contains some spoilers for A Million Miles Away.]From director Alejandra Márquez Abella, the inspirational real-life story A Million Miles Away follows the journey José Hernandez (Michael Peña) took from migrant farm worker to NASA flight engineer. From a rural village in Mexico to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, achieving the dream of traveling to space seemed like an impossible goal to reach, but the drive and determination of one man, along with the support of his family and loved ones, beat the most seemingly insurmountable odds and proved that the possibilities of life truly can be endless.

In Alejandra Márquez Abella’s A Million Miles Away, we are transported into a world where a young boy started dreaming of reaching the stars, and only with true determination in his heart did his dreams literally come true. This biopic tells the true story of Jose Hernandez, a migrant farmworker’s son who dared to dream of studying astronomical science. Let’s take a deep dive into the story to learn about the ups and downs in Jose’s life that define his extraordinary path to the cosmos.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?

A Million Miles Away began with young Jose and his family relocating to the United States from Mexico. They settled in Stockton, California, where Jose’s father worked hard as a migrant farmworker, harvesting fruits, grapes, and vegetables. In school, Jose initially struggled with mathematics, but his dedication and resilience to improve...

In Alejandra Márquez Abella’s latest film, A Million Miles Away, we are invited into the extraordinary life of Jose Hernandez, a former NASA space scientist whose journey started from humble beginnings as the child of a migrant farmworker. His aspirations and dedication led him to embark on an unexpected journey into the world of astronomical science. A Million Miles Away is the inspiring tale of Jose Hernendez’s remarkable life. It delves into the life of an ordinary man who clung to his dreams and never looked back. As we follow Jose’s inspiring journey in the film, his passion, determination, and dedication to his dreams truly touch our hearts. His story reminds us of the incredible human spirit’s ability to aim high and reach the stars, which is quite literal in his case.

Alejandra Márquez Abella has masterfully made a mark in the world of cinema with...

A Million Miles Away director Alejandra Marquez Abella's first choice to play Jose Hernandez was no question Michael Peña. The actor is the most underrated actor in Hollywood. The new movie based on the inspirational true story of Astronaut Jose Hernandez who was rejected 11 times by NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is now streaming on Prime Video.

A Million Miles Away is an inspiring biopic that tells the true story of José Moreno Hernández's journey from a migrant farmer to an astronaut. The movie showcases Hernández's struggle to achieve his dream, including becoming an engineer, learning a new language, and going through astronaut training with the support of his family. The star-studded cast, led by Michael Peña and Rosa Salazar, accurately portrays Hernández and his loved ones, while the film's realistic sets and attention to detail add to its authenticity.

A Million Miles Away tells the incredible true story of José Moreno Hernández's long journey to become an astronaut. Beginning as a migrant farmer with his family when he was a child, Hernández dreams of going to space. He does everything he can to achieve this seemingly impossible dream: becoming an engineer, training, and learning a new language. When all hope seems lost,...

As the ongoing battles in state legislatures over classroom curricula indicate, history – or at least the curation of which stories to teach, and from which perspectives – is subjective. So too is Hollywood’s rich tradition of biopics, which imply to audiences whose lives are worthy of immortalizing on film. Whether in textbooks or onscreen, most of the protagonists of our shared cultural history have belonged to the same demographic: Elvis, Oppenheimer, Jobs, Zuckerberg, Hughes. Those individuals were undoubtedly impactful, but Hollywood has also devoted resources to spotlighting relatively lesser-known white men, such as Jordan Belfort, Frank Abagnale and Hugh Glass (and that’s just one movie star’s filmography).

Biopics about people of color exist, of course, particularly when it comes to undeniable icons like Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. But one community – the second largest racial or ethnic group in the country – has been particularly underrepresented when it comes...

A Million Miles Away is a heartfelt biopic that showcases José Hernández's perseverance and the toll his dreams of becoming an astronaut take on his family. While the film lacks depth in exploring José's inner life and relationships, Michael Peña's performance and Rosa Salazar's portrayal of Adela elevate the emotional impact of the story. The film focuses heavily on José's space goals, potentially neglecting other aspects of his life, but still delivers a feel-good and touching narrative with an emotionally satisfying conclusion.

Some of the best stories are the most inspiring ones, but biopics can fail the very real people they’re based on. This is especially true if the film in question is focused more on the message than the person at its center. Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella from a screenplay by her, Bettina Gilois, and Hernán Jiménez, A Million Miles Away is based on...

