New films by Julio Medem, Alejandro Amenábar, Alberto Rodríguez, Isaki Lacuesta, Jonas Trueba and Oliver Laxe join a brace of smart thrillers in a rich Cannes lineup from Spain.
“8,” (Julio Medem)
Medem returns towhat he does best: a love story transcending time and space and a poetic critique of recent history, according to sales agent Latido Films. “Fariña’s” Javier Rey and “La Mesías” Ana Rujus star as the lovers. Morena Films produces.
Sales: Latido
“As Neves,” (Sonia Méndez)
After a magic mushroom-fueled party, teens in a snowbound Galician village discover one of them is missing. The film was well-received at the Malaga festival.
Sales: Begin Again Films
“Barren Land,” (Albert Pintó)
From a director on “Money Heist” and “Berlin,” this suspense thriller captures how the drug trade devastates friendships and lives in Andalusía’s Cádiz. Film sports a great cast: Luis Zahera (“The Beasts”), Karra Elejalde (“While at War...
“8,” (Julio Medem)
Medem returns towhat he does best: a love story transcending time and space and a poetic critique of recent history, according to sales agent Latido Films. “Fariña’s” Javier Rey and “La Mesías” Ana Rujus star as the lovers. Morena Films produces.
Sales: Latido
“As Neves,” (Sonia Méndez)
After a magic mushroom-fueled party, teens in a snowbound Galician village discover one of them is missing. The film was well-received at the Malaga festival.
Sales: Begin Again Films
“Barren Land,” (Albert Pintó)
From a director on “Money Heist” and “Berlin,” this suspense thriller captures how the drug trade devastates friendships and lives in Andalusía’s Cádiz. Film sports a great cast: Luis Zahera (“The Beasts”), Karra Elejalde (“While at War...
- 5/15/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Entérate de todos los detalles de la película protagonizada por Luis Zahera. © Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures ha dado inicio al rodaje del thriller de suspense “Tierra de Nadie”, del director Albert Pintó. El rodaje se está llevando a cabo en diferentes localizaciones de Cádiz, y continuará más tarde en Madrid.
La trama sigue la historia de tres amigos: Mateo el Gallego, un heroico – a su pesar – guardia civil, Juan El Antxale, un pescador convertido en narco por la mala suerte y en el paro, y Benito el Yeye, un resignado e inteligente depositario judicial siempre a medio camino entre la ley y la delincuencia. Tres amigos separados por un lugar, Cádiz y un momento, el presente. Los tres están atrapados entre el abandono de las instituciones, el ascenso violento e imparable del narco en la provincia y el peligroso aumento del descontento social. Tres amigos atrapados en un polvorín que pondrá a prueba su amistad.
Sony Pictures ha dado inicio al rodaje del thriller de suspense “Tierra de Nadie”, del director Albert Pintó. El rodaje se está llevando a cabo en diferentes localizaciones de Cádiz, y continuará más tarde en Madrid.
La trama sigue la historia de tres amigos: Mateo el Gallego, un heroico – a su pesar – guardia civil, Juan El Antxale, un pescador convertido en narco por la mala suerte y en el paro, y Benito el Yeye, un resignado e inteligente depositario judicial siempre a medio camino entre la ley y la delincuencia. Tres amigos separados por un lugar, Cádiz y un momento, el presente. Los tres están atrapados entre el abandono de las instituciones, el ascenso violento e imparable del narco en la provincia y el peligroso aumento del descontento social. Tres amigos atrapados en un polvorín que pondrá a prueba su amistad.
- 4/26/2024
- by Marta Medina
- mundoCine
“Barren Land,” from Spain’s Albert Pintó, director of Netflix global blockbusters “Money Heist,” “Berlin” and “Nowhere,” have been snapped up by Spain’s Film Factory Entertainment.
From an original idea by producer Alvaro Ariza, “Barren Land” (“Tierra de Nadie”) is penned by Fernando Navarro, one of Spain’s go-to screenwriters whose credits include Netflix hits “Below Zero” and “Veronica.”
Film Factory will launch world sales on “Barren Land,” as it builds a powerful slate of upscale commercial packages. Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia will release the film in Spain next year.
Now with principal photography underway in Cadiz, southern Spain, the suspense thriller captures the devastation of friendships, lives and the whole province by a rampant drug trade, action also expanding to the Straits of Gibraltar.
“An ode to friendship, focusing on three characters whose paths diverge due to the longstanding situation in the Southern part of Spain,” “Barren Land” turns on Mateo “El Gallego,...
