News

Exclusive: Paris-based company reshuffles sales team as Carole Baraton steps down as head of sales.

Wild Bunch will launch sales on new films by Jean-Luc Godard, Christian Carion, Michel Ocelot, Raymond Depardon as well as a feel-good, Senegal-set drama starring Omar Sy at Unifrance’s upcoming Rendez-vous with French Cinema in Paris (Jan 12-16).

The event will also mark the first outing for the company’s reconfigured sales team following Carole Baraton’s decision to step down as head of sales to set-up her own company.

Baraton’s long-time territories the Us, France and the UK will be carved up between the sales team, now consisting of Silvia Simonutti, Emilie Serres, Olivier Barbier, recent hire Fanny Beauville and Esther Devos for festivals.

Notably, Beauville will co-handle Canada and the Us in partnership with La’s Creative Artist Agency (CAA), working closely with the agency’s film finance and sales group co-chief Roeg Sutherland and his team.

Bilingual...

Many of us, during this election cycle, have found us switching from live TV to our Netflix queues in search of escapism. But because the two people currently running for president of the United States have been in the public eye for decades, there’s always a danger that you might be reminded, on-screen or through some clever joke, that November 8 is coming.

By the numbers, odds are pretty good that between the two candidates, the one you’ll see will be Donald Trump. According to IMDb, since 1981 Donald Trump has made over 230 film and television appearances — 219 as “Self” and 20 as an actor usually playing “Donald Trump,” though there may be some overlap between the two.

Read More: Donald Trump: By Roasting Him, We May Have Validated Him

This includes talk shows and news programs, but it’s still more than Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who has 196 listed appearances as “Self,...

Happy birthday, Kim! Today's People Snapchat Discover is dedicated to all things Kardashian to mark the milestone. Head over to People's Discover page on Snapchat to see today's edition – and check back every day for all things celebrity/shirtless guys/everything in between.

In honor of her 35th year, we have curated the 35 self-portraits that most thoroughly epitomize the enigmatic wonder that is the Kim Kardashian Selfie. Not meant to be bound by the walls of The Louvre or The Met, these works of art hang in the hallowed halls of Instagram.

So mortals, behold the eternal glory of Kim Kardashian.

True Detective, Season 2, Episode 8, “Omega Station”

Written by Nic Pizzolatto

Directed by John Crowley

Airs Sundays at 9pm (Et) on HBO

In the end, so many of the issues emblematic of the season at large caught up to each other to form one long, rough, near-painful season finale of True Detective. The disconnect between each of the four main characters turns into a huge distraction as the finale moves along, whereas previously in the season it was more of an annoying distraction. Ani’s reaction to the news of Paul’s death, so shocked she acts as if someone just punched her in the gut, comes off as the most fake character moment among many similar scenes. She and Ray barely knew Paul and definitely didn’t care enough to start a dialogue about his personal life at any time. The fact that his death would warrant any reaction beyond,...

Cheers, one of the greatest sitcoms of all time – if not the greatest – ended its 10-plus-year-run on May 20, 1993.

"It was on the air for 11 seasons and 270 episodes, and it was good for nearly all of that run," Todd VanDerWerff writes at The Av Club. In honor of that run, we'd like to spend just over two minutes of your day re-living the last time Sam "Mayday" Malone closed the bar.

The show's final episode, "One for the Road," is the second-highest-rated series finale of all time, after M*A*S*H – a 30-second ad spot during the finale reportedly cost $650,000.

"Sorry,...

Chicago – The 31st edition of the Chicago Latino Film Festival Kicks Off on Thursday, April 9, 2015, with the Venezuelan/Spanish film “The Liberator” (“Libertador”). All films are at the AMC River East 21 in Chicago.

This year’s festival promises another huge array of films originating from Latino countries all over the world, and runs from April 9th through the 23rd. The kick-off film “The Liberator” will be followed by a reception at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Chicago. For details and to purchase tickets click here.

’The Liberator’ is the Opening Night Film at the 31st Chicago Latino Film Festival

Photo credit: Chicago Latino Film Festival

The Opening Night Capsule and the highlights of Week One are as follows…

Opening Night: “The Liberator”

Selected by Venezuela as their official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the recent Academy Awards, “The Liberator” is a biography film of Simon Bolivar, the...

At the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) happening now, there are 27 films eligible for the Cine Latino Award, which will be presented to the best Ibero-American film screening at the Festival. Several of these films represented their respective countries at in the Best Foreign Language category for the upcoming Academy Awards. Sponsored by the Guadalajara International Film Festival (Ficg) and the University of Guadalajara Foundation/USA, the winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize.

