Miami– Gaumont USA, producer of “Narcos,” is powering up new series from both Oscar-winning “Birdman” co-writer Armando Bó and also Spain’s Manuel Martin Cuenca, director of Toronto winner “The Motive,” as well as multiple other talents. It is also readying it first movie slate.
Gaumont USA already co-produced the Bó showrun Amazon Original “El Presidente,” with Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín’s Fabula and Argentine powerhouse Kapow, both partners on “La Jauría.”
News of new series projects comes as Gaumont USA is advancing on Lucía Puenzo’s near future android family saga “Futuro Desierto” (“Desolate Future”), part of a 2020 multi-project development pact with the Argentine writer-director.
Gaumont USA is currently developing titles with Jimena Montemayor (“Wind Traces”), Pedro Amorim (“The Dognapper”), Sebastian and Emiliano Zurita (“How to Survive Being Single”), Katina Medina Mora, Belen Macias (“Verano en Rojo”), among other top-level filmmakers. Other projects are from screenwriters Ruth García...
Gaumont USA already co-produced the Bó showrun Amazon Original “El Presidente,” with Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín’s Fabula and Argentine powerhouse Kapow, both partners on “La Jauría.”
News of new series projects comes as Gaumont USA is advancing on Lucía Puenzo’s near future android family saga “Futuro Desierto” (“Desolate Future”), part of a 2020 multi-project development pact with the Argentine writer-director.
Gaumont USA is currently developing titles with Jimena Montemayor (“Wind Traces”), Pedro Amorim (“The Dognapper”), Sebastian and Emiliano Zurita (“How to Survive Being Single”), Katina Medina Mora, Belen Macias (“Verano en Rojo”), among other top-level filmmakers. Other projects are from screenwriters Ruth García...
- 1/24/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
This is Why Cinema and Inna Payán’s Animal de Luz Films have licensed drama “Todo el silencio” (“All the Silence”) to Prime Video. This follows that of Animal de Luz’s licensing of Katina Medina Mora’s “Latido” (“Heartbeat”) to the giant platform.
“All the Silence” marks the debut feature of award-winning theater director Diego del Rio, based on a screenplay by “La Jaula de Oro” writer, Lucia Carreras.
The drama centers on Miriam whose life is a testament to her love of sign language. In the mornings, she dedicates herself to teaching it, and in the afternoons, she immerses herself in the world of theater. Her girlfriend, Lola, as well as her parents and numerous friends, are all members of the deaf community. However, her world is shattered when she discovers that she, too, is losing her hearing. Faced with this harsh reality, Miriam refuses to accept her fate.
“All the Silence” marks the debut feature of award-winning theater director Diego del Rio, based on a screenplay by “La Jaula de Oro” writer, Lucia Carreras.
The drama centers on Miriam whose life is a testament to her love of sign language. In the mornings, she dedicates herself to teaching it, and in the afternoons, she immerses herself in the world of theater. Her girlfriend, Lola, as well as her parents and numerous friends, are all members of the deaf community. However, her world is shattered when she discovers that she, too, is losing her hearing. Faced with this harsh reality, Miriam refuses to accept her fate.
- 10/6/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
“Roma” producer Nicolas Celis’ of Pimienta Films is coming on board as lead producer of “Freeland,” the first English-language pic by “Emily in Paris” director Katina Medina Mora, Variety learned at Madrid forum Iberseries & Platino Industria.
To be co-written with Chilean scribe Julio Rojas, creator of podcast sensation “Caso 63” and a co-writer on Pablo Fendrik’s “El Refugio,” the project was put together by producer Nestor Hernández, a former Sony and HBO development exec for Latin America, who attended the San Sebastian Film Festival in September to present the project.
MadAvenue PR director Eva Herrero serves as an executive producer on the film.
“We have long been following Katina Medina Mora’s remarkable career and her impressive accomplishments over such a short time span,” remarked Celis who has been attending Iberseries to take part in a panel and to meet with contacts.
“I am also more than thrilled to...
To be co-written with Chilean scribe Julio Rojas, creator of podcast sensation “Caso 63” and a co-writer on Pablo Fendrik’s “El Refugio,” the project was put together by producer Nestor Hernández, a former Sony and HBO development exec for Latin America, who attended the San Sebastian Film Festival in September to present the project.
MadAvenue PR director Eva Herrero serves as an executive producer on the film.
“We have long been following Katina Medina Mora’s remarkable career and her impressive accomplishments over such a short time span,” remarked Celis who has been attending Iberseries to take part in a panel and to meet with contacts.
“I am also more than thrilled to...
- 10/6/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Prime Video Latin America has snapped up streaming rights to Katina Medina Mora’s latest film “Latido” (“Heartbeat”), starring Oscar-nominated Marina de Tavira (“Roma”).
This is the third feature from Medina Mora, whose credits include episodes of Netflix hit “Emily in Paris,” Apple TV+’s “Swagger” and romantic drama, “LuTo,” her debut feature picked up by Netflix. Its trailer debuts exclusively on Variety.
“Latido,” which has its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival and its Mexican premiere at the Morelia Film Festival, turns on 45-year-old Leonor, played by De Tavira, who works for an Ngo that supports young athletes. Leonor has struggled for years to conceive. She meets 16-year-old Emilia, a gifted ballet dancer, played by Camila Calónico, who aces her audition but whose world falls apart when she finds out she is pregnant. Leonor and Emilia make a pact to share the pregnancy process. What starts as...
This is the third feature from Medina Mora, whose credits include episodes of Netflix hit “Emily in Paris,” Apple TV+’s “Swagger” and romantic drama, “LuTo,” her debut feature picked up by Netflix. Its trailer debuts exclusively on Variety.
“Latido,” which has its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival and its Mexican premiere at the Morelia Film Festival, turns on 45-year-old Leonor, played by De Tavira, who works for an Ngo that supports young athletes. Leonor has struggled for years to conceive. She meets 16-year-old Emilia, a gifted ballet dancer, played by Camila Calónico, who aces her audition but whose world falls apart when she finds out she is pregnant. Leonor and Emilia make a pact to share the pregnancy process. What starts as...
- 9/22/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Mexico’s Katina Medina Mora, director of Netflix hits ‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Firefly Lane’ and Apple TV+ standout “Swagger,” is teaming with Chile’s Julio Rojas, creator of podcast phenom “Caso 63,” to direct and co-write with Rojas “Freeland.”
Medina Mora, Rojas and “Freeland” producer Nestor Hernández, a former Sony and HBO development exec for Latin America, will attend the San Sebastian Film Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 22, to present the project.
Longtime MadAvenue PR director Eva Herrero will also serve as an executive producer on the film.
One of the most ambitious movies now in the works from Latin America and Spain, “Freeland” is set in America’s Midwest, and combines a teen first love romantic drama, a building thriller propulsion and the kind of anticipatory near future science fiction for which Rojas is hailed as a master.
Sparking a successful U.S. podcast remake starring Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac,...
Medina Mora, Rojas and “Freeland” producer Nestor Hernández, a former Sony and HBO development exec for Latin America, will attend the San Sebastian Film Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 22, to present the project.
Longtime MadAvenue PR director Eva Herrero will also serve as an executive producer on the film.
One of the most ambitious movies now in the works from Latin America and Spain, “Freeland” is set in America’s Midwest, and combines a teen first love romantic drama, a building thriller propulsion and the kind of anticipatory near future science fiction for which Rojas is hailed as a master.
Sparking a successful U.S. podcast remake starring Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac,...
- 9/20/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Kitty (Anna Cathcart) finally gets her chance to shine in the trailer for “Xo, Kitty,” a new spin-off series that expands the world of “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” which was explored in the three film adaptations released on Netflix.
“I know when two people are meant for each other,” Cathcart says as an intro to her powerpoint presentation about why she should go to the Korea Independent School of Seoul. “I felt it for Lara Jean and Peter and I feel it for me and Dae.”
In the final film of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” trilogy, based on the books by Jenny Han, Kitty met Dae (Minyeong Choi) in New York while Lara Jean was visiting colleges. Now, she’s convinced that she has met her match, so she applied to Kiss because Dae goes there now. She gets in on scholarship, and the adventure begins.
“I know when two people are meant for each other,” Cathcart says as an intro to her powerpoint presentation about why she should go to the Korea Independent School of Seoul. “I felt it for Lara Jean and Peter and I feel it for me and Dae.”
In the final film of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” trilogy, based on the books by Jenny Han, Kitty met Dae (Minyeong Choi) in New York while Lara Jean was visiting colleges. Now, she’s convinced that she has met her match, so she applied to Kiss because Dae goes there now. She gets in on scholarship, and the adventure begins.
- 4/25/2023
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Netflix’s new series Xo, Kitty delves into the life of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before‘s Lara Jean’s younger sister. The streaming service just unveiled the first clip from the upcoming young adult romantic comedy spinoff, along with a batch of photos featuring Kitty Song Covey, played by Anna Cathcart.
“We all fell so deeply in love with Lara Jean and her story. So it felt like the greatest gift to give to Kitty was to let her as a character kind of set off on her own two feet and not put her in the shadow of either of her sisters,” explained series creator and co-showrunner Jenny Han.
Although the series is a spinoff, co-showrunners Han and Sascha Rothchild say you don’t have to watch To All the Boys to understand Xo, Kitty.
“Xo, Kitty takes place in the same universe as To All the Boys,...
“We all fell so deeply in love with Lara Jean and her story. So it felt like the greatest gift to give to Kitty was to let her as a character kind of set off on her own two feet and not put her in the shadow of either of her sisters,” explained series creator and co-showrunner Jenny Han.
Although the series is a spinoff, co-showrunners Han and Sascha Rothchild say you don’t have to watch To All the Boys to understand Xo, Kitty.
“Xo, Kitty takes place in the same universe as To All the Boys,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Anna Cathart’s Kitty Song Covey is ready to head to Korea in the first trailer for Netflix and Awesomeness Studios’ “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” spinoff series, “Xo Kitty.”
“Teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey thinks she knows everything there is to know about love,” the show’s official logline states. “But when she moves halfway across the world to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, she’ll soon realize that relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line.”