From an original idea by producer Alvaro Ariza, “Barren Land” (“Tierra de Nadie”) is penned by Fernando Navarro, one of Spain’s go-to screenwriters whose credits include Netflix hits “Below Zero” and “Veronica.”
Film Factory will launch world sales on “Barren Land,” as it builds a powerful slate of upscale commercial packages. Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia will release the film in Spain next year.
Now with principal photography underway in Cadiz, southern Spain, the suspense thriller captures the devastation of friendships, lives and the whole province by a rampant drug trade, action also expanding to the Straits of Gibraltar.
“An ode to friendship, focusing on three characters whose paths diverge due to the longstanding situation in the Southern part of Spain,” “Barren Land” turns on Mateo “El Gallego,...
- 4/24/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Spain’s film and TV industries are in their second wave as standout content providers for global streamers. Some of the country’s most intriguing titles will take the international stage this weekend at MipTV in Cannes.
Built on a foundation of hits such as “The Red Band Society,” “Grand Hotel,” “Velvet” and “Locked Up,” a new era of internationally renowned content creation in Spain kicked off in 2018 with Alex Pina’s blockbuster series “Money Heist,” picked up by Netflix.
Since then, Spain has enjoyed a place among the steadiest content suppliers for major players worldwide, taking advantage of its often character-driven dramas, high-quality creators and producers, and a language spoken by more than 600 million people around the globe.
Although the market is continuously evolving, local industry has adapted to different new business models, entering bigger and more ambitious productions, often via co-production. Spanish fiction’s global popularity continues to grow to accommodate audience appetites.
Built on a foundation of hits such as “The Red Band Society,” “Grand Hotel,” “Velvet” and “Locked Up,” a new era of internationally renowned content creation in Spain kicked off in 2018 with Alex Pina’s blockbuster series “Money Heist,” picked up by Netflix.
Since then, Spain has enjoyed a place among the steadiest content suppliers for major players worldwide, taking advantage of its often character-driven dramas, high-quality creators and producers, and a language spoken by more than 600 million people around the globe.
Although the market is continuously evolving, local industry has adapted to different new business models, entering bigger and more ambitious productions, often via co-production. Spanish fiction’s global popularity continues to grow to accommodate audience appetites.
- 4/5/2024
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Joaquín Manchado, the king of one of Spain’s biggest drug empires, has worked 40 years for his stellar reputation — one that instills fear and undying commitment in all of his workers. He owns a terminal at the Port of Barcelona, where his men receive concealed shipments of cocaine to sell across Europe. But when some extra-precious cargo goes missing, the Manchado family enter into a dangerous gang war with their biggest rivals. From director Lluís Quílez (Below Zero), the gritty crime series Iron Reign (Mano de Hierro) stars Eduard Fernández, Chino Darín, and Jaime Lorente.
Stream it now.
Check it out at the top of this article.
The boss of Barcelona’s seaport, Joaquín (Fernández), runs a tight ship. The port is stacked with shipments and receives more and more every day. So it’s no wonder Joaquín runs a drug empire from his end of the shipping yard. How...
Stream it now.
Check it out at the top of this article.
The boss of Barcelona’s seaport, Joaquín (Fernández), runs a tight ship. The port is stacked with shipments and receives more and more every day. So it’s no wonder Joaquín runs a drug empire from his end of the shipping yard. How...
- 3/20/2024
- by Ingrid Ostby
- Tudum - Netflix
Malaga — Opening last Friday with “Dragonkeeper,” also in competition, Spain’s Malaga Festival, its biggest dedicated event for movies from Spain and Latin America, is studded by latest films by Isaki Lacuesta – “Saturn Return,” reportedly fun, broad audience and radical – David Trueba – “The Good Man,” small scale but almost certainly ingratiating – and Antonio Chavarrías’ “Holy Mother,” about an extraordinary real life female figure in Spain’s 9th century Reconquista.
Also in the running is “Rest in Peace,” from notable Argentine writer-director Sebastián Borensztein (“Chinese Takeaway”).
All are front-runners for some kind of award next Saturday. Prominent also is a bevy of first or second features, featuring from Spain three titles from women directors – gender abuse drama “The Snows,” “Nina,” reportedly a Western set in a northern Spanish town, and tragi-comedy “We Treat Women Too Well” – plus a clutch of debuts from Latin America.
This year’s Competition may, in the final analysis,...
Also in the running is “Rest in Peace,” from notable Argentine writer-director Sebastián Borensztein (“Chinese Takeaway”).
All are front-runners for some kind of award next Saturday. Prominent also is a bevy of first or second features, featuring from Spain three titles from women directors – gender abuse drama “The Snows,” “Nina,” reportedly a Western set in a northern Spanish town, and tragi-comedy “We Treat Women Too Well” – plus a clutch of debuts from Latin America.