Read More: "Wild Tales" Business and Pleasure

“What does it mean to be Latino or Ibero-American? We often engage in the most intensely absurd discussions trying to find a definition that satisfies us all. I believe, however, that the best answer can be found in the movies: where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and unique stories become universal fables. The increasing power of visual language and an innovative spirit –this is what our film industries have in common! And once again, 2014 has proven to be one of the most exemplary years for Ibero-American cinema. The Palm Springs International Film Festival recognizes the talent and creativity of its makers both in front of and behind the camera with the Cine Latino Award. This year we celebrate the vitality of the region with a record 27 films. We are truly grateful to the vision and commitment of two of the leading cultural, social and educational organizations in Mexico and the United States -- the Guadalajara International Film Festival and the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA -- for sponsoring this award and helping to strengthen the cultural and artistic bridges so fundamental to all of us,” said Hebe Tabachnik, Ibero-American Programmer for Psiff.

“For the third consecutive year, top caliber Latino films will compete in the Ibero American competition at the Palm Springs Film Festival from January 2 to the 12, 2015,” said Iván Trujillo, Festival Director for the Guadalajara International Film Festival. “Their stories, genres and production values have garnered these films both critical and audience recognition at the most important festivals all over the globe. This will be indeed a very competitive year for an award that is acquiring more and more prestige worldwide.”

Read More: Dir. Alberto Arvelo on Venezuelan Epic "The Liberator"

“We have reached an important milestone. When the Foundation of the University of Guadalajara in USA made an agreement to sponsor an award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, we made a commitment to increase the cash prize within three years up to $10,000 to recognize the ‘Best Ibero American Film’ in the festival. Our Foundation is extremely proud to have fulfilled this arrangement with the Festival. Achieving this goal is only part of a whole project for the future,” said Raúl Padilla, President for the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA.

Jury members include Josep Parera (Entertainment Editor – La Opinión) Nacho Carballo (Festival Director, Gijón International Film Festival, Spain) and Tom Davia (Founder & Managing Partner of Cinemaven Media).

Read More: Actor Alfono Herrera on "The Perfect Dictatorship"

They will review 27 films to select the Cine Latino Award winner. This year’s eligible films are:

"10,000 Km" (Spain), Director: Carlos Marques-Marcet "August Winds" (Brazil), Director: Gabriel Mascaro "Behavior" (Cuba), Director: Ernesto Daranas Serrano "Ciudad Delirio" (Colombia, Spain), Director: Chus Gutiérrez "Flowers" (Spain), Directors: Jon Garaño, José Mari Goenaga "Futuro Beach" (Brazil), Director: Karim Ainouz "Gente de Bien" (Colombia, France), Director: Franco Lolli "Güeros" (Mexico), Director: Alonso Ruiz Palacios "Hawaii" (Argentina), Director: Marco Berger "The Hours With You" (Mexico), Director: Catalina Aguilar Mastretta "La Tirisia" (Mexico), Director: Jorge Pérez Solano "Lake Los Angeles" (USA), Director: Mike Ott "The Liberator" (Venezuela, Spain), Director: Alberto Arvelo "Magical Girl" (Spain), Director: Carlos Vermut "Mateo" (Colombia, France), Director: María Gamboa "A Moonless Night" (Uruguay, Argentina), Director: Germán Tejeira "Mother of the Lamb" (Chile), Directors: Rosario Espinosa Godoy, Enrique Farías "Mr. Kaplan" (Uruguay), Director: Álvaro Brechner "Natural Sciences" (Argentina), Director: Matías Lucchesi "Nn" (Peru, Colombia, France, Germany), Director: Héctor Galvez "Not All Is Vigil" (Spain, Colombia), Director: Hermes Paralluelo "One for the Road" (Mexico), Director: Jack Zagha Kababie "The Perfect Dictatorship" (Mexico), Director: Luis Estrada "Sand Dollars" (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Argentina), Directors: Israel Cárdenas, Laura Amelia Guzmán "To Kill a Man" (Chile), Director: Alejandro Fernández Almendras "The Way He Looks" (Brazil), Director: Daniel Ribeiro "Wild Tales" (Argentina, Spain), Director: Damián Szifrón About The Palm Springs International Film Festival

The Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming 135,000 attendees last year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The Festival is also known for its annual Black Tie Awards Gala, honoring the best achievements of the filmic year by a celebrated list of talents who, in recent years, have included Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, David O. Russell, Meryl Streep, and Kate Winslet.

The Awards Gala of the 26th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is presented by Cartier and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and Entertainment Tonight. The City of Palm Springs is the Title Sponsor of the Film Festival. Presenting Sponsors are Wells Fargo, The Desert Sun and Spencer’s. Major sponsors are Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Wessman Development, Bank of America, Wintec, Regal Entertainment Group, Ignition Creative, Desert Regional Medical Center, Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, Windermere Real Estate, Eisenhower Medical Center, Guthy-Renker, Integrated Wealth Management, VisitGreaterPalmSprings.com, Ocean Properties, Chihuly and Telefilm Canada.