The 10-episode series, which will premiere globally May 18 on Netflix, is executive produced by creator and co-showrunner Jenny Han, co-showrunner Sascha Rothschild and Ace Entertainment’s Matt Kaplan. The series is directed by Jennifer Arnold, Jeff Chan, Pamela Romanowsky and Katina Medina Mora.
Also Read:
‘To All the Boys’ Spinoff Series ‘Xo, Kitty’ Ordered at Netflix
Cathcart got her big break playing Agent...
“Teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey thinks she knows everything there is to know about love,” the show’s official logline states. “But when she moves halfway across the world to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, she’ll soon realize that relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line.”
The 10-episode series, which will premiere globally May 18 on Netflix, is executive produced by creator and co-showrunner Jenny Han, co-showrunner Sascha Rothschild and Ace Entertainment’s Matt Kaplan. The series is directed by Jennifer Arnold, Jeff Chan, Pamela Romanowsky and Katina Medina Mora.
Also Read:
‘To All the Boys’ Spinoff Series ‘Xo, Kitty’ Ordered at Netflix
Cathcart got her big break playing Agent...
- 3/22/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
Creating what looks like one of the undisputed highlights of Ventana Sur’s Spanish Screenings, three of Perú’s foremost filmmakers – Daniel and Diego Vega and Joanna Lombardi –have boarded “Bienvenido Mr. Hollywood,” which promises a complete departure for one of Catalonia’s leading edge cineastes, Mar Coll.
Co-created and directed by Coll (“Three Days With the Family”) and Aina Calleja, an editor on Coll’s first series, “Killing the Father”), “Welcome Mr. Hollywood” is written by Coll, Calleja and Diego Vega, who with brother Daniel broke out with his debut, 2010 Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury Prize winner, “October.” A 2013 Locarno best actor winner for Fernando Bacilio, “El Mudo” consolidated the brothers’ reputation as top young Latin America auteurs.
““Welcome Mr. Hollywood” is lead produced by Barcelona’s Funicular Films and co-produced by Daniel and Diego Vega’s Lima-based Maretazo Cine. Lombardi, a former head of fiction at Telefonica Media Networks Latin America,...
Co-created and directed by Coll (“Three Days With the Family”) and Aina Calleja, an editor on Coll’s first series, “Killing the Father”), “Welcome Mr. Hollywood” is written by Coll, Calleja and Diego Vega, who with brother Daniel broke out with his debut, 2010 Cannes Un Certain Regard Jury Prize winner, “October.” A 2013 Locarno best actor winner for Fernando Bacilio, “El Mudo” consolidated the brothers’ reputation as top young Latin America auteurs.
““Welcome Mr. Hollywood” is lead produced by Barcelona’s Funicular Films and co-produced by Daniel and Diego Vega’s Lima-based Maretazo Cine. Lombardi, a former head of fiction at Telefonica Media Networks Latin America,...
- 11/25/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix’s new trailer for Firefly Lane season two part one shows there’s tension between Tully and Kate, but it sort of balances that out by revealing more about their lifelong friendship. Part one of the final season premieres on December 2, 2022, with season two part two arriving in 2023.
Season one of the drama, based on the bestselling novel by Kristin Hannah, debuted in February 2021 and starred Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as lifelong best friends who stuck by each other’s side through thick and thin. Heigl and Chalke are back as Tully and Kate, respectively, for the second season. They’re joined by returning cast members Ben Lawson as Johnny Ryan, Ali Skovbye as young Tully, Roan Curtis as young Kate, Yael Yurman as Marah, and Beau Garrett as Cloud.
Netflix’s official description:
“What could possibly have ended the tight-knit thirty-year friendship of Tully and Kate, our ‘Firefly Lane Girls Forever?...
Season one of the drama, based on the bestselling novel by Kristin Hannah, debuted in February 2021 and starred Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as lifelong best friends who stuck by each other’s side through thick and thin. Heigl and Chalke are back as Tully and Kate, respectively, for the second season. They’re joined by returning cast members Ben Lawson as Johnny Ryan, Ali Skovbye as young Tully, Roan Curtis as young Kate, Yael Yurman as Marah, and Beau Garrett as Cloud.
Netflix’s official description:
“What could possibly have ended the tight-knit thirty-year friendship of Tully and Kate, our ‘Firefly Lane Girls Forever?...
- 11/2/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Sarah Chalke as Kate and Katherine Heigl as Tully in ‘Firefly Lane’ season 2 (Photo Cr. Diyah Pera/Netflix © 2022)
Netflix’s Firefly Lane season two will arrive in two parts, with the first eight episodes premiering on Friday, December 2, 2022. Netflix hasn’t confirmed the premiere date for the remaining eight episodes of the second – and final – season, other than that they’ll debut in 2023.
Season one of the drama, based on the bestselling novel by Kristin Hannah, premiered in February 2021 and featured Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as lifelong best friends who stuck by each other’s side through thick and thin. Heigl and Chalke reprise their roles as Tully and Kate for season two. Returning cast members also include Ben Lawson as Johnny Ryan, Ali Skovbye as young Tully, Roan Curtis as young Kate, Yael Yurman as Marah, and Beau Garrett as Cloud.
Joining the series for its final season...
Netflix’s Firefly Lane season two will arrive in two parts, with the first eight episodes premiering on Friday, December 2, 2022. Netflix hasn’t confirmed the premiere date for the remaining eight episodes of the second – and final – season, other than that they’ll debut in 2023.
Season one of the drama, based on the bestselling novel by Kristin Hannah, premiered in February 2021 and featured Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as lifelong best friends who stuck by each other’s side through thick and thin. Heigl and Chalke reprise their roles as Tully and Kate for season two. Returning cast members also include Ben Lawson as Johnny Ryan, Ali Skovbye as young Tully, Roan Curtis as young Kate, Yael Yurman as Marah, and Beau Garrett as Cloud.
Joining the series for its final season...
- 10/3/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Netflix has added nine actors to the cast for Xo, Kitty, its upcoming To All the Boys spinoff series. Joining as series regulars are Choi Min-yeong (Dream Palace), Anthony Keyvan, Gia Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Peter Thurnwald (Players) and Regan Aliyah (Club Mickey Mouse). They will appear opposite Anna Cathcart, who takes on the titular role. The series comes from co-showrunners and executive producer Jenny Han and Sascha Rothchild.
In the series, teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey (Cathcart) thinks she knows everything there is to know about love. But when she moves halfway across the world to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, she’ll soon realize that relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line.
Choi will play Dae, Keyvan portrays Q, Kim will play Yuri, Lee takes on Min Ho, Thurnwald joins the cast as Alex and Aliyah portrays Juliana.
In the series, teen matchmaker Kitty Song Covey (Cathcart) thinks she knows everything there is to know about love. But when she moves halfway across the world to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, she’ll soon realize that relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line.
Choi will play Dae, Keyvan portrays Q, Kim will play Yuri, Lee takes on Min Ho, Thurnwald joins the cast as Alex and Aliyah portrays Juliana.
- 4/5/2022
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix is sending teen matchmaker Kitty Song-Covey halfway across the world for a romantic adventure of her own. But as she moves to South Korea to reunite with her long-distance boyfriend, Kitty will soon learn that “relationships are a lot more complicated when it’s your own heart on the line.”
That ominous warning comes straight from the logline of Xo, Kitty, a new series spun off from the streamer’s popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies. The half-hour comedy’s 10-episode first season has officially begun production in Seoul, with Anna Cathcart reprising her title role...
That ominous warning comes straight from the logline of Xo, Kitty, a new series spun off from the streamer’s popular To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies. The half-hour comedy’s 10-episode first season has officially begun production in Seoul, with Anna Cathcart reprising her title role...
- 4/5/2022
- by Andy Swift
- TVLine.com
Netflix’s “Xo, Kitty,” the spinoff of its “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” trilogy, has started production in Seoul, South Korea, the streamer announced Tuesday.
Netflix paired the production announcement with several new casting details.
Joining in series regular roles are Choi Min-yeong who is playing Dae; Anthony Keyvan will play Q; Gia Kim will play Yuri; Sang Heon Lee will play Min Ho; Peter Thurnwald will play Alex; and Regan Aliyah will play Juliana.
In recurring roles are “Lost’s” Yunjin Kim as Jina; Michael K Lee as Professor Lee; and Jocelyn Shelfo as Madison.
As previously reported by TheWrap, Anna Cathcart will reprise her role as Kitty from the “To All the Boys” movies.
This first season of “Xo, Kitty” will be directed by Jennifer Arnold, Jeff Chan, Pamela Romanowsky and Katina Medina Mora.
Awesomeness Studios and Ace Entertainment will distribute the show, with Jenny Han...
Netflix paired the production announcement with several new casting details.
Joining in series regular roles are Choi Min-yeong who is playing Dae; Anthony Keyvan will play Q; Gia Kim will play Yuri; Sang Heon Lee will play Min Ho; Peter Thurnwald will play Alex; and Regan Aliyah will play Juliana.
In recurring roles are “Lost’s” Yunjin Kim as Jina; Michael K Lee as Professor Lee; and Jocelyn Shelfo as Madison.
As previously reported by TheWrap, Anna Cathcart will reprise her role as Kitty from the “To All the Boys” movies.
This first season of “Xo, Kitty” will be directed by Jennifer Arnold, Jeff Chan, Pamela Romanowsky and Katina Medina Mora.
Awesomeness Studios and Ace Entertainment will distribute the show, with Jenny Han...
- 4/5/2022
- by Dessi Gomez and Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
We’ll be seeing more of Antoine in Season 2 of Emily in Paris. William Abadie, who recurred as the character in Season 1, has been promoted to series regular the next installment of the Netflix series. Additionally, Lucien Laviscount has joined in a recurring role.
The series also confirmed its slate of directors this season including returning writer-producer-director Andrew Fleming (The Craft: Legacy) and Peter Lauer (Younger). Joining as new directors are Katina Medina Mora and Jennifer Arnold. Season 2 is currently in production.