This year’s Competition may, in the final analysis,...
- 3/4/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Anonymous Content and Spain’s Morena Films, behind box office breakouts “Cell 211” and Champions, have named former Studiocanal executive Beatriz Campos as the managing director of their Spain-based film-tv production venture Anonymous Content España.
Campos will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations working closely with David Davoli, Anonymous Content’s president of international, and Morena Films CEO Pilar Benito, Anonymous Content and Morena Films announced Monday. Launched in May 2023, Anonymous Content España aims to develop and produce premium Spanish projects for a global market.
That is easily said, but several factors work in its favor and will be aided now by Campos’ appointment. As film and TV producers still battle a hugely competitive market and spiralling production costs, companies are reaching out for partners beyond national markets, a structure embodied in Anonymous Content España. Anonymous can also help Morena access U.S.-stars, which may allow their productions to stand out in the crowd.
Campos will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations working closely with David Davoli, Anonymous Content’s president of international, and Morena Films CEO Pilar Benito, Anonymous Content and Morena Films announced Monday. Launched in May 2023, Anonymous Content España aims to develop and produce premium Spanish projects for a global market.
That is easily said, but several factors work in its favor and will be aided now by Campos’ appointment. As film and TV producers still battle a hugely competitive market and spiralling production costs, companies are reaching out for partners beyond national markets, a structure embodied in Anonymous Content España. Anonymous can also help Morena access U.S.-stars, which may allow their productions to stand out in the crowd.
- 2/12/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Fool Me Once collected another week atop Netflix’s TV charts.
While the UK crime thriller was down fairly significantly from its viewership a week prior, the series still put up an impressive 23.9M views from January 8 to 14, claiming No. 1 among English-language series (and there was not a close second).
That marks 61M views in its first two weeks on Netflix, putting it on the fast track toward the streamer’s most popular list. In tenth place currently is Queen Charlotte with 81M views in its first 91 days. Fool Me Once still has more than 70 days to amass 20M more views and take over that spot. In fact, at this rate, it could move to an even more prominent position on the list, given how much time it has left in its premiere window.
As noted above, second place was not a close second. The Brothers Sun managed 6.9M views...
While the UK crime thriller was down fairly significantly from its viewership a week prior, the series still put up an impressive 23.9M views from January 8 to 14, claiming No. 1 among English-language series (and there was not a close second).
That marks 61M views in its first two weeks on Netflix, putting it on the fast track toward the streamer’s most popular list. In tenth place currently is Queen Charlotte with 81M views in its first 91 days. Fool Me Once still has more than 70 days to amass 20M more views and take over that spot. In fact, at this rate, it could move to an even more prominent position on the list, given how much time it has left in its premiere window.
As noted above, second place was not a close second. The Brothers Sun managed 6.9M views...
- 1/16/2024
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Spanish filmmaker F. Javier Gutiérrez (Before the Fall, Rings) is back with new movie The Wait (La Espera), described as a sinister folk horror tragedy that takes place in the dark, magic and forgotten Andalusian countryside, a place marked by ancestral traditions. Exclusive to Bloody Disgusting, you can watch the upcoming horror movie’s official trailer below.
The Wait was premiered in Oldenburg Film Festival (Germany) last September 22nd, and it has been part of the Official Selection of Fantastic Fest (Austin), Sitges (Spain), Morbido (Mexico) and Vancouver Intl Film Festival (Canada).
The movie has won 14 awards so far including ‘Best Director’ in FilmQuest, ‘Best Actor’ in Screamfest, ‘Audience Award’ in Fancine Malaga Fantasy Film Festival, and the ‘Critics Award’ in San Sebastian Horror Film Festival.
The film is releasing in Spain on December 15, with US distribution news coming soon.
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait...
The Wait was premiered in Oldenburg Film Festival (Germany) last September 22nd, and it has been part of the Official Selection of Fantastic Fest (Austin), Sitges (Spain), Morbido (Mexico) and Vancouver Intl Film Festival (Canada).
The movie has won 14 awards so far including ‘Best Director’ in FilmQuest, ‘Best Actor’ in Screamfest, ‘Audience Award’ in Fancine Malaga Fantasy Film Festival, and the ‘Critics Award’ in San Sebastian Horror Film Festival.
The film is releasing in Spain on December 15, with US distribution news coming soon.
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait...
- 11/17/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
In news that is sure to move waves in Spain, Portugal and beyond, former Netflix exec Juan Mayne, a name inextricably linked to the build of Spain as a global film-tv power, has been appointed as SkyShowtime regional content director for Iberia, encompassing Spain and Portugal.