José Hernández’s inspiring journey from California’s dusty agricultural fields to NASA’s revered halls and the International Space Station had all the makings for a good movie. Writer/director Alejandra Márquez Abella leapt at the chance to make it. The award-winning filmmaker of Northern Skies Over Empty Space first learned about Hernández’s remarkable story more than three years ago when she read a draft of the script. She said it changed how she felt about the world and the way she imagined herself.

“I thought it was incredible to have the word 'migrant farmworker' as a term in the same sentence [as astronaut]," Márquez Abella said. “That blew my mind, and I wanted to be a part of this because I wanted to praise the hard-working people that feed everyone. That was an important thing for me. I wanted to tell such an inspirational story because… coming into the project,...

Alejandra Márquez Abella created a biopic that is not only sweet and funny but inspirational as well. It’s the true story of Jose Hernandez (wonderfully played by Michael Pena), a farmworker who dreamt of being an astronaut. This is the story of how he reached for the stars. I spent some time with Abella to

The post “A Million Miles Away” Interviews appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

Now that most schools are back in session, who’s up for a history lesson? Okay, we had one a few weeks ago with the, still in theatres, Oppenheimer. And though it’s really well done, to be honest, it’s kind of a “downer” what with all the “atomic bomb stuff”. This new flick also deals with science, but it concerns the exploration of space, much like the surprise “crowd-pleaser” of 2016, Hidden Figures. Like that film, it concerns one member, rather than the mathematics trio, of a minority that is usually not the focus of these docudramas. Oh, and rather than the swinging sixties this story is much more recent, capping off in 2009. It’s really the story of a dreamer, a man who dares to imagine leaving Earth to travel A Million Miles Away.

It is the late 1960s when we meet the Hernandez family, who are leaving lots of friends,...

The sky’s the limit in A Million Miles Away, the ambitious new film that chronicles the inspiring real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández. Michael Peña headlines the film as Hernández in an outing based on the astronaut’s book, Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut. The heartwarming story stands out for its compelling ensemble cast and subject.

The plot tracks Hernández’s humble beginnings in a migrant farmworker family and his decades-long journey from Michoacán, Mexico, and ag-rich San Joaquin Valley to 200 miles above the Earth when he arrived as an astronaut in the International Space Station. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella, with a screenplay from Bettina Gilois, Hernán Jiménez, and Alejandra Márquez Abella, the film also stars Rosa Salazar, Julio César Cedillo, Veronica Falcón, Garret Dillahunt, Sarayu Blue, and Bobby Soto.

“It's surreal watching my life on TV,...

A Million Miles Away is a feel-good drama film based on the autobiography of astronaut José Hernández titled Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut. The Prime Video film follows the story of Hernández from when he was a child and he came to the United States as a migrant farm worker with his parents. In his childhood, he saw the launch of Apollo 11, and from then on he harbored a dream of going into space. Throughout his life he overcomes a lot of hurdles first with the help of his family and then his wife in order to achieve his dream.

The Prime Video film stars Michael Peña in the lead role of José Hernández. The supporting cast of the film includes Rosa Salazar as José’s wife Adela, Julio Cesar Cedillo as José’s father Salvador, Veronica Falcón as José’s mother Julia,...

CinemaBlind’s Review – 85%

A Million Miles Away is a feel-good drama film based on the autobiography of astronaut José Hernández titled Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut. The Prime Video film follows the story of Hernández from when he was a child and he came to the United States as a migrant farm worker with his parents. In his childhood, he saw the launch of Apollo 11, and from then on he harbored a dream of going into space. Throughout his life he overcomes a lot of hurdles first with the help of his family and then his wife in order to achieve his dream.

A Million Miles Away does justice to its inspirational story and puts forward a great film that will make you feel like anything is achievable if you work hard enough and that is the film’s best quality. The...

Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm worker on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives, and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive & determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal. Acclaimed writer and director Alejandra Márquez Abella has created a dazzling tribute to the loyalty and tenacity of the entire Hernández family, as well as anyone who dares to dream.

Based on the book “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut” by José Hernández

A Million Miles Away will premiere globally on September 15, exclusively on Prime Video.

Advance Screening is on Monday,...

Enter the contest below for the chance to win a pair of passes to attend an advance screening of A Million Miles Away on Saturday, September 9th at 10:00am at the Emagine Royal Oak!

Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm worker on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives, and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive & determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal. Acclaimed writer and director Alejandra Márquez Abella has created a dazzling tribute to the loyalty and tenacity of the entire Hernández family, as well as anyone who dares to dream.

About The Film Genre: Drama,...

Sony Picture Classics and Trafalgar Releasing announced that “Carlos: The Santana Journey Global Premiere” will be playing in select theaters worldwide on Sept. 23, 24 and 27.

These special premiere screenings will include showings of the feature length documentary “Carlos,” about the life of the legendary guitarist Carlos Santana, and also feature exclusive introductory content featuring Santana and director Ruby Valdez. “Carlos” debuted earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival and will have a general theatrical release on Sept. 29. The film was financed by Sony Music Entertainment and Imagine Documentaries.

“Carlos” includes interviews with Santana and his family, archival footage, concert footage, Santana’s home videos, and behind-the-scenes footage. Interviews with industry icons like Clive Davis and Rob Thomas will also be featured.

Santana has been in the industry for over 50 years and has won 10 Grammy awards for his music that combines jazz, blues, mariachi and rock and roll.

Fathom Events Adds...

There are so many movies that go directly to streaming that never get a chance to shine on the big screen. Though Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and Max occasionally give movies a limited release in theaters to qualify for awards, there are infinitely more that are only available to watch at home. But this fall, Amazon is letting Prime members get a sneak peek at some of their upcoming streaming releases in your local multiplex.

Amazon has officially announced the next wave of movies and TV shows that will be part of its Prime Premiere program. In case you haven't heard, the Amazon Prime Premiere program allows Amazon Prime members to get free tickets to exclusive advance screenings of Amazon Original movies and TV series, as well as access to photo ops, concessions, and special giveaways. Among the forthcoming sneak peeks is Prime Video's new series "Gen V," the spin-off...

Mubi Podcast: Encuentros returns for a fourth season.The first episode features:Ilse Salas (Mexico), a film, TV, and theater actress who is internationally recognized for her leading role in Alejandra Márquez Abella's The Good Girls, a selection of the Toronto International Film Festival and a prizewinner in Malaga. Winner of the Ariel for Best Actress, and a two-time Platino Award nominee, Salas has worked with important Latin American directors such as Abner Benaim, Lucía Puenzo, and Alonso Ruizpalacios.Guillermo Calderón (Chile), a playwright with a deep political commitment and the screenwriter of some of his country's most important films from the last decade, such as Pablo Larraín's The Club (2015), Neruda (2016), and Ema (2019). These films' festival screenings include the Venice Film Festival, the Berlinale, and the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes. In this first episode, the hosts talk about theatricality as an expressive possibility that’s poorly explored in Latin American cinema.

Prime Video has launched the trailer for ‘A Million Miles Away,’ featuring Michael Peña as NASA flight engineer Jose Hernandez.

Based on the real-life story of NASA flight engineer Jose Hernandez, the movie follows Hernandez (Michael Peña) and his devoted family of proud migrant farm workers on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacan, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station.

With the support of his hard-working parents, relatives, and teachers, Jose’s unrelenting drive & determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal.

Directed by Alejandra Márquez, Garret Dillahunt (“Deadwood”), Rosa Salazar (“Alita: Battle Angel”), Bobby Soto (“Narcos: Mexico”), Srayu Blue (“To All the Boys”) and Veronica Falcon (“Ozark”) star alongside Peña.

Also in trailers – Sir Ben Kingsley stars in trailer for ‘Daliland’

The movie hits Prime Video on September 15th.

“A Million Miles Away” is a new feature directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella, starring Michael Peña, Rosa Salazar, Bobby Soto, Sarayu Blue, Veronica Falcon, Julio Cesar Cadillo and Garret Dillahunt, streaming September 15, 2023 on Prime Video:

“…inspired by the real-life story of ‘NASA’ flight engineer ‘José Hernández’, ‘A Million Miles Away’ follows him and his devoted family of migrant farm workers on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the ‘International Space Station’.With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive & determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Launching globally on Prime Video on September 15, 2023 is A Million Miles Away.

Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm worker on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives, and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive & determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal.

Acclaimed writer and director Alejandra Márquez Abella has created a dazzling tribute to the loyalty and tenacity of the entire Hernández family, as well as anyone who dares to dream.

The film stars Michael Peña, Rosa Salazar, Bobby Soto, Sarayu Blue, Veronica Falcón, Julio César Cedillo, Garret Dillahunt and Eric Johnson.

The filmmaker “debuted her first feature,...

"A Million Miles Away" is an inspiring biopic about José Hernández, a farmworker turned NASA astronaut, and his journey from a village in Mexico to space. The film showcases José's tenacity and determination in overcoming challenges and achieving his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut. José's story is a tribute to the loyalty and tenacity of his family, as well as anyone who dares to dream. The film releases on Prime Video on September 15th.

Prime Video has released a trailer and first look images for its upcoming A Million Miles Away, an inspiring biopic that tells the tale of José Hernández, a farmworker turned NASA astronaut. The film follows José, portrayed by Michael Peña, and his family of migrant farmworkers on a decades-long journey, all the way from a village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of California's San Joaquin Valley to José's flight to more than 200 miles above...

The drama A Million Miles Away, which is based on the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, is set to be released through the Prime Video streaming service on September 15th – and with that date exactly one month away, a trailer for the film has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

Alejandra Márquez Abella, whose previous credits include Mal de tierra, Semana Santa, The Good Girls, Northern Skies Over Empty Space, and episodes of Narcos: Mexico, directed A Million Miles Away from a screenplay she crafted with Bettina Gilois and Hernán Jiménez. Michael Peña of the first two Ant-Man films takes on the role of José Hernández, and the film follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm workers on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles...

"Tenacity is a superpower." Yes it definitely is. Amazon's Prime Video has unveiled an official trailer for an inspiration movie titled A Million Miles Away, made by Mexican filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella. The movie is based on the especially moving true story of José Hernández, who was the very first migrant farmworker to become an astronaut, and go to space! "A tale of perseverance, community and sacrifice to accomplish an impossible dream." Michael Peña stars as Jose Hernandez, whose life took him from the fields of the San Joaquin Valley to NASA where he became a flight engineer and traveled into space on the Sts-128 Space Shuttle mission that launched in 2009. The film's cast also includes Rosa Salazar, Bobby Soto, Sarayu Blue, Veronica Falcon, Julio Cesar Cadillo, along with Garret Dillahunt as his fellow astronaut. This will be skipping theaters and debuting directly for streaming on Prime Video in September.

Exclusive: Longtime APA literary agent Adam Perry has been promoted to Partner.

Perry began his career in the APA mailroom in 2011 and was promoted to agent in 2013. Since then, he has grown his roster of clients to represent such writers and directors as filmmakers Justin Chon (Gook, Blue Bayou, Pachinko) and Akin Omotoso (Rise, Vaya), director Alejandra Marquez Abella (The Good Girls, A Million Miles Away), screenwriters Julia Cox (Nyad), Pat Casey & Josh Miller (Sonic The Hedgehog 1&2, Violent Night), Black List scribe Elyse Hollander (Blond Ambition, Guys and Dolls remake), creator-showrunner Ben Ketai (StartUp), screenwriters Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman (Knock at the Cabin, Harry’s All Night Hamburgers), Amos Vernon & Nunzio Randazzo (Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, Fudged), Co-ep’s Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt (Sweet Tooth, Star Trek Discovery), Co-ep Chuck Hayward (Ted Lasso), SuP Bobak Esfarjani (Alien, Kindred), writing trio Murder Ink. (Black Don’t Camp, Homecoming), screenwriters Cornelius Uliano & Bryan Schulz (Peanuts,...

Exclusive: Garret Dillahunt (Sprung) is the newest addition to Prime Video’s film A Million Miles Away, starring Narcos: Mexico‘s Michael Peña, which is in production in Mexico City.

The film directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella is based on the inspiring true story of Jose Hernandez, who defied insurmountable odds to become the first migrant farmworker to travel to space. From six years old, he toiled in the fields between Michoacán and Stockton, California — dreaming of traveling the night skies on a rocket ship. Through his family’s support and his unrelenting determination, pushing through 11 rejections from NASA, Jose’s story is a tale of perseverance, community and sacrifice to accomplish an impossible dream.

A Million Miles Away‘s ensemble also includes Rosa Salazar, Bobby Soto, Julio César Cedillo, Veronica Falcón, Sarayu Blue and Eric Johnson, as well as Jordan Dean, Ashley Ciarra, Michelle Krusiec, Emma Fassler, Michael Adler,...

Director Alejandra Márquez Abella's biopic for Prime Video, A Million Miles Away, starring Narcos: Mexico's Michael Peña, has started production in Mexico City. This inspiring tale is an adaptation of American engineer and former astronaut José Moreno Hernández's autobiography that chronicles the journey of a young boy's dreams to the stars. Prime Video recently announced that the film's cast is stacking up, with stars Rosa Salazar, Peña's Narcos co-stars Bobby Soto and Julio Cesar Cedillo, Veronica Falcón, Sarayu Blue and Eric Johnson boarding the project.

Exclusive: Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel), Bobby Soto (Narcos: Mexico), Julio Cesar Cedillo (Narcos: Mexico), Veronica Falcón (Ozark), Sarayu Blue (I Feel Bad) and Eric Johnson (Fifty Shades franchise) are among the newest additions to Prime Video’s Michael Peña starrer A Million Miles Away, which has entered production in Mexico City. Others rounding out the ensemble of the Alejandra Márquez Abella-helmed film include Jordan Dean (Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace), Ashley Ciarra (Chupa), Michelle Krusiec (Hollywood), Emma Fassler (Recovery Road), Michael Adler (Super Pumped), Carlos S. Sanchez (Chicago Fire) and Isaac Arellanes (Ghostwriter).

A Million Miles Away is based on the inspiring true story of Jose Hernandez, who defied insurmountable odds to become the first migrant farmworker to travel to space. From six years old, he toiled in the fields between Michoacán and Stockton, California —dreaming of traveling the night skies on a rocket ship. Through his...

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Michael Peña is heading into orbit.

The actor will play true-life Mexican American astronaut Jose Hernandez in A Million Miles Away, a drama that Alejandra Màrquez Abella is directing for Amazon Studios.

The feature project is based on the autobiography Reaching for the Stars. Bettina Gilois, the scribe who wrote McFarland, USA and Bessie and who passed away in 2020, wrote the initial script that has since been worked on by Hernán Jiménez and Abella.

Mark Ciardi, who produced true-life tales McFarland and American Underdog, and Campbell McInnes are producing via Ciardi’s Select Films banner.

Hernandez is described as the first migrant farmworker to travel into space. The man, who didn’t learn English until the age of 12, spent his childhood moving from town to town and working fields between Michoacán and Stockton, California with his family. Not giving up his dream of...

The program announcements continue for the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival this week, with the full Panorama line-up now confirmed.

Adding to the initial titles unveiled back in April are films including Alain Guiraudie’s Nobody’s Hero, which opens the strand this year.

Also confirmed today were the titles that will participate in the Berlinale Series Market and Co-Pro Series event this year.

Taking part in Berlinale Series Market Selects will be The Fear Index, the upcoming show from Left Bank Pictures that is set to star Josh Hartnett, as well as projects from Keshet, Viaplay and Globo. See the full lists below.

Tomorrow, Berlin chiefs Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek will unveil the 2022 Competition line-up at an event that kicks off at 11Am Cet.

Panorama Additions:

Aşk, Mark ve Ölüm

Germany

by Cem Kaya

World premiere / Panorama Dokumente

Baqyt (Happiness)

Kazakhstan

by Askar Uzabayev

with Laura Myrzakhmetova,...

French auteur Alain Guiraudie’s political drama “Nobody’s Hero” has been set as the opener of the 2022 Berlin Film Festival’s multifaceted Panorama strand, which has announced its full lineup.

The latest feature from Guiraudie, who is best known for his 2016 “Staying Vertical,” takes place in Clermont-Ferrand, central France, where a terrorist attack triggers some paranoid dynamics involving a young homeless man, a middle-aged sex worker and her married lover who have taken refuge in a building. The film’s cast comprises actor-director Noémie Lvovsky, Jean-Charles Clichet and Doria Tillier.

The ten-title Panorama Dokumente strand, which runs concurrently with the feature films, comprises previously announced transgender-themed doc “Nel Mio Nome” (“Into My Name”) by Italian director and producer Nicolò Bassetti. Elliot Page has come on board as executive producer to support the doc which observes gender transition from a female to a male identity of four characters within a...

Totem

As highlighted in our countdown there are many reasons to be excited for the new year in Mexican and new auteur cinema when we factor in the likes of Alejandra Márquez Abella (#50) and David Zonana (#51) – and here is one more reason. Lila Avilés blasted onto the scene with La camarista (The Chambermaid) — a portrait on class division and psychological death by a thousand cuts. This debut preemed in 2018 with stops at TIFF, Donostia-San Sebastián and BFI London. Supported via Rotterdam Film Fest’s Hubert Bals Funds and the Alpha Violet folks, her next project titled Totem might have gone into production during the pandemic.…...