Created and executive produced by Darren Star, Emily in Paris stars Lily Collins as Emily, an ambitious twentysomething marketing executive from Chicago who unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing company — and she is tasked with revamping their social media strategy. Emily’s new life in...
The series also confirmed its slate of directors this season including returning writer-producer-director Andrew Fleming (The Craft: Legacy) and Peter Lauer (Younger). Joining as new directors are Katina Medina Mora and Jennifer Arnold. Season 2 is currently in production.
Created and executive produced by Darren Star, Emily in Paris stars Lily Collins as Emily, an ambitious twentysomething marketing executive from Chicago who unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing company — and she is tasked with revamping their social media strategy. Emily’s new life in...
- 5/24/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video debuted a trailer for “The Underground Railroad,” an original limited series from showrunner and director Barry Jenkins.
All 10 episodes of the series, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, will premiere on May 14.
“The Underground Railroad” follows Cora Randall’s journey to freedom in the antebellum South as bounty hunter Ridgeway seeks to bring her back to the plantation she escaped. Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon and Joel Edgerton star alongside Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, Sheila Atim, Amber Gray, Peter De Jersey, Chukwudi Iwuji, Damon Herriman, Lily Rabe, Irone Singleton, Mychal-Bella Bowman, Marcus “Mj” Gladney, Jr., Will Poulter and Peter Mullan.
Jenkins executive produces with Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt, Richard Heus, Jacqueline Hoyt and Colson Whitehead. “The Underground Railroad” is a production of Plan B, Pastel and Big Indie with Amazon Studios.
Watch the trailer below.
Dates
HBO Max...
All 10 episodes of the series, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, will premiere on May 14.
“The Underground Railroad” follows Cora Randall’s journey to freedom in the antebellum South as bounty hunter Ridgeway seeks to bring her back to the plantation she escaped. Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon and Joel Edgerton star alongside Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, Sheila Atim, Amber Gray, Peter De Jersey, Chukwudi Iwuji, Damon Herriman, Lily Rabe, Irone Singleton, Mychal-Bella Bowman, Marcus “Mj” Gladney, Jr., Will Poulter and Peter Mullan.
Jenkins executive produces with Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt, Richard Heus, Jacqueline Hoyt and Colson Whitehead. “The Underground Railroad” is a production of Plan B, Pastel and Big Indie with Amazon Studios.
Watch the trailer below.
Dates
HBO Max...
- 4/15/2021
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Careyes, Mexico, a strip of bohemian, palm tree-laden paradise perched along a remote strip of the Pacific coast, is the sort of place creative types dream about, with balmy ocean breezes, bright blue skies and a network of surrounding villages lined with cobblestone walkways and the sound of tropical birds chirping overhead. Arte Careyes, a film and arts festival designed to blend in with the area’s emphasis on nature, ecotourism and a laid-back Latin American vibe, kicks off its 9th year March 20-24, luring a crowd of some 250 filmmakers, photographers and musicians with a desire to slow things down and luxuriate in the town’s unique mystical and awe-inspiring qualities.
“Arte Careyes is a celebration of Mexico and that is always what has been for us the most important thing,” says fest founder Fillipo Brignone, whose father, Italian banker Gian Franco Brignone, spotted Careyes while flying overhead in 1968 and...
“Arte Careyes is a celebration of Mexico and that is always what has been for us the most important thing,” says fest founder Fillipo Brignone, whose father, Italian banker Gian Franco Brignone, spotted Careyes while flying overhead in 1968 and...
- 3/20/2019
- by Malina Saval
- Variety Film + TV
Mexico’s Viento del Norte will produce “Adam’s Apple,” a new film from Katina Medina Mora (“You’ll Know What to Do With Me”). Timothy R. Boyce’s Film Rooster –based in New York– has come on board as co-producer.
The project was presented at this week’s Locarno’s Match-Me! co-production platform. The feature revolves around the memories of Laura, now in her fifties, who after an encounter with an old friend feels obliged to revisit her past and reconcile with herself. She will nosedive into memories of when she was living in Mexico, 25 years earlier, and was still called Victor.
The film will be shot 50/50 in English and Spanish. This proportionality works on different levels according to Mora, who explained to Variety: “Action will be set in two countries, and it’s a story about two genres in one body. This makes it very unique. We will...
The project was presented at this week’s Locarno’s Match-Me! co-production platform. The feature revolves around the memories of Laura, now in her fifties, who after an encounter with an old friend feels obliged to revisit her past and reconcile with herself. She will nosedive into memories of when she was living in Mexico, 25 years earlier, and was still called Victor.
The film will be shot 50/50 in English and Spanish. This proportionality works on different levels according to Mora, who explained to Variety: “Action will be set in two countries, and it’s a story about two genres in one body. This makes it very unique. We will...
- 8/8/2018
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
World premiere of Intimate Lighting restoration, a focus on Mexican female directors, a tribute to Otto Preminger and the first Eurimages Lab Project Award set for 2016 edition.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has unveiled the first wave of titles and industry initiatives set for its 51st edition (July 1-9).
The festival, hosted in the picturesque Czech spa town, will world premiere a digital restoration of Ivan Passer’s Intimate Lighting. The bittersweet comedy about an encounter between two former classmates and musicians is described one of the most striking films of the Czechoslovak New Wave of the 1960s.
The 82-year-old director, who was honoured with Kviff’s Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema in 2008, will be present at the premiere on July 2.
Mexican female directors
Semana Santa
Kviff will also spotlight Mexican female directors, screening nine features and one short from the past five years. The filmmakers include Elisa Miller, who won a Palme...
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) has unveiled the first wave of titles and industry initiatives set for its 51st edition (July 1-9).
The festival, hosted in the picturesque Czech spa town, will world premiere a digital restoration of Ivan Passer’s Intimate Lighting. The bittersweet comedy about an encounter between two former classmates and musicians is described one of the most striking films of the Czechoslovak New Wave of the 1960s.
The 82-year-old director, who was honoured with Kviff’s Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema in 2008, will be present at the premiere on July 2.
Mexican female directors
Semana Santa
Kviff will also spotlight Mexican female directors, screening nine features and one short from the past five years. The filmmakers include Elisa Miller, who won a Palme...
- 4/26/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Nicolás thinks it's love at first sight. Emerging from an appointment with his doctor, Nicolás (Pablo Derqui) sees a lovely woman at a hospital. Their eyes meet, and the attraction is instantaneous and mutual. They exchange light banter, and Nicolás leaves his phone number with the woman, named Isabel (Ilse Salas), as well as an invitation to the opening of his photography exhibit that week. When Nicolás sees Isabel at the exhibit, he is thrilled, and the relationship takes off. But was it love at first sight, truly? In Katina Medina Mora's You'll Know What to Do with Me (Sabrás qué hacer conmigo), Isabel initially appears to be a befuddling mystery to Nicolás. Why does she swing so quickly between cool distance and hot passion?...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 11/25/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Top brass have announced the films in official selection at the Mexican festival’s fourth annual edition, set to run from November 11-15.
Official selection comprises Competencia Los Cabos entries from Mexico, the Us and Canada including Lorenzo Vigas’ recent Venice Golden Lion winner From Afar (Desde Allá), and México Primero. Winners from both programmes will each collect a $15,000 prize.
The films in México Primero will also compete for the Fipresci Award, the $12,200 Art Kingdom Award and the $40,000 Fox+ Award.
For the first time films in official selection will compete for the Cinemex Audience Award. Audiences at Cinemex Los Cabos–Puerto Paraíso screenings will choose their recipient of a $10,000 prize.
Competencia Los Cabos selections are:
From Afar (Desde Allá, Mexico-Venezuela, pictured), dir Lorenzo Vigas;
Tangerine (USA), dir Sean Baker;
Room (Canada-Ireland), dir Lenny Abrahamson;
Chronic (Mexico), dir Michel Franco;
James White (USA), dir Josh Mond;
Les Êtres Chers (Canada), dir Anne Émond;
Un Monstruo De Mil Cabezas (Mexico-France...
Official selection comprises Competencia Los Cabos entries from Mexico, the Us and Canada including Lorenzo Vigas’ recent Venice Golden Lion winner From Afar (Desde Allá), and México Primero. Winners from both programmes will each collect a $15,000 prize.
The films in México Primero will also compete for the Fipresci Award, the $12,200 Art Kingdom Award and the $40,000 Fox+ Award.
For the first time films in official selection will compete for the Cinemex Audience Award. Audiences at Cinemex Los Cabos–Puerto Paraíso screenings will choose their recipient of a $10,000 prize.
Competencia Los Cabos selections are:
From Afar (Desde Allá, Mexico-Venezuela, pictured), dir Lorenzo Vigas;
Tangerine (USA), dir Sean Baker;
Room (Canada-Ireland), dir Lenny Abrahamson;
Chronic (Mexico), dir Michel Franco;
James White (USA), dir Josh Mond;
Les Êtres Chers (Canada), dir Anne Émond;
Un Monstruo De Mil Cabezas (Mexico-France...
- 10/13/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Los Cabos International Film Festival took place this month of November. It was a brave move to keep it going after Cabo had been so hard hit by Hurricane Odile with winds of 125mph less than a month earlier. The vast destruction in our part of town was quickly being repaired though traces remained visible and repairs still to be done necessitated cutting the normal invitation list by half and doubling up hotel rooms for a few unlucky journalists. That being said, there were 15,000 attending the festival. Volunteers wore the worthy words on their t-shirts: #Unstoppable, and they were that.
For all the infrastructure problems of the city in the midst of rebuilding itself, the festival seemed to thrive with all sorts of invitees showing up from all over the world. It seemed like gala events, panels, master classes, coproduction meetings, works in progress, screenings and interviews were constantly taking place. It was a great team and we all felt part of it.
The festival is overseen by the executive board members Eduardo Sánchez Navarro, Alfonso Pascal Barcenas, Scott Cross and Sean Cross (who also founded Vail Film Festival) and is organized by the festival team of Alonso Aguilar (General Director), Alejandra Paulin (General Coordinator) - who was a great market director in Guadajalara before coming here, Maru Garzon (Head of Programming), Ana Molinar Trujillo (Communication Manager), and Monica Herrera (Film Programmer). My friend from Guadalajara, normally an English teacher, Fabian Cruz was also there working for the festival.