For more information visit www.psfilmfest.org.

About The Guadalajara International Film Festival

Ficg was founded with support from the University of Guadalajara in 1985 by the Mexican filmmaker Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, with the tremendous help from young film students like Guillermo del Toro. It will celebrate its 30th edition next March 6-15, 2015. Ficg is the lead film festival in Latin America. It is a forum for the training, education, and creative exchange among industry professionals, film critics, and film students from all over Ibero-America.

About the Foundation of the University of Guadalajara in the U.S.

The University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States of America is an extension of Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara, A.C., and is made up of a number of prominent academic and social leaders. The Foundation works to attain private support from individuals, foundations and corporations in order to fulfill the mission and vision of the University of Guadalajara in Los Angeles.

It seeks to improve the quality of life and social integration of migrants and hispanic nationals by increasing their access to education and enhancing their sense of belonging and identification with their environment by developing their skills and capabilities through educational services and relevant social research.

The Guadalajara International Film Festival in Los Angeles - Ficg in La - presented by the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA and Conaculta, with Principal Sponsors University of Guadalajara, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Institute of Cinema Mexico (Imcine) and Univision, announced the celebrities who will attend the opening night gala on Friday, September 5.

Ficg in La previously announced that Academy Award nominee Demian Bichir ("A Better Life," FX’s The Bridge), Rubén Luengas (Univision Radio), anchorwoman Gabriela Teissier (Univision TV) and Nalip (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) will be honored. Joining them at the festival will be the cast and filmmakers of the opening night film "Las horas contigo" ("The Hours with You"), Isela Vega (lead actress), María Rojo (lead actress), Cassandra Ciangherotti (lead actress), Julio Bracho (supporting actor), Arcelia Ramírez (supporting actor), Catalina Aguilar Mastretta (director), Roberto Sneider(producer), Bérénice Eveno (director of photography). The festival also announced the addition of the short film "Solidarity" starring Elpidia Carrillo, who will be in attendance with the director Dustin Brown.

Cast members and filmmakers of the Closing night film "En el último trago" ("One for the Road") are also confirmed to attend, including Eduardo Manzano (supporting actor), Jack Zagha Kababie (director), Yossy Zagha Kababie (producer).

Directors of several other films in the festival will also attend. Nicolás Echevarría (director, "Eco de la Montaña"), Ignasi Millet (subject,"Ignasi M"), Mariana Chenillo (director, "Paraíso"), Damian John Harper (director, "Los Angeles"), Horacio Alcala (director, "Grazing the Sky"), Sara Seligman (director, live-action short, "Diego"), Bernardo Britto (director, Animation Short, "Yearbook") will also be in attendance.

Ficg in La is presented by the University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States of America and Conaculta, and Principal Sponsors, the University of Guadalajara, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Institute of Cinema Mexico (Imcine) and Univision, and Supporting Sponsors Cultura Udg, University of Guadalajara Foundation in Los Angeles, LeaLa, Channel 31.2 and the General Consulate of Mexico in Los Angeles.

For tickets and more information visit Here

About Ficg

Ficg was founded in 1986 by the Mexican filmmaker Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, with the tremendous help from young film students like Guillermo del Toro, and support from the University of Guadalajara. It will celebrate its 30th edition next March 6-15, 2015.

Ficg is the lead film festival in Latin America. It is a forum for the training, education, and creative exchange among industry professionals, film critics, and film students from all over Ibero-America.

About the University of Guadalajara – Mexico

The University of Guadalajara is a network formed by three educational systems and 15 campuses distributed in all the regions of the State of Jalisco, and it is the second most important and eldest university in Mexico. The University of Guadalajara is committed to the betterment of society through higher education. It supports scientific and technological research that makes important contributions to a sustainable and inclusive society, respecting cultural diversity and honoring the principles of social justice, democracy, coexistence, and prosperity for all. The University is renowned in Mexico and abroad as a leader in the transformation of society through innovative means through social development and dissemination of knowledge.

About the Foundation of the University of Guadalajara in the U.S.

The University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States of America is an extension of Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara, A.C., and is made up of a number of prominent academic and social leaders. The Foundation works to attain private support from individuals, foundations and corporations in order to fulfill the mission and vision of the University of Guadalajara in Los Angeles.

It seeks to improve the quality of life and social integration of migrants and hispanic nationals by increasing their access to education and enhancing their sense of belonging and identification with their environment by developing their skills and capabilities through educational services and relevant social research.

Yesterday the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Los Angeles - Ficg in La - presented by the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA and Conaculta, with Principal Sponsors University of Guadalajara, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Institute of Cinema Mexico (Imcine) and Univision, announced its lineup. "The Hours with You" (Las Horas Contigo) directed by Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, will be the Opening Night film for the 2014 Festival. The film stars Cassandra Ciangherotti, María Rojo, Isela Vega, Arcelia Ramírez and Julio Bracho.

The 2014 Ficg in La, which returns to the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood for its fourth year and runs from Thursday, September 4 to Sunday, September 7, brings the best of contemporary Mexican and Latin American cinema to Los Angeles, and is an extension of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.

Featuring outstanding and award-winning titles from FICG29, which ran from March 21-29, 2014 in Guadalajara, Ficg in La will offer the premiere of other titles that have emerged in the world of cinema throughout the year to great critical acclaim.

The aim of the festival is to increase access and visibility of Mexican and Latin American cinema in the U.S., facilitating the exchange of ideas through stories and issues of cultural and social relevance, create a space for collaboration between filmmakers, and strengthen relations between the film industry in Mexico and the U.S.

Ficg in La includes film screenings followed by Q&As with filmmakers and talent, as well as galas and special award recognitions to Latin American and U.S. Latino artists.

“This year, we are truly proud to bring two artistic programs to Ficg in La that supports emerging independent filmmakers, in effect, fulfilling part of our mission to nourish and sustain emerging talent across international film industries. Many of the films in this year's showcase reveal the cross-cultural collaborations currently taking place between film industries in Latin America, the Us, and Canada. These collaborations have resulted in the creation of groundbreaking, authentic, multicultural stories that move seamlessly across national and cultural boundaries." said Hebe Tabachnik, Director and Producer of Ficg in La.

“We are constantly finding ways for Ibero-American filmmakers to promote their films and share their experiences with moviemakers from all over the world. Now that we have reached our fourth year, we realized that we have become one of the leading platforms for Latino cinematography to enter the United States market,” said Iván Trujillo, Festival Director of Ficg.

Among the celebrities that have accompanied us in previous editions are: Carlos Cuarón, Edward James Olmos, Sergio Arau, Diana Bracho, Alfonso Arau, Kate del Castillo, Martha Higareda, Beto Cuevas, Irene Azuela, Dulce Maria, Carmen Salinas and Jay Hernandez.

Oscar nominee Demian Bichir , Nalip (The National Association of Latino Independent Producers), Ruben Luengas (journalist) and Gabriela Teissier (anchor woman) from Univision Radio and TV will receive the festival’s Tree of Life Award for their contributions to Mexican, Latino and Ibero American culture. Previous recipients include Ambulante, Juan Carlos Arciniegas (CNN en Espanol), Fernando Luján (actor), Gabriel Beristain (Director of Photography) and Emilio Kauderer (Music Composer).

Ficg in La continues to support Latino and Ibero-American films with Guadalajara Construye in Los Angeles 1 and DocuLab.1 Los Angeles by selecting six projects from filmmakers seeking post-production funds. The films will be screened for jury members, sponsors and film industry professionals. The winners will be announced on Opening Night.

In addition, the winning projects in each competition will automatically qualify to be considered for Guadalajara Construye 9 or DocuLab.7 Guadalajara, or for the Ibero-American Competitions of the next edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG30) – March 6 - 15, 2015.

To reaffirm the social mission of Ficg and the University of Guadalajara Foundation in USA, Ficg in La will donate again all of its proceeds to a charitable cause. We will announce soon the recipient of this year’s fundraising effort.

10 Feature and documentary films and six short films will be showcased in this year’s festival

Opening Night Gala – September 5, 2014

• "The Hours with You" (Las Horas Contigo), Dir. Catalina Aguilar Mastretta, Mexico. Us Premiere

Closing Night Gala – September 7, 2014

• "One for the Road" (En el Ultimo Trago), Dir. Jack Zagha Kababie, Mexico. Us Premiere

Feature Films

• "Echo of the Mountain" (Eco de la Montaña), Dir. Nicolás Echevarría, Mexico. Us Premiere (documentary)

• "Grazing the Sky" (A Ras del Cielo), Dir. Horacio Alcala, Spain/ Mexico/ Portugal. L.A. Premiere (documentary)

• "Ignasi M.," Dir. Ventura Pons, Spain. L.A. Premiere (documentary)

• "Los Ángeles," Dir. Damian John Harper USA/Mexico.

• "The Mute" (El Mudo), Dir. Daniel Vega Vidal & Diego Vega Vidal, Peru. L.A. Premiere

• "Natural Sciences" (Ciencias naturales), Dir. Matías Lucchesi, Argentina.

• "Paraíso," Dir. Mariana Chenillo. Mexico. L.A Premiere

• "A Wolf at the Door" (O Lobo atras da Porta), Dir. Fernando Coimbra, Brazil. L.A. Premiere

Short Films

• "Diego," Dir. Sara Seligman, Mexico/Germany. (live action Drama)

• "A Family Day" (Un día en Familia), Dir. Pedro Zulu González, Mexico. (animation)

• "Minerita," Dir. Raúl de la Fuente, Spain (documentary)

• "Pickman's Model" (El modelo de Pickman), Dir. Pablo Ángeles Zuman, Mexico. Us Premiere (animation)

• "The Queen" (La Reina), Dir. Manuel Abramovich, Argentina (documentary)

• "Yearbook," Dir. Bernardo Britto, USA. (animation)

The screening of the selected work-in-progress films will be for industry accredited to the festival. These screenings are not open to the general public or member of the press.

Guadalajara Construye in Los Angeles 1

• "Blue Lips," Dir. Daniela De Carlo, Julieta Lima, Gustavo Lipsztein, Antonello Novellino, Nacho Ruipérez and Nobu Shima USA/Argentina/ Brazil/ Spain

• "Whisper of the Forest" (Gritos del Bosque), Dir. Jorge Olguín, Chile/USA

• Pocha, Dir. Michael Dwyer, Mexico/USA

DocuLab.1 Los Angeles

• "Gaucho del Norte," Dir. Andres Caballero, Sofia Khan Argentina/USA

• "Hotel de Paso," Dir. Paulina Sánchez Mexico/USA

• "Juanicas," Dir. Karina Garcia Casanova, Mexico/Canada

Ficg in La is presented by the University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States and Conaculta, and Principal Sponsors, the University of Guadalajara, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Institute of Cinema Mexico (Imcine) and Univision, and Supporting Sponsors Cultura Udg, University of Guadalajara Foundation in Los Angeles, LeaLa, Channel 31.2 and the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles.

About Ficg

The Guadalajara International Film Festival was founded by Guillermo del Toro and other Mexican filmmakers in 1986, and will celebrate its 30th edition March 6-15, 2015.

Ficg is the lead film festival in Latin America. It is a forum for the training, education, and creative exchange among industry professionals, film critics, and film students from all over Ibero-America.

About the University of Guadalajara – Mexico

The University of Guadalajara is a member of the University Network in the State of Jalisco, and it is the second oldest university in Mexico. The University of Guadalajara is committed to the betterment of society through higher education. It supports scientific and technological research that makes important contributions to a sustainable and inclusive society, respecting cultural diversity and honoring the principles of social justice, democracy, coexistence, and prosperity for all. The University is renowned in Mexico and abroad as a leader in the transformation of society through innovative means of social development and dissemination of knowledge.

About the Foundation of the University of Guadalajara in the U.S.

The University of Guadalajara Foundation in the United States of America (Udg Foundation-usa) is an extension of Fundación Universidad de Guadalajara, A.C., and is made up of a number of prominent academic and social leaders. The Foundation works to attain private support from individuals, foundations and corporations in order to fulfill the mission and vision of the University of Guadalajara in Los Angeles.

U.S. Udg Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life and social integration of migrants and Hispanic nationals by increasing their access to education and enhancing their sense of belonging and identification with their environment by developing their skills and capabilities through educational services and relevant social research.

The following is a list of all comic books, graphic novels and specialty items that will be available this week and shipped to comic book stores who have placed orders for them.

3D Total Publishing

Digital Art Masters Volume 9 Sc (not verified by Diamond), $49.99

Abstract Studios

Rachel Rising #26, $3.99

Adhouse Books

Youth Is Wasted Gn (not verified by Diamond), $14.95

Airship Entertainment

Girl Genius Volume 13 Agatha Heterodyne And The Sleeping City Hc, $50.00

Girl Genius Volume 13 Agatha Heterodyne And The Sleeping City Sc, $25.00

Alternative Comics

Magic Whistle #14 (not verified by Diamond), $4.99

Ritual Three Vile Decay (One Shot), $6.95

Antarctic Press

64-Bit Zombie #1, $3.99

Arcana Studio

Kade Tribal Sun Gn, $14.95

Archie Comic Publications

Archie Comics Spectacular Summer Daze Tp, $5.99

Betty And Veronica Friends Double Digest #239, $4.99

Jughead And Archie Double Digest #3, $3.99

Mega Man #38 (Ben Bates Character Packed Variant Cover), $2.99

Mega Man #38 (Patrick Spaziante Regular Cover), $2.99

Sonic Mega Man Worlds Collide Volume 3 Chaos Clash Tp, $11.99

Aspen Comics

All...

Exclusive: New films by Dominique Deruddere, Alfonso Zarauza and Chus Gutiérrez are among five new titles acquired by Cologne-based Media Luna New Films ahead of Cannes’ Marché du Film.

There will be market premieres of:

Belgian director Deruddere’s ninth feature, the romance Flying Home, starring Jamie Dornan, Anthony Head, and Jan Decleir, was released by Kfd in Belgian cinemas on April 2.

Zarauza’s dark comedy The Aces, with Spanish actors Lola Dueñas, Luis Tosar and Juan Carlos Vellido, Miguel de Lira, competed in Malaga’s Spanish Film Festival last month.

One of Spain’s foremost women directors, Gutiérrez cast more than 200 professional dancers including world champions for her salsa musical romance Ciudad Delirio between a dedicated Spanish dancer and a beautiful Colombian salsa dancer.

Mexican director Jorge Pérez Solano’s second feature, the drama La Tirisia, starring Amores Perros’ Gustavo Sanchez Parra.

Fellow countryman Jack Zagha’s road movie comedy One For The Road with three 80-year-olds...

Happy New Year, dear Backlot readers! I hope everyone’s 2014 has gotten off to a great start and that you all rang in the new year with an appropriate level of celebration. Of course if you’re like me you clearly overdid it and, while I am blessedly immune to hangovers myself, I imagine there may be some throbbing heads and bleary eyes among you. For those suffering few, let me offer up some suggestions of movies and TV that, while perhaps not curing what ails you, will at least remind you that you’re not suffering alone. So grab a bag of frozen peas from the kitchen, mix yourself up a prairie oyster in your toothpaste glass and check out a few of these.

The Lost Weekend

Ray Milland plays Don Birnam, an alcoholic author struggling to overcome his crippling alcohol-induced writer’s block. The film follows Don through...

With WrestleMania four months away, the internet is awash with rumoured matches leaked from WWE ‘insiders’. Nevertheless, for us wrestling fans the Road to WrestleMania is the most exciting time of the year and one of the biggest questions this time around surrounds Cm Punk. Who will the self-proclaimed ‘Best in the World’ face at the ‘Showcase of the Immortals’?

After beginning 2013 in the final weeks of his epic 434 day WWE Championship reign, Punk followed his high profile matches with The Rock and The Undertaker with a well-earned break to heal niggling injuries. Returning at Payback as a babyface, Punk has served time in the mid-card in a feud with Paul Heyman’s clients Brock Lesnar, Curtis Axel and Ryback.

Having ended the rivalry with Heyman, Punk is understood to be lined up for a Royal Rumble win in January, setting him up for the main event at WrestleMania XXX.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Three freezing weeks ago, I was stood on the cusp of the platform, waiting for the train to take me to the LG Arena. I looked like I was in sort-of fancy dress; leather jacket, collar popped like Cantona, hair in an Alex Turner quiff. And then a text arrived, telling me to check Twitter. The Arctic Monkeys had cancelled their gig, later revealed to be due to Alex’s laryngitis; largely suspected that the previous night’s excessive partying had played a part.

For the such a loyal and loving fanbase, it was a weird reaction; not a single “Get well soon” flung across hyperspace, only angry messages of “Why’d you only cancel when you’re high?” The atmosphere tonight though is excitable and clearly forgiving; it seems the teenage girls are out in full force, as when the drum clatter of ‘Do I Wanna Know?...

This week Arctic Monkeys made British Chart history by becoming the UK’s first ‘indie’ band to have five consecutive number 1 albums. A tremendous feat for an ‘indie’ band – the only problem being that the Arctic Monkeys are in no way ‘indie.’ Granted, they began as the MySpace sensation and the first number 1 single of the Digital Age, but the lads from Sheffield have managed, over the course of their near-decade long careers, to transcend the idea of genre. They have created their own crux in the music industry by striking a perfect balance between a signature sound and musical growth. 2006′s Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not provided a gritty, bombastic and raw slice of British youth that resonated, making it the fastest selling debut album in the UK.

Since then, each of the Monkeys’ albums have matured insound – going from a group of...

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

“Are there some aces up your sleeve?” is a curious sentence to hear from a group whose only obvious link between their five-strong discography is the daft name that appears on the sleeves. The only one playing tricks here is Arctic Monkeys, and they’ve pulled more than just an ace out of those sleeves this time – they’ve brought desert dune “wood groove” with lashings of Josh Homme and the spice of a Dr. Dre beat wrapped up in Sabbathy cellophane and T-Rex packaging. An album with inspirations and influences oozing from its very grooves, ‘Am’ (which could’ve been called ‘Tambourines and Falsettos’) should be a mess of cheap pastiche and imitation of the inimitable. And yet…

Even a million miles from home, in absence from the blue collar drudge and uninviting Sheffield nightlife that fuelled ‘Whatever People Say I Am…’s savvy wit,...

Jason V. Brock – editor of [Namel3ss] Magazine and co-editor (with William F. Nolan) of the anthologies The Bleeding Edge: Dark Barriers, Dark Frontiers and The Devil’s Coattails: More Dispatches from the Dark Frontier, and the man behind the films Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone’s Magic Man and The Ackermonster Chronicles! – is one of modern horror and weird fiction’s most important voices, a view I share with William F. Nolan, who expresses it in his wonderful foreword to Simulacrum and Other Possible Realities. In his foreword, Nolan compares Brock to the great Charles Beaumont, which is on one hand quite a compliment and on another a lot to live up to, but Brock meets the challenge in his first collection. While his prose isn’t as lyrical as Beaumont’s, the ideas are there, the unique voice is there, the willingness (and desire) to test...

Last night (January 31) marked the end of an era in the Us as NBC screened the last ever episode of 30 Rock - it might never have been a ratings giant, but Tina Fey's smart comedy was beloved by critics and loyal fans the world over.

Since the show's UK broadcaster Comedy Central is a little behind the Us, we won't spoil how things ended up for Liz Lemon and co, but as our way of paying tribute to 30 Rock, this week's Friday Fiver lists off the five greatest sitcom endings - let us know if you agree with our picks below!

> Greatest '90s teen TV hits: Friday Fiver

> TV's Greatest Legal Dramas: Friday Fiver

Friends - 'The Last One' - aired May 6, 2004

She got off the plane! Yes, the Friends finale is unbelievably, inescapably corny. But no matter how many times I see it, it never fails to make me sob.

Studies have shown that Hidden Gems of the Week, EW.com’s collection of reader-submitted ridiculata, is the best way to enjoy Dancing With the Stars without ever having to turn it on. It’s a visual feast of sparkles, fringe, and stunning awkwardness. Ready to go down the rabbit hole? Behold this bountiful smattering of Visible Gems!

***This week’s heap is extra-overflowing, like Tristan MacManus’ pot of gold and red-velvety treasures, because next week there will be no Hidden Gems***

Most Valuable Gems (Mvg) Of The Week:

“When Hope and Maks were getting their scores, Tristan looked like...

Reggie Bannister - One For the Road By: Jeremy Morehead --- Reggie Bannister is a man who requires no introduction when talking with horror fans. After appearing in countless horror films, Reggie Bannister has developed a loyal cult following. However, Reggie Bannister will always be known for portraying “Reg” the ice cream vendor from the ever popular Phantasm series which has cemented its status as one of the scariest horror films ever made. He has also appeared in such fan favorites as Wishmaster, Bubba Ho-Tep, and the upcoming Stephen King short film “One for the Road”. Reggie took a moment out of his ever busy schedule to discuss this new short film and all the rumors circulating about a secret Phantasm project. Here's what he had to say.

Hey Reggie! How are you?

I’m good man. It’s good to talk to you. I love the site. Let’s get it on dude!

This past Wednesday, March 16, Dread hit the set of filmmaker Paul Ward’s horror flick One for the Road for an exclusive look at the project, which at the time was shooting in the cold environs of Crestline, California.

While there, we got a chance to chat with Ward and the project’s producer, Tim Sullivan (director of 2001 Maniacs and 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams), as well as to witness the vampiric creature creations of Tom Devlin (Syfy’s "Face Off") and a bit of impressive and unintended pyromania. too, by the rather bemused latter.

Produced by Sullivan (under his New Rebellion Entertainment banner) as the second in his series of ‘Tim Sullivan Presents’ projects (initiated with the upcoming psychological thriller Cut/Print), this short film adaptation of Stephen King’s One for the Road (the original story stands as a sequel to Salem’s Lot) was written and directed by...

Known for the outrageous horror-comedy films 2001 Maniacs and 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams (as well as his hosting duties on the VH1 "Scream Queens 2" reality series), filmmaker Tim Sullivan tipped us off today regarding his latest genre effort, an upcoming short film adaptation of Stephen King’s One for the Road.

The literary sequel to the King novel Salem’s Lot and originally published in the author’s iconic Night Shift horror anthology, Sullivan’s cinematic incarnation is to be written and directed by award-winning Irish filmmaker Paul Ward (Fur Coat and No Knickers, pictured below with Sullivan), and will star horror icon Reggie Bannister of Phantasm fame alongside Fur Coat’s Danny O’Connor and newcomers Audrey Walters, Drew Walters and Karen Andrews. Tom Devlin (who currently can be seen as a contestant on the Syfy reality series "Face Off") will provide One for the Road’s make-up and special effects,...

Here are the results from the We Love Soaps TV "Indie Soap of the Week" poll for the week of November 28-December 4, 2010. Venice remained in the top spot for the second week in a row. If you're a fan of any of these shows, we encourage you to check out some of the other series you may not have watched yet.

Rank/Show (Last Week/Weeks in Top 3)

1. Venice (1/15)

2. Anacostia (-/6)

3. Venus Spa (3/2)

4. Empire (-/11)

5. Diary Of A Single Mom (4/4)

6. Montreal Hearts (3/3)

7. Alpha Planet (-/0)

8. Orange Juice In Bishop's Garden (18/0)

9. Kole's Law (-/0)

10. Ave 43 (-/0)

11. The Renfield Syndome (11/0)

12. Daze (9/0)

13. College (-/1)

14. Break (-/0)

Indie soaps that aired one or more episodes last week were eligible. Check back on Saturday when this week's polling begins and keep supporting your favorite indie shows by voting. But more importantly watch them and spread the word.

Watch last week's indie soaps below:

- Alpha...

Which indie soap was your favorite last week? Support your favorite continuing drama and vote in the weekly We Love Soaps TV poll below. Check back on Thursday morning for the results (voting ends Thursday at 9 a.m. Et). Only the shows that aired one or more new episodes from November 28-December 4, 2010 are listed. Based on release schedules, the shows in the poll will change weekly.

If an indie soap aired this week and is not on the list, feel free to cast your vote as "Other" and add a note in the Comments section of this post.

Watch this week's indie soaps below:

- Alpha Planet Episode 107 "Left Behind"

- Anacostia Season 2 Episode 6 "One For The Road"

- Ave 43 Chapter 21

- Break Episode 1.1

- College Episode 205 "Fro-yo"

- Daze Episode 4

- Diary Of A Single Mom Season 3 Episode 3 "Running on Empty"

- Empire Episode 3.3 "Strange Bedfellows"

- Kole's Law Episode 105 "Guilty as Charged,...

How does show compare to finales like 'M*A*S*H,' 'The Sopranos' and others?

By James Montgomery

Kristin Cavallari on the final episode of "The Hills"

Photo: MTV

In the last shot of Tuesday night's finale of "The Hills," the curtain — or, more correctly, the matte painting of the Hollywood Hills — was pulled back to reveal a soundstage: an interesting comment on the nature of reality shows that "The Hills" has done so much to influence.

Needless to say, it was a pretty noteworthy moment, certainly the first time in the history of reality TV that producers went to such great lengths to break the so-called "fourth wall." Sure, for years characters have hooked up with folks behind the scenes — on the Seattle season of "The Real World," this even became part of the story line — and spoken directly to the viewer via "confessional interviews," but the finale...

No surprises at the 35th Cesars, as A Prophet cleaned up in all major categories it was nominated in: Best Film, Best Director (Audiard), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography (Stephane Fontaine), Best Editing (Juliette Welfling), Best Art Direction (Michel Barthelemy) and last but not least, one of my top 5 performance of the year, Niels Arestrup won for Best Supporting... - No surprises at the 35th Césars, as A Prophet cleaned up in all major categories it was nominated in: Best Film, Best Director (Audiard), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography (Stephane Fontaine), Best Editing (Juliette Welfling), Best Art Direction (Michel Barthelemy) and last but not least, one of my top 5 performance of the year, Niels Arestrup won for Best Supporting -- he of course won best supporting in The Beat that My Heart Skipped. The revelation of the year Tahar Rahim won a pair of awards...

Opening the fest is the North American premiere of Emmanuel Mouret's French sex comedy Please Please Me! (which I think should logically be picked up for the U.S. market - see trailer here) and the ten day fest will be closing with the North American premiere of Radu Mihaileanu's The Concert - a Weinstein Co. title starring Melanie Laurent that will most likely open sometime early in 2010. - Now in its 15th year, Montreal's Cinemania Film Festival, one of North America's better French language fests has unveiled its 30-title roster with its usual mix of films from the big four (Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Toronto) and select tiles from the Rotterdams, Locarnos, Karlovy Varys and Sundances. Opening the fest is the North American premiere of Emmanuel Mouret's French sex comedy Please Please Me! (which I think should logically be picked up for the U.

• European and French-language heavyweight Studiocanal (a production co. and theatrical release company) comes to Cannes with plenty of auteur-driven ammo. They have Robert Guediguian's The Army of Crime (L'Armee du crime) in a non-competitive slot and Nassim Amaouche's debut film Farewell Gary (Adieu Gary) is competing in the Critic's Week section. They'll be starting up sales for Atom Egoyan's latest film Chloe (see poster premiere here) which should receive a logical festival release at Venice and/or Toronto. Here is their slate of titles available.: And Soon The Darkness by Marcos Efron – Post-Production Around The World In 50 Years by Ben Stassen - Production Chloe by Atom Egoyan - Post-Production Cotton by Daniel Stamm - Pre-Production The Army Of Crime (L'armee Du Crime) by Robert Guediguian - Completed Baby(Ies) by Thomas Balmes - Post-Production Blame It On Mum (Quelque Chose A Te Dire) by Cécile Telerman -

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