The move creates an effective new streaming door to knock on for Spanish producers as some other – though not all – platforms are curbing commissions or orders in the two countries.
SkyShowtime in Spain and Portugal will be led, moreover, by one of Spain’s best known, connected and personable of TV execs, supercharging its operation in Spain from the get-go.
Mayne will report to the Amsterdam-based Kai Finke, himself appointed in September as chief content officer at the Comcast-Paramount joint venture SVOD platform , which focuses on European audiences. Mayne joins the now established European programming team of Edyta Pytlewska – regional content director for Central...
The move creates an effective new streaming door to knock on for Spanish producers as some other – though not all – platforms are curbing commissions or orders in the two countries.
SkyShowtime in Spain and Portugal will be led, moreover, by one of Spain’s best known, connected and personable of TV execs, supercharging its operation in Spain from the get-go.
Mayne will report to the Amsterdam-based Kai Finke, himself appointed in September as chief content officer at the Comcast-Paramount joint venture SVOD platform , which focuses on European audiences. Mayne joins the now established European programming team of Edyta Pytlewska – regional content director for Central...
- 10/20/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish filmmaker F. Javier Gutiérrez (Before the Fall, Rings) is back with new movie The Wait (La Espera), described as a sinister folk horror tragedy that takes place in the dark, magic and forgotten Andalusian countryside, a place marked by ancestral traditions. Exclusive to Bloody Disgusting, check out Creepy Duck’s official poster for the movie below!
Bloody Disgusting has also learned this morning that The Wait is an Official Selection of this year’s Sitges International Film Festival. Stay tuned for the trailer, coming soon.
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait has been described to Bloody Disgusting as being a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre,” as well as Gutiérrez’s “most intimate and brutal film” to date. The upcoming horror movie “portrays the macabre descent into hell of a man who suffered the tragic loss of his family.”
Produced by Spal Films (Before the Fall...
Bloody Disgusting has also learned this morning that The Wait is an Official Selection of this year’s Sitges International Film Festival. Stay tuned for the trailer, coming soon.
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait has been described to Bloody Disgusting as being a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre,” as well as Gutiérrez’s “most intimate and brutal film” to date. The upcoming horror movie “portrays the macabre descent into hell of a man who suffered the tragic loss of his family.”
Produced by Spal Films (Before the Fall...
- 7/20/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Clockwise from top left: Stand By Me (Columbia Pictures), Creepshow (Warner Bros.), The Shining (Warner Bros.), Misery (Columbia Pictures), Carrie (United Artists)Graphic: AVClub
You don’t receive the nickname “The Master of Horror” by being crap at your job. Since his first novel was published in 1974 (that would be...
You don’t receive the nickname “The Master of Horror” by being crap at your job. Since his first novel was published in 1974 (that would be...
- 6/5/2023
- by Matt Mills
- avclub.com
Former Netflix exec Juan Mayne has hung his own shingle, Madrid-based N&l Films, which is bulwarked by strong talent relationships, a strategic alliance with Exile Content and a sure sense of market opportunities for Spain-based independent producers.
Exile Content and N&l Films have struck a first-look development deal. Jeff Glaser, who oversaw Netflix production finance in Mexico City and Madrid, has joined the company.
N&l’s first slate includes a Mexican remake of “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” co-produced by Rock & Ruz and Mexico’s Corazón Films, which will handle distribution in the country, and “Aristides: A Righteous Life,” the true-life account of a Portuguese diplomat who saved thousands from the Nazis in WWII, from Seanne Winslow.
N&l is also in conversations with with Lluis Quilez and Fernando Navarro – director and writer of Netflix Top 10 non-English movie “Below Zero” – to develop a true crime film based...
Exile Content and N&l Films have struck a first-look development deal. Jeff Glaser, who oversaw Netflix production finance in Mexico City and Madrid, has joined the company.
N&l’s first slate includes a Mexican remake of “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” co-produced by Rock & Ruz and Mexico’s Corazón Films, which will handle distribution in the country, and “Aristides: A Righteous Life,” the true-life account of a Portuguese diplomat who saved thousands from the Nazis in WWII, from Seanne Winslow.
N&l is also in conversations with with Lluis Quilez and Fernando Navarro – director and writer of Netflix Top 10 non-English movie “Below Zero” – to develop a true crime film based...
- 5/20/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid-based Latido Films has snagged international sales rights to Isaki Lacuesta’s “Saturn Return” (“Segundo premio”) and plans to kick off pre-sales at the Cannes market.
Currently shooting in Granada, the musical drama is set during the ‘90s when the Andalusian city was ground zero for an outburst of cultural effervescence, with the pioneering rock band Los Planetas at the center of it. The film focuses on the creative process behind the recording of their iconic third album, which also took them to New York.
Latido likens “Saturn Return” to “24 Hour Party People,” the 2002 British biographical dramedy about Manchester’s influential music scene, which spawned such bands as Factory Records’ Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays.
Based on a script by Fernando Navarro, the writer behind one of Netflix’s most viewed Spanish-language movies, “Below Zero,” the story is set at a time when the group was at its most fraught-ridden moments,...
Currently shooting in Granada, the musical drama is set during the ‘90s when the Andalusian city was ground zero for an outburst of cultural effervescence, with the pioneering rock band Los Planetas at the center of it. The film focuses on the creative process behind the recording of their iconic third album, which also took them to New York.
Latido likens “Saturn Return” to “24 Hour Party People,” the 2002 British biographical dramedy about Manchester’s influential music scene, which spawned such bands as Factory Records’ Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays.
Based on a script by Fernando Navarro, the writer behind one of Netflix’s most viewed Spanish-language movies, “Below Zero,” the story is set at a time when the group was at its most fraught-ridden moments,...
- 5/9/2023
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish filmmaker F. Javier Gutiérrez (Before the Fall, Rings) is back with new movie The Wait (La Espera), described as a sinister folk horror tragedy that takes place in the dark, magic and forgotten Andalusian countryside, a place marked by ancestral traditions.
Exclusive to Bloody Disgusting, check out two first-look images above and below.
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait has been described to Bloody Disgusting as being a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre,” as well as Gutiérrez’s “most intimate and brutal film” to date. The upcoming horror movie “portrays the macabre descent into hell of a man who suffered the tragic loss of his family.”
Produced by Spal Films (Before the Fall), Nostromo Pictures and Gutierrez’s production company Unfiled Films, the upcoming horror movie stars Victor Clavijo (Before the Fall), Ruth Diaz, Manuel Moron and Luis Callejo (Below Zero).
In the film,...
Exclusive to Bloody Disgusting, check out two first-look images above and below.
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait has been described to Bloody Disgusting as being a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre,” as well as Gutiérrez’s “most intimate and brutal film” to date. The upcoming horror movie “portrays the macabre descent into hell of a man who suffered the tragic loss of his family.”
Produced by Spal Films (Before the Fall), Nostromo Pictures and Gutierrez’s production company Unfiled Films, the upcoming horror movie stars Victor Clavijo (Before the Fall), Ruth Diaz, Manuel Moron and Luis Callejo (Below Zero).
In the film,...
- 3/23/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Zdf Studios has signed a deal to distribute the second season of the remake of the iconic Spanish horror series “Stories to Stay Awake” (“Historias Para No Dormir”).
The series is a reboot of the classic series created by Spain’s Chicho Ibáñez Serrador in the 1960s which proved a milestone in Spanish horror, introducing Spain to classic tales from Ray Bradbury, Edgar Allen Poe,
The deal sees Zdf Studios taking distribution rights to “Stories” in all territories outside Spain, Portugal, Italy and Latin America, which will be handled by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Zdf operated in the same capacity for the first season.
The second season is produced by Paramount in association with Zdf Studios, along with Prointel and Isla Audiovisual. The first season of the series premiered on Prime Video and public broadcaster Rtve in Spain.
In Season 2, directors Salvador Calvo (“Adu), Nacho Vigalondo (“Colossal”), Alice Waddington (“Scarlet...
The series is a reboot of the classic series created by Spain’s Chicho Ibáñez Serrador in the 1960s which proved a milestone in Spanish horror, introducing Spain to classic tales from Ray Bradbury, Edgar Allen Poe,
The deal sees Zdf Studios taking distribution rights to “Stories” in all territories outside Spain, Portugal, Italy and Latin America, which will be handled by Paramount Global Content Distribution. Zdf operated in the same capacity for the first season.
The second season is produced by Paramount in association with Zdf Studios, along with Prointel and Isla Audiovisual. The first season of the series premiered on Prime Video and public broadcaster Rtve in Spain.
In Season 2, directors Salvador Calvo (“Adu), Nacho Vigalondo (“Colossal”), Alice Waddington (“Scarlet...
- 2/21/2023
- by Liza Foreman
- Variety Film + TV
Looking for something to watch this week? Showbiz Cheat Sheet has details on what’s coming to your favorite streaming platforms this week including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and Prime Video. Find out what new shows you can watch in the last week of January 2023.
Pamela Anderson in ‘Pamela, a love story’ | Netflix Pamela Anderson’s documentary comes out on Netflix this week
On Jan. 31, fans will finally get to hear Pamela Anderson’s side of the story in her Netflix documentary Pamela, a love story. The streamer describes the film as “an intimate and humanizing portrait of one of the world’s most famous blonde bombshells.”
Pamela, a love story follows Anderson’s life and career trajectory from small-town girl to international sex symbol, actress, activist, and doting mother. It will also touch on the popular Hulu series Pam & Tommy, which Anderson has never seen.
Here’s...
Pamela Anderson in ‘Pamela, a love story’ | Netflix Pamela Anderson’s documentary comes out on Netflix this week
On Jan. 31, fans will finally get to hear Pamela Anderson’s side of the story in her Netflix documentary Pamela, a love story. The streamer describes the film as “an intimate and humanizing portrait of one of the world’s most famous blonde bombshells.”
Pamela, a love story follows Anderson’s life and career trajectory from small-town girl to international sex symbol, actress, activist, and doting mother. It will also touch on the popular Hulu series Pam & Tommy, which Anderson has never seen.
Here’s...
- 1/30/2023
- by Lauren Anderson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Mortal Kombat turns 30 this year. During that time we’ve been treated to three live-action Mortal Kombat movies, a live-action TV show, a Saturday morning cartoon, a novel, several comic books, a live tour, four animated movies, and a hilarious handful of imitators. Oh, and there have also been a bunch of Mortal Kombat video games. When you consolidate all the series’ ports and upgrades, you end up with fourteen unique entries. Eleven of them are straight-up fighting games and three of them are spinoffs of varying quality.
So, as Baraka pulls out the Friendship birthday present to help celebrate the occasion, let’s take a look at the Mortal Kombat video game series from worst to best. As mentioned, all of these are being lumped together with their upgraded versions. There’s no real reason to separate Mortal Kombat 3 from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, for instance.
I’m also...
So, as Baraka pulls out the Friendship birthday present to help celebrate the occasion, let’s take a look at the Mortal Kombat video game series from worst to best. As mentioned, all of these are being lumped together with their upgraded versions. There’s no real reason to separate Mortal Kombat 3 from Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, for instance.
I’m also...
- 10/8/2022
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
Bloody Disgusting has learned that Spanish filmmaker F. Javier Gutiérrez is currently shooting his new movie, The Wait (La Espera), in Seville, Spain.
Produced by Spal Films (Before the Fall), Nostromo Pictures and Gutierrez’s production company Unfiled Films, the upcoming horror movie stars Victor Clavijo (Before the Fall), Ruth Diaz, Manuel Moron and Luis Callejo (Below Zero).
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait has been described to Bloody Disgusting as being a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre”.
In the film, “Eladio (Victor Clavijo), an upright ranch caretaker, takes a bribe from a veteran hunter. Weeks later, his whole life falls apart. What looked like the opportunity of a lifetime, turns into a nightmare when he discovers that his bad fortune isn’t casual.”
Gutierrez has been working on this personal indie project under the radar while writing and financing his upcoming remake of Bigas Luna’s cult horror,...
Produced by Spal Films (Before the Fall), Nostromo Pictures and Gutierrez’s production company Unfiled Films, the upcoming horror movie stars Victor Clavijo (Before the Fall), Ruth Diaz, Manuel Moron and Luis Callejo (Below Zero).
Based on an original script written by Gutierrez, The Wait has been described to Bloody Disgusting as being a “love letter to the horror/fantasy genre”.
In the film, “Eladio (Victor Clavijo), an upright ranch caretaker, takes a bribe from a veteran hunter. Weeks later, his whole life falls apart. What looked like the opportunity of a lifetime, turns into a nightmare when he discovers that his bad fortune isn’t casual.”
Gutierrez has been working on this personal indie project under the radar while writing and financing his upcoming remake of Bigas Luna’s cult horror,...
- 9/7/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Setting up a fight between two characters with roughly the same power set is fun since it raises the question of who can use the power more efficiently and who can top the other in a one-on-one battle. In this particular fight, it’s fair to think that many fans would take sides almost immediately, but there might be a few that are on the fence simply because there are a few factors that offset each other when it comes to who would be standing at the end of this fight. Iceman, aka Bobby Drake, of the X-Men, is what is
Sub-Zero vs. Iceman: Who Wins?...
Sub-Zero vs. Iceman: Who Wins?...
- 8/22/2022
- by Tom Foster
- TVovermind.com
Spanish director Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, who swept the board at March’s Málaga Film Festival, has wrapped shooting on her sophomore feature, “Eres Tú,” a Netflix’ romantic comedy produced by Antonio Asensio and Paloma Molina at Zeta Studios – the Madrid-based company behind phenomenon “Elite.” Miriam Rodríguez executive produces.
After distributing Almodovar and signing up J.A. Bayona for real-life disaster drama “Society of the Snow,” Ruiz de Azúa’s attachment to “Eres tú” marks another association with a prestige director by Netflix in Spain.
Netflix Spain already accounts for three of the five most watched non-English Netflix movies ever: “The Platform,” “Below Zero” and “Through My Window.” It is, however, progressively diversifying its slate of series, movies, documentaries and TV shows by incorporating different creators profiles to create potential crowd-pleasers.
“Eres tú” follows Javier who, when 16 and kissing a girl for the first time, discovers that he had a gift of romantic clairvoyance.
After distributing Almodovar and signing up J.A. Bayona for real-life disaster drama “Society of the Snow,” Ruiz de Azúa’s attachment to “Eres tú” marks another association with a prestige director by Netflix in Spain.
Netflix Spain already accounts for three of the five most watched non-English Netflix movies ever: “The Platform,” “Below Zero” and “Through My Window.” It is, however, progressively diversifying its slate of series, movies, documentaries and TV shows by incorporating different creators profiles to create potential crowd-pleasers.
“Eres tú” follows Javier who, when 16 and kissing a girl for the first time, discovers that he had a gift of romantic clairvoyance.
- 4/11/2022
- by Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Wrapping March 26, the 25th Malaga Festival and its Spanish Screenings delivered another confirmation of Spain’s build as a fiction force in a new platform era.
Following, nine final takes on what may prove a historic edition.
A Vibrant Spanish Screenings
Málaga’s plus-size 2022 Spanish Screenings fairly rocked. Extra funding from Spain’s Avs Hub Plan, covering far more buyers’ flights, meant attendance skyrocketed. Screenings delegate numbers shot up to 609 by early week, overall industry attendees to over 1,100 . It showed. “They were highly successful,” said Latido Films’ head Antonio Saura said of the event. “Buyers were able to see movies which at other festivals they often just can’t catch,” he added. “There was a lot more dynamism to trading, taking the Screenings to a new level,” agreed Ivan Díaz, Filmax head of international.
’Lullaby,’ ‘Utama’ Sweep Awards
Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s finely observed mother-daughter relationship drama “Lullaby” and Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s “Utama,...
Following, nine final takes on what may prove a historic edition.
A Vibrant Spanish Screenings
Málaga’s plus-size 2022 Spanish Screenings fairly rocked. Extra funding from Spain’s Avs Hub Plan, covering far more buyers’ flights, meant attendance skyrocketed. Screenings delegate numbers shot up to 609 by early week, overall industry attendees to over 1,100 . It showed. “They were highly successful,” said Latido Films’ head Antonio Saura said of the event. “Buyers were able to see movies which at other festivals they often just can’t catch,” he added. “There was a lot more dynamism to trading, taking the Screenings to a new level,” agreed Ivan Díaz, Filmax head of international.
’Lullaby,’ ‘Utama’ Sweep Awards
Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s finely observed mother-daughter relationship drama “Lullaby” and Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s “Utama,...
- 3/27/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
What’s in a Name? Or its design?
Quite a lot if you’ve just become one of the prime drivers in a €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) drive to turn your country into one of the foremost film-tv hubs in Europe.
For years, at markets, Icex Spain Trade & Investment, the country’s export and inward investment board, emblazoned its Cannes and Mipcom stands with branded logos Cinema From Spain and Audiovisual from Spain, decked out in bold colours of the Spanish national flag.
From 2022, as Spanish series and movies – “Money Heist”, “The Platform,” (56 million), “Below Zero” (47 million), “Elite” – scored huge audiences on Netflix, the most global of global platforms, Icex has become a central player in Spain’s Psoe government Spain Avs Hub Plan. Tabbed at a total $1.8 billion in finance, it aims to ramp up film-tv production, exports and Spain’s big shoot scene.
Icex is a key backer of the significantly enlarged Malaga Spanish Screenings,...
Quite a lot if you’ve just become one of the prime drivers in a €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) drive to turn your country into one of the foremost film-tv hubs in Europe.
For years, at markets, Icex Spain Trade & Investment, the country’s export and inward investment board, emblazoned its Cannes and Mipcom stands with branded logos Cinema From Spain and Audiovisual from Spain, decked out in bold colours of the Spanish national flag.
From 2022, as Spanish series and movies – “Money Heist”, “The Platform,” (56 million), “Below Zero” (47 million), “Elite” – scored huge audiences on Netflix, the most global of global platforms, Icex has become a central player in Spain’s Psoe government Spain Avs Hub Plan. Tabbed at a total $1.8 billion in finance, it aims to ramp up film-tv production, exports and Spain’s big shoot scene.
Icex is a key backer of the significantly enlarged Malaga Spanish Screenings,...
- 2/11/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Post-covid, Spanish sales companies look poised for a comeback to the global scene. Although, as Berlin’s EFM has gone virtual once again, their long-awaited physical reunion with the international industry will have to wait until Cannes… hopefully.
An argument for optimism: Spanish-language films continue gaining ground on the global market, especially as platforms boom. Standout examples include Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s “The Platform” and Lluís Quílez’s “Below Zero,” which both breach the top 10 most watched non-English language Netflix films of all time, per Variety’s estimations. Other Spanish films such as “The Paramedic,” “Sky High” and “Xtreme” have also performed well for the streamer.
Measuring with another analytic – Spain’s presence at landmark film events – the year kicked-off with good news from Berlin.
For the first time in the last quarter-century, two Spanish titles: “Alcarrás,” from “Summer 1993” director Carla Simon, and “One Year, One Night,” by two-time San...
An argument for optimism: Spanish-language films continue gaining ground on the global market, especially as platforms boom. Standout examples include Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s “The Platform” and Lluís Quílez’s “Below Zero,” which both breach the top 10 most watched non-English language Netflix films of all time, per Variety’s estimations. Other Spanish films such as “The Paramedic,” “Sky High” and “Xtreme” have also performed well for the streamer.
Measuring with another analytic – Spain’s presence at landmark film events – the year kicked-off with good news from Berlin.
For the first time in the last quarter-century, two Spanish titles: “Alcarrás,” from “Summer 1993” director Carla Simon, and “One Year, One Night,” by two-time San...
- 2/11/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Since 2018, Spain’s film and TV industries has gone through a revolution. Accustomed to the success of standout movie auteurs – Almodóvar, Amenabar and Trueba – for two decades or more Spain has blown U.S. shows out of its domestic free-to-air primetime and been one of the world’s most successful exporter of fiction TV formats.
Now, Spain’s place on the periphery of global TV business is history. Through October, four Netflix Spanish shows or movies – “Money Heist”, “The Platform,” (56 million), “Below Zero” (47 million) and “Elite” – were some of the most watched non-English language Netflix titles of all time.
Spain’s Canary Islands boasts one of the highest shoot incentives – 50% of a first €1 million ($1.1 million) spend – anywhere in the world.
Capping that, in March 2021 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the most ambitious film-tv incentive drive in history: the Spain Avs Hub Plan, worth a total €1.6 billion ($1.81 billion) in investment or state engineered financing.
Now, Spain’s place on the periphery of global TV business is history. Through October, four Netflix Spanish shows or movies – “Money Heist”, “The Platform,” (56 million), “Below Zero” (47 million) and “Elite” – were some of the most watched non-English language Netflix titles of all time.
Spain’s Canary Islands boasts one of the highest shoot incentives – 50% of a first €1 million ($1.1 million) spend – anywhere in the world.
Capping that, in March 2021 Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the most ambitious film-tv incentive drive in history: the Spain Avs Hub Plan, worth a total €1.6 billion ($1.81 billion) in investment or state engineered financing.
- 2/11/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
On Jan. 28 Netflix will drop its next big Spanish drama series, “Feria: The Darkest Light,” a new ‘90s-set fantastic thriller from “Elíte” co-creator Carlos Montero and thriller expert Agustín Martínez (“La caza: Monteperdido”).
Produced by Filmax, one of Spain’s leading production, distribution and sales outfits, the show is a clear demonstration of Netflix’s ever-increasing ingratiation into the local industry and the company’s desire to work with the best local talent. Award-winning Spanish directors Jorge Dorado (“Anna”) and Carles Torrens (“Sequence”) were recruited to head production, and the series stars an impressive cast of cinema talent and TV superstars including Marta Nieto, the lead in Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s Oscar-nominated short “Madre,” Patricia López, last year’s Spanish Academy Goya Award-winner for best actress (“Ane is Missing”), and Isak Férriz (“Below Zero”), among others.
Set in the Andalusian mountains in the mid ‘90s, the show is billed as a...
Produced by Filmax, one of Spain’s leading production, distribution and sales outfits, the show is a clear demonstration of Netflix’s ever-increasing ingratiation into the local industry and the company’s desire to work with the best local talent. Award-winning Spanish directors Jorge Dorado (“Anna”) and Carles Torrens (“Sequence”) were recruited to head production, and the series stars an impressive cast of cinema talent and TV superstars including Marta Nieto, the lead in Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s Oscar-nominated short “Madre,” