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“Una Pequeña Confusión,” an ensemble comedy starring “Ted Lasso” star Cristo Fernandez, Emmy-nominated actor-producer Juanpa Zurita, Ana de la Reguera (“Nacho Libre”) and Vico Escorcia (AppleTV+’s “Acapulco”) is set for a December theatrical release by Mexican powerhouse film company, Videocine.

The comedy revolves around two couples: Lola and Cuau (De la Reguera and Fernández), a progressive middle-class pair, and Iñigo and Majo (Zurita and Escorcia), a young conservative, well-heeled duo. Both couples turn to artificial insemination as a last resort to have children.

In a madcap twist based on actual events, a mix-up at the clinic results in each mom-to-be carrying the other one’s baby. The couples must navigate their vastly different lifestyles and parenting philosophies, finding common ground for the sake of their future children, all while dealing with societal norms and the complexities of love.

Produced by No Dancing Today and Gebo Films, producers of such...

Roku is launching Espacio Latino, a free streaming hub for Hispanic programming, on the Roku Channel.

With more than 61 million active accounts as of March 31, Roku is a leading gateway for streaming, and one of its most popular offerings is the Roku Channel, a mix of free and paid on-demand and linear services with reach to some 80 million households. The Roku Channel operates in the U.S., UK and Canada but the Espacio Latino initiative is launching in the U.S. only.

Companies like TelevisaUnivision and Telemundo have noted in mobilizing streaming ventures recently that the Hispanic audience is underserved. Espacio Latino will aggregate thousands of movie, series and telenovela titles as well as family entertainment and news.

In an interview with Deadline, Roku execs said they decided to create the new hub after noticing that nearly 70 of Spanish-language viewing households watching The Roku Channel do not have pay TV...

TelevisaUnivision has inked a deal to acquire U.S. Spanish-language streaming service Pantaya from smaller rival Hemisphere Media Group, adding the asset to its recently announced global Dtc offering Vix+ expected to launch in the second half of 2022.

Financial terms weren’t released but the deal is for cash plus TelevisaUnivision-owned radio stations in Puerto Rico, including Wkaq Am and KQ105 FM.

In Feb., the merged TelevisaUnivision announced Vix as its flagship streaming brand for subscription and free, ad-supported versions. Global AVOD service ViX. It’s been rolling out high-profile partnerships with Salma Hayek, Eugenio Derbez and Selena Gomez and others.

The move “is an exciting opportunity to build upon our strategic growth plan as we continue to redefine the global streaming landscape,” said TelevisaUnivision president and chief transformation officer Pierluigi Gazzolo. “We look forward to welcoming the Pantaya team, the existing subscribers, and having access to the thousands of...

TelevisaUnivision reached a deal with Hemisphere Media Group to acquire Pantaya, a U.S. streaming platform for Spanish-language movies and TV series, snapping up the rival streamer to bolster the ViX service.

The companies didn’t disclose a value for the Pantaya deal. Last year, Hemisphere Media bought out the remaining 75 stake of Pantaya it didn’t own from Lionsgate for about 124 million in cash; Pantaya was launched in 2017 as a joint venture of Lionsgate and Hemisphere.

The pact will add Pantaya’s content, subscribers and management team to TelevisaUnivision’s own subscription-streaming platform, ViX+, which is expected to launch in the second half of 2022. In April, TelevisaUnivision launched ad-supported VOD service ViX, which combined Univision’s PrendeTV and Televisa’s Blim TV.

The deal for Pantaya comprises cash and includes the transfer of some of TelevisaUnivision’s Puerto Rican radio stations, including Wkaq-am and KQ105-fm, to Hemisphere (which...

Mauricio Ochmann, one of the biggest stars in the Latino world, has signed a multiyear first look deal with Pantaya, the leading premium Spanish-language streaming service.

Under the terms of the deal, actor-producer Ochmann will develop and executive produce a slate of original films and TV series for the company. Films developed as part of the deal will be produced in tandem with Pantelion Films, Pantaya’s partner company.

Announced Monday by Paul Presburger, CEO of Pantaya and Pantelion, the deal allies the two companies with the star of Telemundo Super Series “El Chema,” a spin off from “El Señor de los Cielos” – in which Ochmann also had a main character role. Aired over 2016-17, “El Chema” ranked as the No. 1 broadcast program at 10 pm in the U.S. regardless of language, among 18-34s.

The Pantaya-Pantelion deal builds on an already highly successful relationship between Ochmann and the two companies.

In the first project led by its new head of scripted programming, Leo Zimbron, Endemol Shine Boomdog, a division of Endemol Shine North America, is partnering with actor Mauricio Ochmann and his production company, A Toda Madre Entertainment, to develop the original scripted drama series “El Asesor” (“The Advisor”).

The U.S.-born, Mexican-bred actor is best known for his roles in such top-rated hits as Telemundo’s “El Señor de los Cielos” and its spinoff, “El Chema.” Ochmann will both star and serve as an executive producer on the series.

Ochmann plays a married political counselor and lawyer in the political thriller series that delves into the limits of loyalty and power. He’s also a ladies’ man and a fixer to a leading political candidate from Mexico’s biggest state.

“It’s a great pleasure to team up with Mauricio and A Toda Madre,” said Zimbron, adding: “As...

Five years ago — almost to the date — Pantelion Films, the Spanish-language and bilingual outfit from Lionsgate and Mexico’s Televisa, released the smash hit “Instructions Not Including,” starring Eugenio Derbez. Turning its leading man into a bankable movie star, the dramedy about a father raising his long-lost prepubescent daughter scored hugely with audiences both in its homeland and stateside with record-breaking grosses in both markets.

After a long string of box-office triumphs, from PG-13 comedies to an animated feature and even a gender-reversed remake of 1987’s “Overboard” (starring Derbez), the production company and distributor has established itself as an enviable venture, catering to its core audience in the U.S. (Latino immigrants familiar with homegrown talent) and expanding into the Anglo space via collaborations with popular American comedians. The artistic value of its productions is not as significant as their role filling in a gap with content that a large...

Bittersweet drama Ya Veremos (We’ll See) has posted the second-biggest opening weekend ever for a Mexican film in its home market, beating out Mission: Impossible — Fallout (in its second week), Christopher Robin and other studio fare in the process.

The film’s top-spot $3.9M ($73M Mexican Pesos) weekend haul was second in the all-time rankings behind 2013 box office sensation Instructions Not Included, the most successful Spanish-language film ever at the global box office, which raked in $45M stateside for Lionsgate’s Pantelion and $100M worldwide. Pantelion also has Ya Veremos stateside so will be hoping for a strong number over the Labor Day weekend.

The film’s four-day opening in Mexico saw it hit 2,380 screens and pull in 1.4M admissions.

Directed by Pitipol Ybarra (Pulling Strings) and starring Mauricio Ochmann, Fernanda Castillo, Erik Hayser and Emiliano Aramayo, the tear-jerker tells the story of a child who is dealing with...

Issa López made quite an impression in 2017, particularly outside of Mexico, with her film Tigers Are Not Afraid (aka Vuelven), a mixture of social realism and fantasy in the vein of Guillermo del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone: orphans as protagonists, ghosts and a real war -- the Mexican Drug War in this case -- as background. The now Oscar-winning del Toro himself put Tigers Are Not Afraid on his best of 2017 list and declared that López was the “new voice of Mexican horror”, a surprising remark considering that Tigers Are Not Afraid was her first effort in that genre. In fact, she had a background mainly in the romantic comedy genre, as she wrote movies like Ladies’ Night and A la mala, and...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Updated at 11:45Am Pt with more numbers and analysis. The specialty film marketplace saw an uptick in the number of releases and box office gross, though most ticket-buyers went for Oscar contenders continuing to aim for a nomination bounce.

Magnolia bundled this year’s group of Oscar-Nominated Short Films, teaming with ShortsTV to release the program in 180 locations over the weekend. The annual release has become popular, though this year’s did not quite match last year’s record-setting launch weekend. From Friday to Sunday, this year’s package grossed $615K, averaging $3,417, down from $660K in 184 sites a year ago. The 2017 edition went on to cume $2.83M. At the time, Magnolia touted it as the biggest opening ever for Oscar Shorts, both in terms of screen count and gross.

Still, it’s well ahead of 2016, which grossed $505K in just 112 theaters on the way to a hefty cume of $2.8M.

Winning the Best First Feature Award at the Berlin International Film Festival is no small feat, and debutante Gabriel Ripstein achieved such distinction last February with "600 Miles," a singular take on the ambivalent relationship between Mexico and the United States. The film is Mexico's Official Oscar Entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

English-language talent is represented by British actor Tim Roth who stars as American Hank Harris, an Atf agent who crosses over kidnapped by Arnulfo Rubio (Kristyan Ferrer), a young man who smuggles weapons across the border. Regardless of their distinctively opposing worldviews, their destinies are intricately connected - just likes their respective homelands. Ferrer recently starred in films such as "Buen Dia, Ramon" and "The Empty Hours," both of which were released in the U.S.

Stateside distribution for "600 Miles" is being handled by Pantelion Films, the distribution and production company behind the most successful Spanish-language films ever released in the U.S. including Eugenio Derbez' "Instructions Not Included," "A La Mala," and the surprise animated hit "Un Gallo Con Muchos Huevos."

Pantelion "600 Miles" on December 4th on 50 screens across the U.S.

The official synopsis for the bi-national gripping thriller reads as follows: Arnulfo Rubio, a young gun trafficker between the United States and Mexico, is being followed by Atf agent Hank Harris.  After a risky mistake by Harris, Rubio makes a desperate decision: he smuggles the agent into Mexico.  And while these two apparent enemies slowly connect, they reach a dangerous place. And the only way out will be by trusting each other.

Check out the official poster for the film below:...

Countries around the world have slowly begun announcing their official submissions for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award or shortlists of films that are being considered for the distinction. In the case of Mexico there is no clear candidate for the Mexican Academy to select this year, which leaves an open field of diverse films from the art house and commercial realms.

Undoubtedly, the best Mexican film audiences around the world, and in Mexico itself, have had the chance to see in 2015 is Alonso Ruiz Palacios “Güeros,” and some have even speculated that the black-and-white love letter to Mexico City could become the country’s Oscar candidate and even be among the favorites. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t qualify because it was considered to become the official entry last year, when it lost the opportunity to represent Mexico to the financially successful biopic “Cantinflas.” Ruiz Palacios' film would go on to win five Ariel Awards (Mexican Academy Awards) including Best Film and Best Director. It’s in fact the best choice, yet it simply can’t be anymore.

Each year the Mexican Academy sends out a call for entries for filmmakers and producers to submit their films. The organization will only consider those films that are entered by their respective creators, which means that even if a film qualifies if it’s not submitted it won’t be considered. The submission period is over now and the Mexican Academy will announce a list of films competing to represent the nation at the Oscars and the Spanish Goya’s in the upcoming days. Even without a gem like “Güeros” there are still other likely choices and many others that don’t stand a chance against the world-class works that will be send from across the globe. Commercial successes like “A la Mala,” “Tiempos Felices” or “Visitantes” will have a hard time finding support, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are entered to be in the running anyway.

After looking carefully at release dates, festivals, last year’s films in competition, and having seen several of them, here is a list of 15 films that look like reasonable choices to represent the Mexican film industry at Hollywood’s most prestigious award show. Let’s see how many of these are actually on the official list.

"600 Millas" (600 Miles)

Dir. Gabriel Ripstein

Winner of the Best First Feature at this year’s Berlinale and starring Tim Roth, Gabriel Ripstein’s gun trafficking drama is a gritty and powerful statement about one of the numerous complex issues afflicting both Mexico and the U.S. However, giving the duality it deals with, the film is partially in English, which could become a tricky problem when deciding if it can compete as a foreign language work or not. Furthermore, “600 Miles” hasn’t had a theatrical release in Mexico yet, something that AMPAS requires for a film to qualify. If selected a one-week qualifying run would be mandatory.

"Alicia en el País de Maria" (Alice in Marialand)

Dir. Jesús Magaña Vázquez

Starring Stephanie Sigman ("Spectre") and Uruguayan-born actress Barbara Mori, this highly stylized romantic fantasy follows a love triangle between reality and a strange dreamland. This is Magaña Vázquez highest profile film to date and premiered at the Guadalajara International Film Festival earlier this year. It’s non-linear narrative and the fact that it hasn’t screen much outside its homeland might play against it, but it’s still appears to be an interesting choice. The film opens August 28 in Mexico.

"Carmín Tropical"

Dir. Rigoberto Pérezcano

A personal favorite from what I’ve seen and one of the strongest candidates on this list, “Carmin Tropical” tells the story of Mabel, a “muxe” or physical male who lives as a woman, who returns to her hometown to investigate the death of her estranged best friend, also a "muxe." After winning the highest award at the Morelia International Film Festival, the film has gone to screen in festivals around the world including Outfest Los Angeles and the Sarajevo Film Festival. Added to this, Pérezcano’s work earned him the Ariel Award for Best Original Screenplay at this year’s ceremony. Its relevant ideas regarding gender identity and hate crimes could give it some traction.

"Club Sandwich"

Dir. Fernando Eimbcke

While Fernando Eimbcke’s most recent indie has been around since 2013 in the festival circuit, the film was not considered last year to become the country’s entry as it only open theatrically in Mexico last November. Given these facts this delightful comedy technically qualifies, though it’s hard to say if the filmmaker will pursue the candidacy. “Club Sandwich” uses deadpan charm to explore the relationship between a teenage boy and his mother while on vacation yo a beachside town. The film screened during last year’s Los Angeles Film Festival.

"Las Elegidas" (The Chosen Ones)

Dir. David Pablos

This is the obvious heavyweight at least on paper. In recent years Mexican films that were selected to participate in the Cannes Film Festival have become ideal selections for Oscar consideration. Carlos Reygadas “Silent Light,” Gerardo Naranjo’s “Miss Bala,” Michel Franco’s “After Lucia,” and Amat Escalante’s “Heli,” represented the country in their respective years. Despite being highly regarded internationally, these type of hyperrealist art house films have failed to garner a nomination from AMPAS, which could mean the Mexican Academy might want to look towards more commercial projects like they did last year. Pablos' film is similar to some of the aforementioned titles in terms of the crude realities they depict. Reviews were mostly positive and the film could definitely continue with the Cannes-to-Oscar pattern, but might prove another hard sale for Academy voters. “Las Elegidas” still hasn’t open theatrically in Mexico.

"Elvira, Te Dariá Mi Vida Pero La Estoy Usando" (Elvira, I'd Give You My Life But I'm Using It)

Dir. Manolo Caro

A sophisticated romantic dramedy starring two of Mexico’s most prolific actors Cecilia Suarez and Luis Gerardo Mendez (Netflix’ “Club de Cuervos”), the film represents a departure for filmmaker Manolo Caro from the more conventional romantic comedies he’s done in the past. When Elvira’s husband goes missing she embarks on a search to find him, even if the outcome of her quest is not what she expects her devotion is unwavering. The film had its U.S. premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June and it’s opening in Mexico this weekend.

"Estrellas Solitarias" (Lonely Stars)

Dir. Fernando Urdapilleta

By far the most unconventional choice, this irreverent comedy about dreams of stardom focuses on a pair of transvestites hoping to get their big break while working in a dingy and unglamorous bar. Music plays a big role in Fernando Urdapilleta’s sophomore feature, which shines a light on characters rarely seen in Mexican cinema. Produced by the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica the film has screened around the country and competed for the Maguey Award to Lgbt films at the 30th edition of Guadalajara International Film Festival (Ficg).

"Gloria"

Dir. Christian Keller

Working from a screenplay by Sabina Berman, Swiss filmmaker Christian Keller crafted a searing biopic about one of Mexico’s most iconic pop stars, Gloria Trevi, and her tumultuous career. The film took audiences and critics by surprise mainly because of the authenticity brought to it by the young actress Sofia Espinosa, who truly embodied Trevi’s outrageous personality and commanding stage presence. “Gloria” opened in Mexico back in February and it screened at SXSW in Austin last March. It’s also the only film in the list that has already had a U.S. theatrical release, which has handled by Picturehouse. This would definitely be a divisive selection given that Gloria is not widely known in the English-speaking world.

"La Guerra de Manuela Jankovic" (Manuela Jankovic's War)

Dir. Diana Cardozo

Nominated for 3 Ariel Awards including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress this year, this peculiar drama opened late last year and hasn’t travel much internationally. Set in the early 90s the film deals with Manuela, a middle-aged woman who must take care of her bitter Serbian grandmother who escaped to Mexico during World War II. Beautifully executed and acted the film is a sleeper that could actually be an ideal choice given its unique premise and approach. Stories about the Eastern European community in Mexico have rarely been explored in film.

"Hilda"

Dir. Andres Clariond

Dealing with classicism within Mexican society, this Audience Award-winning film at the last Morelia Film Festival paints a disturbing picture about the divide between the elite and the working class. Starring Veronica Langer as Mrs. Le Marchand, a wealthy woman depressed due to her unfulfilled ambitions, the film is a psychological drama with darkly comedic undertones. When Hilda (Adriana Paz) a new housemaid is hired, Le Marchand’s obsessive behavior unravels. Andres Clariond’s debut feature is based on a French play by Marie Ndiaye, the filmmaker certainly found parallels between the playwright’s work and his homeland. “Hilda” will open in Mexico in early September.

"Las Horas Contigo" (The Hours With You)

Dir. Catalina Aguilar Mastretta

This endearing dram about a young woman coming to terms with her grandmother’s imminent death has been a quiet success since it’s premiere at the 2014 Ficg where it won the Best Director award for debutant Catalina Aguilar Mastretta. “Las Horas Contigo” was nominated for three Ariel Awards winning the Best Supporting Actress statuette for veteran thespian Isela Vega. The film’s U.S. premiere took place during the 4th edition of Ficg in La and was also part of the Latin Cinema section at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It’s a well-made film that offers a handful of moving moments that could resonate with voters, though in my opinion it’s a bit slight.

"Manto Acuífero" ( The Well)

Dir. Michael Rowe

Australian filmmaker Michael Rowe, who has made a career working in Mexico, received great acclaim and accolades for his debut feature “Año Bisiesto,” including the Camera d’Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival. “Manto Acuífero,” his sophomore effort, premiered at the Rome Film Festival in 2013 and was produced by Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna’s Canana. Centered on a young girl dealing with troubling situations at home, the film also screened at the Morelia Film Festival. Its theatrical release didn’t happen until November of last year, which based on AMPAS rules qualifies it for consideration. “Manto Acuífero” was not considered last year.

"El Más Buscasdo" (Mexican Gangster)

Dir. José Manuel Cravioto

By far the most commercial and most expensive-looking film on the list, this action tale revolves around a bank robber whose alter ego is a mysterious masked singer. Jose Manuel Cravioto’s narrative debut stars Tenoch Huerta (“Güeros”) as skillful criminal Alfredo Rios Galeana and as al El Charro Misterioso, the elusive and talented performer. Set in the 1980s “El Más Buscado” showcases costumes, production design, and music from that period in a Robin Hood-like story of a unique antihero. The film screened in L.A. as part of the Hola Mexico Film Festival back in May but other than that lacks noticeable international presence.

"Las Oscuras Primaveras" (The Obscure Spring)

Dir. Ernesto Contreras

Moody and darkly sensual, this intense drama from director Ernesto Contreras won the Knight Competition Grand Jury Prize as well as the Best Performance Grand Jury Prize and the Miami International Film Festival. Cecilia Suarez and Jose Maria Yazpik star as a childless married couple whose relationship is threaten when he starts having a steamy affair with a lonely single mother in need of companionship. “Las Oscuras Primaveras” also received three Ariel Awards at the most recent ceremony for Best Editing, Best Sound, and Best Original Score.

"La Tirisia" (Perpetual Sadness)

Dir. Jorge Pérez Solano

Last but definitely not least, the one film that, in this writer’s opinion, is the best opinion from the pack. Jose Perez Solano’s poetic feature follows two women in a remote community who have to choose between their children and their partner in a chauvinist society. The beauty and authenticity of “La Tirisia” have connected with audiences and juries from diverse backgrounds. Karlovy Vary, Palm Springs, Thessaloniki, Chicago, and Guadalajara were a few of the festivals that screened the film where it often was awarded prizes for its director and cast. Actress Adriana Paz (“Hilda”) won the Ariel Award for Best Actress for her work in the film, while Noé Hernandez took home the award for Best Supporting Actor. It’s art house roots and segmented narrative might work against it, but if voters at the Mexican Academy can look past that, this might be the one to bet on.

A La Mala, the romantic comedy that brought Mexican actors Aislinn Derbez and Mauricio Ochmann together as a real-life couple, arrives on DVD August 4. The A La Mala co-stars didn't reveal their true feelings for each other until they wrapped their Mexican romantic comedy.  The adorable couple tells CineMovie about how they got together after the film, their real first kiss and how they celebrate their anniversary every month. Prepare to swoon over this adorable, old-fashioned couple. ...

On Demand DVD New Releases Aug. 3-9 A la mala – In this comedy, Maria Laura is an aspiring actress who finds out there is a different career that is truly lucrative. She is hired by a variety of women to test the fidelity of their boyfriends. But what happens when she falls for one of the men? Aislinn Derbez, Mauricio Ochmann, Luis Arrieta (PG-13, 1:39) 8/4 Child 44 – Moscow in 1952 did not have murders. Murder was a capitalist disease, or so the government would have people believe. But a mysterious crime leads to a grisly discovery. A … Continue reading →

The post On Demand DVD New Releases Aug. 3-9 appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.

We're entering the dog days of summer -- the perfect time to binge-watch some new TV shows and movies on Amazon. You can do it outside, if you want, to not feel so guilty. But why feel guilty about streaming all eight seasons of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm"? It's pretty, pretty good. You can also buy movies like the amazing "Mad Max: Fury Road," which hits Amazon Instant Video on August 11.

Amazon just issued its list of new titles available for streaming on Prime and available for purchase through Amazon Instant Video. (If you missed the July titles, here they are.) So check out all the August additions below.

New in August - Available for Streaming on Prime

TV

Olympus Season 1 -- 8/1/2015

Curb Your Enthusiasm- Complete Series -- tbd

Wishenpoof - Original -- tbd

Movies

The Patriot -- 8/1/2015

The Longest Day -- 8/1/2015

Unforgiven -- 8/1/2015

The Legend of Longwood --...

While it didn't quite return Will Smith to his former box office glory, Focus (2015) still easily took the top spot on a quiet weekend at the box office.Kingsman: The Secret Service and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water held on to second and third place, respectively, while The Lazarus Effect got off to a so-so start in fifth.Focus opened to $18.7 million this weekend, which is a bit lower than Crazy, Stupid, Love.'s debut (that's the last movie from directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa). It ranks in the bottom half of Smith's movies; it is at least ahead of Seven Pounds ($14.9 million), though that movie's December opening held is back a bit. Seven Pounds wrapped up its run with $70 million, which is a number Focus is going to have a tough time matching.The lower-than-expected haul could be placed on Smith's shoulders: Mib 3 and After Earth...

Will Smith and Margot Robbie team up this weekend in con artist movie Focus, which should pretty easily take first place ahead of holdovers like Fifty Shades of Grey and Kingsman: The Secret Service.Meanwhile, Blumhouse horror movie The Lazarus Effect also opens nationwide; unless it seriously over-performs, it will have to settle for runner-up status.Opening at 3,323 locations, Focus marks the first time that Will Smith has headlined an R-rated movie since 2003's Bad Boys II. That was in the middle of Smith's nearly unprecedented box office run from the mid-1990s to late 2000s, during which 11 of 13 live-action movies earned over $110 million at the domestic box office. That culminated in a stunning streak in which four movies in a row took in over $160 million*none of which were sequels.In the past six years, though, Smith's output has declined dramatically. Initially, he moved behind the camera to help produce the Karate Kid remake,...