When Eduardo Sánchez Navarro Redo remembers how he first came to Los Cabos, there is no doubt in his mind that destiny and luck played an important part. When he married his wife 30 years ago, he decided to travel along the entire Pacific Coast, from Acapulco to Mazatlan, where he crossed over to La Paz eventually driving to Los Cabos. The beauty of the area impressed him and it was during this trip that he and his wife decided to buy a vacation home in Los Cabos, thus beginning a distinguished career as a principal player and developer of what is Los Cabos today. Over the course of more than 20 years, his company, Grupo Questro, has emerged as one of the most highly respected developers in all of Mexico. He, together with Juan Gallardo Thurlow, Scott Cross, and Sean Cross, founded the festival in 2012.
My job as a journalist was to explore and write, hard to do when you are having such fun 24/7. We journalists were all in one hotel where we were given space and time to bond. Travel writers mixed with trade writers: from Film Journal David Noh, whose article is worth sharing here, my colleagues Peter Rainer from NPR and Christian Science Monitor, Anne Thompson from Thompson on Hollywood on Indiewire, Godfrey Cheshire of RogerEbert.com and many others met and mixed. Also Ira Deutchman of Colombia University Film School and Emerging Pictures and Robin Brock of Creative Coalition were there with time to share dinners.
The filmmakers, in another hotel, mixed by day and at the communal lunches and parties. I will write more on them in an upcoming blog! After all, filmmakers are the backbone of our industry. Without them, we have nothing!
The agents, mostly from CAA, were placed in another hotel, luxurious and far away. As someone said, Cabos is like Cannes, only in November. If so, perhaps they were at the Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes. (Actually they were at Hacienda Beach Club & Residences) CAA has always been an honored part of this festival. I have heard that that is because someone with lots of money from Mexico invests it in cinema through CAA and even started the festival. That is, however, pure conjecture. Under the guidance of CAA agent, Micah Green, people can be assured that the directions he sees and the decisions he makes about investing private individuals' capital into filmed entertainment is priceless. I could think of no one I would trust more --in this untrustworthy business we are in-- than Micah.
At least two other agents – Bec Smith and Rena Ronson from UTA -- were also there. Rena and Micah were on the Film Financing Panel moderated by Variety’s expert in all things Iberoamerican and my idol, John Hopewell. Other participants on the Film Finance Panel were Jonathan King, Evp of Production at Jeff Skoll’s Participant Media whose partnership with Canana formed Participant PanAmerican production fund. “No” by Pablo Lorrain was their first investment. Pp also financed "El Ardor" which played in Cannes and “Cesar Chavez”, directed by Diego Luna. Also on the panel were Mark Musselman of Canada’s 10X2yinc, the exec producer of “Eastern Promises” and most recently of “Remember” by Atom Egoyan which was also produced by Robert Lantos and son, also in Los Cabos. It went into production in 2014 and is tipped for Cannes. Other panelists included Raul Del Alto of Mexico’s Ag Studios (Itaca Films Mexico, Itaca Films USA, Itaca Films Colombia and Itaca Filkms Brazil, and Rena Ronson of UTA who, like Micah Green of CAA focuses on global film finance, distribution and marketing strategies for Independents and co-financed features and is fluent in Spanish because of her long time experience with Latin America.
At one point I looked up and found the European fund chiefs there as well, Laufey Gudjonsdottir from Iceland (where Interstellar was filmed), Katriel Schory from Israel Film Fund and Edith Sepp-Dallas from the Estonian Film Institute. They were there for Bpx. Best Practice Exchange is an initiative that brings together the leaders of film funding agencies from across the world to take part in high-level-workshops – one or two each year – designed to promote new standards of excellence in the provision of public funding for the support of film production, development and distribution. The aim of Bpx is to ensure that policies and procedures adopted by film funding agencies will act together, positively and proactively, to stimulate and sustain practices of international coproduction and cofinancing worldwide.
Triggered by the situation in which filmmaking outside the main production centers of Hollywood and Bollywood now finds itself, Bpx was created by Simon Perry, president of Ace (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen), in collaboration with Katriel Schory, executive director of the Israel Film Fund. It held its first workshop in February 2013 in Israel, and two further workshops in Toronto (September 2013) and Berlin (February 2014) and this was the third! Bravo!
Among the Mexican, Canadian and U.S. films that showed, the winners were as follow:
Mexico First
Mexico First winning film was ¨Llevate mis amores” ("All of Me") by Arturo Gonzalez. The film narrates the story of the generosity of the women of Las Patronas who feed the immigrants who ride La Bestia. The director was awarded a cash Prize of Usd $15,000. This film made me cry. I thought of it again when reading the L.A. Times article about the murder of Adrian Rodriguez and his assistant, Mexican good Samaritans who dedicated their scarce resources to feeding Central American migrants passing by on La Bestia, which is what the women in this movie do. And one of the women was at the festival too.
Los Cabos Competition
The Los Cabos Competition winner was “Güeros” by Alonso Ruizpalacios, also a winner at the Berlinale, Jerusalem Film Festival, Tribeca, Toronto and San Sebastian. Being sold internationally by Mundial, the joint venture of Canana (again!) and Im Global, the film has sold to Kino Lorber for U.S., Cannibal for Mexico, Dreams Hill for Italy, Noori for So. Korea and Maison Motion for Taiwan … "Güeros" is the undeniable triumph of a nouveau director who dares to pay homage the French New Wave on a wild detective hunt through Mexico City. In light of the 43 murdered students, this film, about students on strike, strikes a chord within the watcher. The film´s producer won a Usd $15,000 cash prize.
Work In Progress Mexico
The second Work in Progress Mexico prize was awarded to "Los Herederos," by Jorge Hernandez, a film that describes adolescent effervescence and idleness through a group of friends who spend their vacations adrenaline-seeking through parties, sex and alcohol. The winner received a Usd $10,000 cash prize.
Mexico-usa-canada Co-production Forum
The winner of the first Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum was also announced: "Afronauts" by Frances Bodomo, based on the real life story of the Academia Nacional de Ciencias, Investigación Espacial e Investigación Astronómica of Zambia. Writer- Director Frances Bodomo received a Usd $8,000 cash prize. It also received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Mexico First: Fox +
In its second year running the México Primero: Fox+ chose one of the films that participated to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The México Primero: Fox+ prize consists of Usd $40,000 and was awarded to Isaac Ezban´s "El Incidente" ("The Incident"), two M.C. Escher-maze-like parallel stories about characters trapped in illogical endless spaces: two brothers and a detective locked on an infinite staircase, and a family locked on an infinite road… for a very long time. The international sales agent, Shoreline, will be showing the film at Ventana Sur December 3rd at 17:00 at Cinemark 3.
Work In Progress Mexico Fox +
In its second year running as well, Work in Progress México Fox+ selected a participating film to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The Usd $30,000 prize was awarded to Katina Medina Mora’s "Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz", produced by Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann.
Work In Progress Mexico Chemistry
This Third edition of the Festival also witnessed the first Work In Progress México –Chemistry award. Chemistry post-production studios granted the winner, Jorge Hernandez’s "Los Herederos", $45,000 Usd in color correction services.
Mexico – USA – Canada Splendor Omnia Mantarraya Co-production Forum
On its first year running, the Coproduction Forum Mexico- USA- Canada Splendor Omnia – MANTArraya will be granting a $30,000 Usd equivalent prize worth 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, as well as a paid stay in Tepoztlan Morelos, site of their studios, to the winner "Afronauts" by Francez Bodomo (U.S.).
The key phrase to understanding Cabo is "Seeing what the neighbors do" as the festival and market connects Canada, U,S, and Mexico in showing of films and exploring coproduction. And the mixing of filmmakers and journalists from all three Americas was exciting in the possibilities it offered to everyone.
As for the hard-core business done there:
Mark Kassen will be directing "Criminal Empire for Dummies" written by Cliff Dorman. Kassen will also be producing the film along with James Gibb of Cutting Edge Group and Greg Hajdarowicz of Gremi Films. The deal took place at the exclusive resort Hacienda Beach Club & Residences and was reported by Variety.
Actor and producer Luis Gerardo Mendez ("Nosotros Los Nobles") signed a representation agreement with Paradigm. Reported by Variety. So I guess Paradigm also sent agents to Los Cabos.
Pat Saperstein of Variety also attended Los Cabos and scooped a story, that “Wolverine Hotel” from director Patricia Chica who was participating in the Coproduction Forum, is closing in on production with a "recent financing commitment from Jean-Guy Després, who will serve as exec producer. The edgy crime thriller is produced by Canada-based Byron Martin. Looking to cast a Latino actor as co-star, Chica met with rising Mexican thesp Luis Gerardo Mendez ('We Are the Nobles') during Afm though he has not yet been attached. 'A Latino star opens up a market', said Martin."
Celebrated producer Monica Lozano announced the launch of Alebrije Distribución. She has had her hand in 23 productions since her first film, "Amores Perros". "Instructions Not Included" the Us$ 5.5 million film that grossed Us$ 100 million worldwide was also her production. With this Pan-American initiative, the company will acquire distribution rights for the Latin and North American markets. Reported by Variety again!! You would think John was the only real reporter there. Pinske should be proud of him! Most of us got no scoops, but then, I guess we have to prove ourselves worthy - which I am not because at heart, I am not a reporter hunting for news, but rather a gatherer of information and a writer.
Speaking of Monica Lozano, the Germany-based international sales agent, Media Luna, acquired world rights to Internet Junkie, directed by Alexander Katzowicz and produced by Monica Lozano. Variety reports on this again!
"Yamaha 300", a participating project of the 1st Mexico – USA- Canada Coproduction Forum, produced by Valerium Arts (Mayra Espinosa y Jorge Michel Grau, producer and writer-director of the horror hit "Somos lo que hay" respectively, and Grau, the writer of the remake "We Are What We Are") and Uncorked Productions (Andrew Corkin, the producer of the horror film "What We Were"), will be one of the first projects to receive the development stage and postproduction support offered by The Good Film Fund, an initiative of Media Darling (Amy Darling) and The Chatanooga Film Festival. See Variety.
New York producer Dodgeville Films ("To Be Takei") will be joining Varios Lobos in Mexico to produce "Ya no estoy aquí", Fernando Frias’s second film, which was also a winner during Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition. This film in the Coproduction Forum was reported on in Variety.
"Siete Horas" ("Seven Hours"), one of the winning projects of the second Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund edition, which will be directed by Chema Rodriguez and produced by Francisco Vargas, the renowned director of the film "El violin", made an alliance with the Spanish production companies Sin un Duro and Noodles Prods to co-produce the project. (Variety)
CineTren closed deals to handle Latin American distribution for Spring, a Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead film, whose Latin American Premiere was held at Los Cabos International Film Festival. Negotiations between Nate Bolotin and Marie Katz fromLos Angeles-based Xyz and Manuel Garcia from CineTren, took place at the Hotel Grand Solmar. Next time, I'll have to visit all the hotels!! See Variety article.
BH5 Group, which participates in the executive production of "Remember" by Atom Egoyan, will be working with Alonso Ruizpalacios, director of Güeros, in his second movie: Museo, a project that participated in the Ist Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum. Even though Variety wrote about this, my blog on the three year old conglomerate of companies, BH5, was more complete:
BH5 Group Makes a Splash with Three Impressive Films at Los Cabos Int'l Film Fest
BH5, a conglomerate of five formerly independent production companies all run by various friends from the same film school, will be working the international markets much more. Besides the Toronto hit, Jodorowsky's "Dance of Reality", they are working with larger companies like Pathe now. Their work in progress, "You Will Know What To Do With Me" ("Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz") which just won the The Usd $30,000 prize of Fox+, is seeking an international sales agent.
"Entrevero" by Max Zunino, also winner of the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition, was selected in the development project category by Ibermedia. See Variety.
And though Colombian Ciro Guerra, whose "The Wind Journeys" was produced by our German friends Roman Paul and Gerhard Meixner at Razor Film Production and by Burning Blue's prolific Diana Bustamente -- who is now also heading the Carthagena Film Festival -- showed in 2009 Cannes Un Certain Regard and was sold by Paris’ Elle Driver to 19 countries including Film Movement for U.S., announced to Variety's John Hopewell that his next film, "Embrace of the Serpent" will star U.S. actor Brionne Davis (“Savaged”) and Belgium’s Jan Bijvoet, the lead in Cannes Competition entry “Borgman” a really creepy dark comedy, he did not discuss his next project "Taganga" in the Coproduction Forum. "Taganga" is about a fisherman from a small village by the Colombian coast where many foreign-owned scuba diving centers have been established. A new law requiring local fisherman to change the motors of their boats forces him to earn quick money, so he chooses to dynamite to fish. The owner of the largest scuba diving center opposes this use of explosives. When the fisherman receives a death threat if he continues the dynamiting of fish, he assumes the center's owner is behind the threat. In order to prove it, he begins a series of fateful actions.
Finally, while it seems like Variety wrote all the news, I have one item which no one has reported on. Reese Witherspoon stated at her press conference in Los Cabos, where her film "Wild" premiered in a red carpet gala, that she is talking to Eugenio Derbez ("Instructions Not Included") to make a movie with him. I heard her say it and later spoke of this to Ben Odell (my next blog on Los Cabos features him). Ben (now partners with Eugenio at 3Pas Studios) said, Actually that would be a great idea but they had not spoken about it. However, they are both represented by CAA, so it would seem like a natural and really exciting pairing. After all, aren't "Legally Blond" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" the same film? She is certainly on a role as a producer with "Wild" and David Fincher's "Gone Girl" as he is with his U.S. career. The studios are all courting her now, she said. More to come on this...
For all the infrastructure problems of the city in the midst of rebuilding itself, the festival seemed to thrive with all sorts of invitees showing up from all over the world. It seemed like gala events, panels, master classes, coproduction meetings, works in progress, screenings and interviews were constantly taking place. It was a great team and we all felt part of it.
The festival is overseen by the executive board members Eduardo Sánchez Navarro, Alfonso Pascal Barcenas, Scott Cross and Sean Cross (who also founded Vail Film Festival) and is organized by the festival team of Alonso Aguilar (General Director), Alejandra Paulin (General Coordinator) - who was a great market director in Guadajalara before coming here, Maru Garzon (Head of Programming), Ana Molinar Trujillo (Communication Manager), and Monica Herrera (Film Programmer). My friend from Guadalajara, normally an English teacher, Fabian Cruz was also there working for the festival.
When Eduardo Sánchez Navarro Redo remembers how he first came to Los Cabos, there is no doubt in his mind that destiny and luck played an important part. When he married his wife 30 years ago, he decided to travel along the entire Pacific Coast, from Acapulco to Mazatlan, where he crossed over to La Paz eventually driving to Los Cabos. The beauty of the area impressed him and it was during this trip that he and his wife decided to buy a vacation home in Los Cabos, thus beginning a distinguished career as a principal player and developer of what is Los Cabos today. Over the course of more than 20 years, his company, Grupo Questro, has emerged as one of the most highly respected developers in all of Mexico. He, together with Juan Gallardo Thurlow, Scott Cross, and Sean Cross, founded the festival in 2012.
My job as a journalist was to explore and write, hard to do when you are having such fun 24/7. We journalists were all in one hotel where we were given space and time to bond. Travel writers mixed with trade writers: from Film Journal David Noh, whose article is worth sharing here, my colleagues Peter Rainer from NPR and Christian Science Monitor, Anne Thompson from Thompson on Hollywood on Indiewire, Godfrey Cheshire of RogerEbert.com and many others met and mixed. Also Ira Deutchman of Colombia University Film School and Emerging Pictures and Robin Brock of Creative Coalition were there with time to share dinners.
The filmmakers, in another hotel, mixed by day and at the communal lunches and parties. I will write more on them in an upcoming blog! After all, filmmakers are the backbone of our industry. Without them, we have nothing!
The agents, mostly from CAA, were placed in another hotel, luxurious and far away. As someone said, Cabos is like Cannes, only in November. If so, perhaps they were at the Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes. (Actually they were at Hacienda Beach Club & Residences) CAA has always been an honored part of this festival. I have heard that that is because someone with lots of money from Mexico invests it in cinema through CAA and even started the festival. That is, however, pure conjecture. Under the guidance of CAA agent, Micah Green, people can be assured that the directions he sees and the decisions he makes about investing private individuals' capital into filmed entertainment is priceless. I could think of no one I would trust more --in this untrustworthy business we are in-- than Micah.
At least two other agents – Bec Smith and Rena Ronson from UTA -- were also there. Rena and Micah were on the Film Financing Panel moderated by Variety’s expert in all things Iberoamerican and my idol, John Hopewell. Other participants on the Film Finance Panel were Jonathan King, Evp of Production at Jeff Skoll’s Participant Media whose partnership with Canana formed Participant PanAmerican production fund. “No” by Pablo Lorrain was their first investment. Pp also financed "El Ardor" which played in Cannes and “Cesar Chavez”, directed by Diego Luna. Also on the panel were Mark Musselman of Canada’s 10X2yinc, the exec producer of “Eastern Promises” and most recently of “Remember” by Atom Egoyan which was also produced by Robert Lantos and son, also in Los Cabos. It went into production in 2014 and is tipped for Cannes. Other panelists included Raul Del Alto of Mexico’s Ag Studios (Itaca Films Mexico, Itaca Films USA, Itaca Films Colombia and Itaca Filkms Brazil, and Rena Ronson of UTA who, like Micah Green of CAA focuses on global film finance, distribution and marketing strategies for Independents and co-financed features and is fluent in Spanish because of her long time experience with Latin America.
At one point I looked up and found the European fund chiefs there as well, Laufey Gudjonsdottir from Iceland (where Interstellar was filmed), Katriel Schory from Israel Film Fund and Edith Sepp-Dallas from the Estonian Film Institute. They were there for Bpx. Best Practice Exchange is an initiative that brings together the leaders of film funding agencies from across the world to take part in high-level-workshops – one or two each year – designed to promote new standards of excellence in the provision of public funding for the support of film production, development and distribution. The aim of Bpx is to ensure that policies and procedures adopted by film funding agencies will act together, positively and proactively, to stimulate and sustain practices of international coproduction and cofinancing worldwide.
Triggered by the situation in which filmmaking outside the main production centers of Hollywood and Bollywood now finds itself, Bpx was created by Simon Perry, president of Ace (Ateliers du Cinéma Européen), in collaboration with Katriel Schory, executive director of the Israel Film Fund. It held its first workshop in February 2013 in Israel, and two further workshops in Toronto (September 2013) and Berlin (February 2014) and this was the third! Bravo!
Among the Mexican, Canadian and U.S. films that showed, the winners were as follow:
Mexico First
Mexico First winning film was ¨Llevate mis amores” ("All of Me") by Arturo Gonzalez. The film narrates the story of the generosity of the women of Las Patronas who feed the immigrants who ride La Bestia. The director was awarded a cash Prize of Usd $15,000. This film made me cry. I thought of it again when reading the L.A. Times article about the murder of Adrian Rodriguez and his assistant, Mexican good Samaritans who dedicated their scarce resources to feeding Central American migrants passing by on La Bestia, which is what the women in this movie do. And one of the women was at the festival too.
Los Cabos Competition
The Los Cabos Competition winner was “Güeros” by Alonso Ruizpalacios, also a winner at the Berlinale, Jerusalem Film Festival, Tribeca, Toronto and San Sebastian. Being sold internationally by Mundial, the joint venture of Canana (again!) and Im Global, the film has sold to Kino Lorber for U.S., Cannibal for Mexico, Dreams Hill for Italy, Noori for So. Korea and Maison Motion for Taiwan … "Güeros" is the undeniable triumph of a nouveau director who dares to pay homage the French New Wave on a wild detective hunt through Mexico City. In light of the 43 murdered students, this film, about students on strike, strikes a chord within the watcher. The film´s producer won a Usd $15,000 cash prize.
Work In Progress Mexico
The second Work in Progress Mexico prize was awarded to "Los Herederos," by Jorge Hernandez, a film that describes adolescent effervescence and idleness through a group of friends who spend their vacations adrenaline-seeking through parties, sex and alcohol. The winner received a Usd $10,000 cash prize.
Mexico-usa-canada Co-production Forum
The winner of the first Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum was also announced: "Afronauts" by Frances Bodomo, based on the real life story of the Academia Nacional de Ciencias, Investigación Espacial e Investigación Astronómica of Zambia. Writer- Director Frances Bodomo received a Usd $8,000 cash prize. It also received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Mexico First: Fox +
In its second year running the México Primero: Fox+ chose one of the films that participated to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The México Primero: Fox+ prize consists of Usd $40,000 and was awarded to Isaac Ezban´s "El Incidente" ("The Incident"), two M.C. Escher-maze-like parallel stories about characters trapped in illogical endless spaces: two brothers and a detective locked on an infinite staircase, and a family locked on an infinite road… for a very long time. The international sales agent, Shoreline, will be showing the film at Ventana Sur December 3rd at 17:00 at Cinemark 3.
Work In Progress Mexico Fox +
In its second year running as well, Work in Progress México Fox+ selected a participating film to have its distribution rights pre-bought for the Latin American and Caribbean (Except Brazil) markets. The Usd $30,000 prize was awarded to Katina Medina Mora’s "Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz", produced by Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann.
Work In Progress Mexico Chemistry
This Third edition of the Festival also witnessed the first Work In Progress México –Chemistry award. Chemistry post-production studios granted the winner, Jorge Hernandez’s "Los Herederos", $45,000 Usd in color correction services.
Mexico – USA – Canada Splendor Omnia Mantarraya Co-production Forum
On its first year running, the Coproduction Forum Mexico- USA- Canada Splendor Omnia – MANTArraya will be granting a $30,000 Usd equivalent prize worth 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, as well as a paid stay in Tepoztlan Morelos, site of their studios, to the winner "Afronauts" by Francez Bodomo (U.S.).
The key phrase to understanding Cabo is "Seeing what the neighbors do" as the festival and market connects Canada, U,S, and Mexico in showing of films and exploring coproduction. And the mixing of filmmakers and journalists from all three Americas was exciting in the possibilities it offered to everyone.
As for the hard-core business done there:
Mark Kassen will be directing "Criminal Empire for Dummies" written by Cliff Dorman. Kassen will also be producing the film along with James Gibb of Cutting Edge Group and Greg Hajdarowicz of Gremi Films. The deal took place at the exclusive resort Hacienda Beach Club & Residences and was reported by Variety.
Actor and producer Luis Gerardo Mendez ("Nosotros Los Nobles") signed a representation agreement with Paradigm. Reported by Variety. So I guess Paradigm also sent agents to Los Cabos.
Pat Saperstein of Variety also attended Los Cabos and scooped a story, that “Wolverine Hotel” from director Patricia Chica who was participating in the Coproduction Forum, is closing in on production with a "recent financing commitment from Jean-Guy Després, who will serve as exec producer. The edgy crime thriller is produced by Canada-based Byron Martin. Looking to cast a Latino actor as co-star, Chica met with rising Mexican thesp Luis Gerardo Mendez ('We Are the Nobles') during Afm though he has not yet been attached. 'A Latino star opens up a market', said Martin."
Celebrated producer Monica Lozano announced the launch of Alebrije Distribución. She has had her hand in 23 productions since her first film, "Amores Perros". "Instructions Not Included" the Us$ 5.5 million film that grossed Us$ 100 million worldwide was also her production. With this Pan-American initiative, the company will acquire distribution rights for the Latin and North American markets. Reported by Variety again!! You would think John was the only real reporter there. Pinske should be proud of him! Most of us got no scoops, but then, I guess we have to prove ourselves worthy - which I am not because at heart, I am not a reporter hunting for news, but rather a gatherer of information and a writer.
Speaking of Monica Lozano, the Germany-based international sales agent, Media Luna, acquired world rights to Internet Junkie, directed by Alexander Katzowicz and produced by Monica Lozano. Variety reports on this again!
"Yamaha 300", a participating project of the 1st Mexico – USA- Canada Coproduction Forum, produced by Valerium Arts (Mayra Espinosa y Jorge Michel Grau, producer and writer-director of the horror hit "Somos lo que hay" respectively, and Grau, the writer of the remake "We Are What We Are") and Uncorked Productions (Andrew Corkin, the producer of the horror film "What We Were"), will be one of the first projects to receive the development stage and postproduction support offered by The Good Film Fund, an initiative of Media Darling (Amy Darling) and The Chatanooga Film Festival. See Variety.
New York producer Dodgeville Films ("To Be Takei") will be joining Varios Lobos in Mexico to produce "Ya no estoy aquí", Fernando Frias’s second film, which was also a winner during Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition. This film in the Coproduction Forum was reported on in Variety.
"Siete Horas" ("Seven Hours"), one of the winning projects of the second Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund edition, which will be directed by Chema Rodriguez and produced by Francisco Vargas, the renowned director of the film "El violin", made an alliance with the Spanish production companies Sin un Duro and Noodles Prods to co-produce the project. (Variety)
CineTren closed deals to handle Latin American distribution for Spring, a Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead film, whose Latin American Premiere was held at Los Cabos International Film Festival. Negotiations between Nate Bolotin and Marie Katz fromLos Angeles-based Xyz and Manuel Garcia from CineTren, took place at the Hotel Grand Solmar. Next time, I'll have to visit all the hotels!! See Variety article.
BH5 Group, which participates in the executive production of "Remember" by Atom Egoyan, will be working with Alonso Ruizpalacios, director of Güeros, in his second movie: Museo, a project that participated in the Ist Mexico- USA- Canada Co-production Forum. Even though Variety wrote about this, my blog on the three year old conglomerate of companies, BH5, was more complete:
BH5 Group Makes a Splash with Three Impressive Films at Los Cabos Int'l Film Fest
BH5, a conglomerate of five formerly independent production companies all run by various friends from the same film school, will be working the international markets much more. Besides the Toronto hit, Jodorowsky's "Dance of Reality", they are working with larger companies like Pathe now. Their work in progress, "You Will Know What To Do With Me" ("Sabras que hacer conmigo" aka "En Contraluz") which just won the The Usd $30,000 prize of Fox+, is seeking an international sales agent.
"Entrevero" by Max Zunino, also winner of the Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund second edition, was selected in the development project category by Ibermedia. See Variety.
And though Colombian Ciro Guerra, whose "The Wind Journeys" was produced by our German friends Roman Paul and Gerhard Meixner at Razor Film Production and by Burning Blue's prolific Diana Bustamente -- who is now also heading the Carthagena Film Festival -- showed in 2009 Cannes Un Certain Regard and was sold by Paris’ Elle Driver to 19 countries including Film Movement for U.S., announced to Variety's John Hopewell that his next film, "Embrace of the Serpent" will star U.S. actor Brionne Davis (“Savaged”) and Belgium’s Jan Bijvoet, the lead in Cannes Competition entry “Borgman” a really creepy dark comedy, he did not discuss his next project "Taganga" in the Coproduction Forum. "Taganga" is about a fisherman from a small village by the Colombian coast where many foreign-owned scuba diving centers have been established. A new law requiring local fisherman to change the motors of their boats forces him to earn quick money, so he chooses to dynamite to fish. The owner of the largest scuba diving center opposes this use of explosives. When the fisherman receives a death threat if he continues the dynamiting of fish, he assumes the center's owner is behind the threat. In order to prove it, he begins a series of fateful actions.
Finally, while it seems like Variety wrote all the news, I have one item which no one has reported on. Reese Witherspoon stated at her press conference in Los Cabos, where her film "Wild" premiered in a red carpet gala, that she is talking to Eugenio Derbez ("Instructions Not Included") to make a movie with him. I heard her say it and later spoke of this to Ben Odell (my next blog on Los Cabos features him). Ben (now partners with Eugenio at 3Pas Studios) said, Actually that would be a great idea but they had not spoken about it. However, they are both represented by CAA, so it would seem like a natural and really exciting pairing. After all, aren't "Legally Blond" and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" the same film? She is certainly on a role as a producer with "Wild" and David Fincher's "Gone Girl" as he is with his U.S. career. The studios are all courting her now, she said. More to come on this...
- 12/1/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Bh5 Group was in a unique position when they presented three films at recent Los Cabos International Film Festival. The burgeoning Mexican production-finance hub which co-produces Atom Egoyan’s upcoming “Remember,” has attached Alonso Ruiz Palacios, director of Güeros,"one of the most notable feature debuts of 2014, to direct “Museum.” The other Mexican production they are are behind is "You'll Know What To Do With Me," which stars Ilse Salas , one of the rising stars of Mexican cinema.
-"You'll Know What To Do With Me" is a part of the Works in Progress Competition starring award winning Spanish actor Pablo Derqui and Ilse Salas, who stars both in this year’s Oscar entry, “Cantinflas,” and big 2014 fest winner, “Güeros.”
-"Museum" is a project in development in the Co-Production Forum with Filmmaker Alfonso Ruizpalacios, whose recent debut film “Güeros” took Best First Feature in Berlin 2014 and Best New Director at Tribeca as well as multiple trophies at San Sebastian and Morelia.
-Atom Egoyan will offer a Master Class, during which the central theme will be about his new film "Remember," now in post-production. The chat will be moderated by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of Toronto International Film Festival, and the film director will be accompanied by his producer Robert Lantos and Gerardo Gatica, CEO of Bh5 Group, the Mexican company that holds Detalle Films, which participates in the executive production of "Remember." Bh5's head of production Alberto Müffelmann will also attend the festival in search of new projects and ventures as an "Industry Guest."
“You'll Know What To Do With Me" (Sabras Que Hacer Conmigo)
Mexico
Director: Katina Medina Mora
Production: Gerardo Gatica, Alberto Müffelmann, Rodrigo Trujillo, Jacobo Nazar, Moises Cosio
Section: Works in Progress Competition
Synopsis
In a mundane hospital hallway, fine arts photographer Nicolas, epileptic since childhood, falls for the aloof Isabel, unaware she is visiting her suicidal mother. The narrative begins through Nicolas's lens then cuts back to follow Isabel prior to their meeting. Their stories merge as they're suddenly engaged in a highly charged relationship. When the intense getting acquainted period wanes, it seems worth attempting to transcend respective flaws and demons, yet commitment is not something that comes easy to either of these resolutely independent people. Nico and Isabel find the future increasingly less foreseeable and the vivid present ever more deeply affecting.
“Museum" (Museo)
Mexico
Director: Alonso Ruiz Palacios
Production: Gerardo Gatica, Manuel Alcalá, Alberto Müffelman n
Section: Co-Production Forum Competition (Mexico-u.S.A.-Canada)
Synopsis
On December 25, 1985, adding to the chaos of September's earthquake, Mexico awakened with news of the theft of 140+ pieces from the capitol city's National Museum of Anthropology. The heist was perfectly executed, bypassing the guards who were busy celebrating Christmas Eve. No one imagined that the perpetrators of the robbery slept peacefully, nightly, in the suburb of Ciudad Satélite - veterinary students and lifelong friends, Carlos Perches and Ramon Sardina. The magnitude of the theft wildly exceeded the expectations of the thieves. Carlos and Ramon depart their comfortable life for an underworld adventure that drags them into the abyss.
"Remember"
Direcor: Atom Egoyan
"Remember" stars Academy Award Winners Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau, directed by Acadamy Award Nominee Atom Egoyan, produced by Golden Globe Nominee Robert Lantos. See pertinent info on page 31 of Lcff Industry Catalogue: http://issuu.com/cabosfilmfestival/docs/catalogo-industria2014-web
* Please Note: Bh5 has a production company credit on "Remember" is through Detalle Films (a company held by Bh5 Group), which participated in the executive production of "Remember."
Bh5 Company Profile
http://www.bh5group.com/
Bh5 Group is a conglomerate integrated by many production companies specialised in different areas of the entertainment business, including Detalle Films, Balero Films, Cacao Production Services, CoCo, Detalle TV and La Rama de Teatro. These companies have jointly or independently produced dozens of feature films, including "Nos Vemos Papá" by Lucía Carreras (Karlovy Vary 2012), "The Dance of Reality" by Alejandro Jodorowski (Cannes 2013), "Rezeta" by Fernando Frías (Slamdance Winner 2014), feature film "Kite" starring Samuel L. Jackson (2014), "Remember" (2014) by Atom Egoyan, among others.
Filmography
• "La Decisión del Presidente" (2007) - Documentary directed by Lucía Kaplan and Diego Delgado
• "Arresto Domiciliario" (2008) - Feature Film directed by Gabriel Retes
• "Jimigration" (2008) - Documentary directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra
• "Allá y en Tonses" (2010) - Feature Film by Angel Flores
• "Malaventura" (2011) - Feature Film directed by Carlos Rincones
• "Nos Vemos Papá" (2012) - by Lucía Carreras
• "Rezeta" (2013) - Feature Film directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra
• "95'" (2012) - Documentary directed by Renato Ornelas
• "Inner Dragons" (2013) - Short film directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra
• "Buoy" (2013) - Short Film directed by David Higgs
• "LuTo" (2013) - Feature Film directed by Katina Medina Mora
• "Kite" (2014) - Feature Film directed by Ralph Zimman
• "Contraluz" (2014) - Feature Film directed by Katina Medina Mora
• "Remember" (2014) - Feature Film directed by Atom Egoyan
Bh5 Partners: Gerardo Gatica (CEO), Moisés Cosío (Head of Project Development and New Businesses), Alberto Müffelmann (Head of Production - Detalle Films/Production Services), Rodrigo Trujillo (Head of Production - Balero Films/La Rama de Teatro), Jacobo Nazar (CFO). All five partners of Bh5Group come from different backgrounds, ranging from law to economics to industrial engineering.
-"You'll Know What To Do With Me" is a part of the Works in Progress Competition starring award winning Spanish actor Pablo Derqui and Ilse Salas, who stars both in this year’s Oscar entry, “Cantinflas,” and big 2014 fest winner, “Güeros.”
-"Museum" is a project in development in the Co-Production Forum with Filmmaker Alfonso Ruizpalacios, whose recent debut film “Güeros” took Best First Feature in Berlin 2014 and Best New Director at Tribeca as well as multiple trophies at San Sebastian and Morelia.
-Atom Egoyan will offer a Master Class, during which the central theme will be about his new film "Remember," now in post-production. The chat will be moderated by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of Toronto International Film Festival, and the film director will be accompanied by his producer Robert Lantos and Gerardo Gatica, CEO of Bh5 Group, the Mexican company that holds Detalle Films, which participates in the executive production of "Remember." Bh5's head of production Alberto Müffelmann will also attend the festival in search of new projects and ventures as an "Industry Guest."
“You'll Know What To Do With Me" (Sabras Que Hacer Conmigo)
Mexico
Director: Katina Medina Mora
Production: Gerardo Gatica, Alberto Müffelmann, Rodrigo Trujillo, Jacobo Nazar, Moises Cosio
Section: Works in Progress Competition
Synopsis
In a mundane hospital hallway, fine arts photographer Nicolas, epileptic since childhood, falls for the aloof Isabel, unaware she is visiting her suicidal mother. The narrative begins through Nicolas's lens then cuts back to follow Isabel prior to their meeting. Their stories merge as they're suddenly engaged in a highly charged relationship. When the intense getting acquainted period wanes, it seems worth attempting to transcend respective flaws and demons, yet commitment is not something that comes easy to either of these resolutely independent people. Nico and Isabel find the future increasingly less foreseeable and the vivid present ever more deeply affecting.
“Museum" (Museo)
Mexico
Director: Alonso Ruiz Palacios
Production: Gerardo Gatica, Manuel Alcalá, Alberto Müffelman n
Section: Co-Production Forum Competition (Mexico-u.S.A.-Canada)
Synopsis
On December 25, 1985, adding to the chaos of September's earthquake, Mexico awakened with news of the theft of 140+ pieces from the capitol city's National Museum of Anthropology. The heist was perfectly executed, bypassing the guards who were busy celebrating Christmas Eve. No one imagined that the perpetrators of the robbery slept peacefully, nightly, in the suburb of Ciudad Satélite - veterinary students and lifelong friends, Carlos Perches and Ramon Sardina. The magnitude of the theft wildly exceeded the expectations of the thieves. Carlos and Ramon depart their comfortable life for an underworld adventure that drags them into the abyss.
"Remember"
Direcor: Atom Egoyan
"Remember" stars Academy Award Winners Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau, directed by Acadamy Award Nominee Atom Egoyan, produced by Golden Globe Nominee Robert Lantos. See pertinent info on page 31 of Lcff Industry Catalogue: http://issuu.com/cabosfilmfestival/docs/catalogo-industria2014-web
* Please Note: Bh5 has a production company credit on "Remember" is through Detalle Films (a company held by Bh5 Group), which participated in the executive production of "Remember."
Bh5 Company Profile
http://www.bh5group.com/
Bh5 Group is a conglomerate integrated by many production companies specialised in different areas of the entertainment business, including Detalle Films, Balero Films, Cacao Production Services, CoCo, Detalle TV and La Rama de Teatro. These companies have jointly or independently produced dozens of feature films, including "Nos Vemos Papá" by Lucía Carreras (Karlovy Vary 2012), "The Dance of Reality" by Alejandro Jodorowski (Cannes 2013), "Rezeta" by Fernando Frías (Slamdance Winner 2014), feature film "Kite" starring Samuel L. Jackson (2014), "Remember" (2014) by Atom Egoyan, among others.
Filmography
• "La Decisión del Presidente" (2007) - Documentary directed by Lucía Kaplan and Diego Delgado
• "Arresto Domiciliario" (2008) - Feature Film directed by Gabriel Retes
• "Jimigration" (2008) - Documentary directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra
• "Allá y en Tonses" (2010) - Feature Film by Angel Flores
• "Malaventura" (2011) - Feature Film directed by Carlos Rincones
• "Nos Vemos Papá" (2012) - by Lucía Carreras
• "Rezeta" (2013) - Feature Film directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra
• "95'" (2012) - Documentary directed by Renato Ornelas
• "Inner Dragons" (2013) - Short film directed by Fernando Frías de la Parra
• "Buoy" (2013) - Short Film directed by David Higgs
• "LuTo" (2013) - Feature Film directed by Katina Medina Mora
• "Kite" (2014) - Feature Film directed by Ralph Zimman
• "Contraluz" (2014) - Feature Film directed by Katina Medina Mora
• "Remember" (2014) - Feature Film directed by Atom Egoyan
Bh5 Partners: Gerardo Gatica (CEO), Moisés Cosío (Head of Project Development and New Businesses), Alberto Müffelmann (Head of Production - Detalle Films/Production Services), Rodrigo Trujillo (Head of Production - Balero Films/La Rama de Teatro), Jacobo Nazar (CFO). All five partners of Bh5Group come from different backgrounds, ranging from law to economics to industrial engineering.
- 11/26/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Alonso Ruizpalacios’ acclaimed film prevailed as the Los Cabos International Film Festival came to a close at the weekend.
The awards were part of a flurry of events at the Mexican festival, which ran from November 12-16 and closed with the Mexican premiere of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood attended by stars Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater.
In other developments producer Monica Lozano announced the launch of Alebrije Distribucion, Media Luna took world rights to Alexander Katzowicz’s Internet Junkie and BH5 Group boarded Ruizpalacios’ Museo that participated in the first Mexico-usa-Canada Splendor Omnia – MANTArrava Co-Production Forum.
New York producer Dodgeville Films will join Varios Lobos in Mexico to produce Fernando Frias’ second film I’m No Longer Here (Ya No Estoy Aquí), one of the recipients of a $5,000 Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund grant. Spain’s Sin Un Duro and Noodles Prods have come on to co-produce another Gabriel Figueroa grant-winner, Chema Rodríguez’s Seven...
The awards were part of a flurry of events at the Mexican festival, which ran from November 12-16 and closed with the Mexican premiere of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood attended by stars Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater.
In other developments producer Monica Lozano announced the launch of Alebrije Distribucion, Media Luna took world rights to Alexander Katzowicz’s Internet Junkie and BH5 Group boarded Ruizpalacios’ Museo that participated in the first Mexico-usa-Canada Splendor Omnia – MANTArrava Co-Production Forum.
New York producer Dodgeville Films will join Varios Lobos in Mexico to produce Fernando Frias’ second film I’m No Longer Here (Ya No Estoy Aquí), one of the recipients of a $5,000 Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund grant. Spain’s Sin Un Duro and Noodles Prods have come on to co-produce another Gabriel Figueroa grant-winner, Chema Rodríguez’s Seven...
- 11/16/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Los Cabos International Film Festival will offer, within its industry activities, a total of Usd $227,000 to support projects from Mexico, the U.S.A. and Canada.
In its Third Edition, in an effort to contribute the development and consolidation of the North American film industry, presents as part of its industry activities, the first Mexico-usa-Canada Co-production Forum .
Los Cabos Film Festival , announces the 13 participant projects in the Forum:
Afronauts by Frances Bodomo (USA). Coward by Boris Rodriguez, an Anne Marie Gélinas production (Canada). The Other Tom by Rodrigo Plá, a Sandino Saravia production (Mexico). First Match by Olivia Newman, a Veronica Nickel and Chanelle Elaine production (USA). Away from Meaning by Olivia Luengas Magaña, a Vanessa Romo Gutiérrez production (Mexico). Butterfly by Maria Saakya, a Jeff Kalousdian production (USA). Museum by Alonso Ruizpalacios, a Manuel Alcalá and Alberto Muffelman production (Mexico). Permanent by Colette Burson, a Haroula Rose and Joshua Blum production (USA). Taganga by Ciro Guerra, a Katrin Pors and Serge Noel production (Canada- Colombia). Wolverine Hotel by Patricia Chica, a Byron A. Martin production (Canada). X Quinientos by Juan Andrés Arango, a Edher Campos and Yanick Letourneau production (Canada- Mexico- Colombia). I’m No Longer Here by Fernando Frías, a Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam production (Mexico- USA). Yamaha 300 by Jorge Michel Grau, a Mayra Espinosa Castro production (Mexico - USA). Representatives from each project will have access to a series of one-to-one meetings with key members of the international film industry and potential co-producers.
The Co-production Forum Jury, composed of Fabien Westerhoff , Sales and Distribution Director at WestEnd Films (UK), Nick Ogiony , Sales Agent at Creative Artists Agency (USA) and Lyse Lafontaine , renowned Canadian producer, will announce the winning project at the Festival, which will receive a cash prize of Usd $8,000.
Also, the recognized studios Splendor - Omnia Mantarraya will award a prize valued at Usd$30,000 to one of the participating projects, consisting of a 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, accommodation and food for two people in Tepoztlán, Mexico.
Supporting the completion of Mexican feature or documentary films in post-production stage, Los Cabos Film Festival has announced the six films participating in the second Work In Progress Mexico :
El charro de Toluquilla by José Villalobos Romero, a Sergio Adrián Morkin and José Villalobos Romero production. Charity by Marcelino Islas Hernández, a Santiago García Galván production. Heirs by Jorge Hernández Aldana, a Michel Franco production. Light Feet by Juan Carlos Núñez, a Henry Lesperance Álvarez production. You Will Know what to Do with Me by Katina Medina Mora, a Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann production. Holy Days by Alejandra Márquez Abella, a Nicolás Celis and Sebastián Celis production.
Jaie Laplante, Director of the Miami International Film Festival (USA), Nicole Mackey, Vice President of sales agency Fortissimo Films (UK), and Nate Bolotin, Xyz Films cofounder (USA), as members of the Work In Progress Mexico Jury, will evaluate six films that compete for a cash prize of Usd$10,000 .
The TV station Fox+ will also award a prize of Usd $30,000 to one of the participating films (the equivalent to the anticipated purchase of broadcast rights for Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Brazil through the channel’s windows). And the outstanding post-production company Chemistry will award a prize worth Usd $45,000 consisting of 80 hours of color correction, 40 hours of conform and digital mastering, and packaging in Dcp.
In addition, the two winning films of the Post-production Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund , each received from Labodigital’s Usd $52,000 in post-production services. These two films will also be part of the Work In Progress Mexico selection.
In its Third Edition, in an effort to contribute the development and consolidation of the North American film industry, presents as part of its industry activities, the first Mexico-usa-Canada Co-production Forum .
Los Cabos Film Festival , announces the 13 participant projects in the Forum:
Afronauts by Frances Bodomo (USA). Coward by Boris Rodriguez, an Anne Marie Gélinas production (Canada). The Other Tom by Rodrigo Plá, a Sandino Saravia production (Mexico). First Match by Olivia Newman, a Veronica Nickel and Chanelle Elaine production (USA). Away from Meaning by Olivia Luengas Magaña, a Vanessa Romo Gutiérrez production (Mexico). Butterfly by Maria Saakya, a Jeff Kalousdian production (USA). Museum by Alonso Ruizpalacios, a Manuel Alcalá and Alberto Muffelman production (Mexico). Permanent by Colette Burson, a Haroula Rose and Joshua Blum production (USA). Taganga by Ciro Guerra, a Katrin Pors and Serge Noel production (Canada- Colombia). Wolverine Hotel by Patricia Chica, a Byron A. Martin production (Canada). X Quinientos by Juan Andrés Arango, a Edher Campos and Yanick Letourneau production (Canada- Mexico- Colombia). I’m No Longer Here by Fernando Frías, a Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam production (Mexico- USA). Yamaha 300 by Jorge Michel Grau, a Mayra Espinosa Castro production (Mexico - USA). Representatives from each project will have access to a series of one-to-one meetings with key members of the international film industry and potential co-producers.
The Co-production Forum Jury, composed of Fabien Westerhoff , Sales and Distribution Director at WestEnd Films (UK), Nick Ogiony , Sales Agent at Creative Artists Agency (USA) and Lyse Lafontaine , renowned Canadian producer, will announce the winning project at the Festival, which will receive a cash prize of Usd $8,000.
Also, the recognized studios Splendor - Omnia Mantarraya will award a prize valued at Usd$30,000 to one of the participating projects, consisting of a 40 hours of color correction, 40 hours of sound mixing, accommodation and food for two people in Tepoztlán, Mexico.
Supporting the completion of Mexican feature or documentary films in post-production stage, Los Cabos Film Festival has announced the six films participating in the second Work In Progress Mexico :
El charro de Toluquilla by José Villalobos Romero, a Sergio Adrián Morkin and José Villalobos Romero production. Charity by Marcelino Islas Hernández, a Santiago García Galván production. Heirs by Jorge Hernández Aldana, a Michel Franco production. Light Feet by Juan Carlos Núñez, a Henry Lesperance Álvarez production. You Will Know what to Do with Me by Katina Medina Mora, a Gerardo Gatica and Alberto Muffelmann production. Holy Days by Alejandra Márquez Abella, a Nicolás Celis and Sebastián Celis production.
Jaie Laplante, Director of the Miami International Film Festival (USA), Nicole Mackey, Vice President of sales agency Fortissimo Films (UK), and Nate Bolotin, Xyz Films cofounder (USA), as members of the Work In Progress Mexico Jury, will evaluate six films that compete for a cash prize of Usd$10,000 .
The TV station Fox+ will also award a prize of Usd $30,000 to one of the participating films (the equivalent to the anticipated purchase of broadcast rights for Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Brazil through the channel’s windows). And the outstanding post-production company Chemistry will award a prize worth Usd $45,000 consisting of 80 hours of color correction, 40 hours of conform and digital mastering, and packaging in Dcp.
In addition, the two winning films of the Post-production Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund , each received from Labodigital’s Usd $52,000 in post-production services. These two films will also be part of the Work In Progress Mexico selection.
- 10/23/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Chloé Robichaud’s Sarah Prefers To Run prevailed in the $15,000 Los Cabos Competition section as the second Baja International Film Festival came to a conclusion in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Over the course of four days the festival presented 35 films, of which six were world premieres, 14 were Mexican premieres and one was a Latin American premiere.
The municipality of Los Cabos hosted more than 80 producers and representatives from Mexico, the Us and Canada, as well as the UK, Chile, Colombia, Spain, France, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, Argentina and Brazil.
Mexican star Gael Garcia Bernal was the subject of a career tribute and Carlos Reygadas, Amat Escalante, Jaime Romandia and Peter Greenaway attended a celebration marking the 15th anniversary of production company Mantarraya Producciones.
The festival ran from November 13-16 and closed with a screening of Oscar contender Dallas Buyers Club and the awards ceremony.
Sarah Prefers To Run (pictured) won the Los Cabos Competition section and a $15,000 prize. [link...
Over the course of four days the festival presented 35 films, of which six were world premieres, 14 were Mexican premieres and one was a Latin American premiere.
The municipality of Los Cabos hosted more than 80 producers and representatives from Mexico, the Us and Canada, as well as the UK, Chile, Colombia, Spain, France, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, Argentina and Brazil.
Mexican star Gael Garcia Bernal was the subject of a career tribute and Carlos Reygadas, Amat Escalante, Jaime Romandia and Peter Greenaway attended a celebration marking the 15th anniversary of production company Mantarraya Producciones.
The festival ran from November 13-16 and closed with a screening of Oscar contender Dallas Buyers Club and the awards ceremony.
Sarah Prefers To Run (pictured) won the Los Cabos Competition section and a $15,000 prize. [link...
- 11/19/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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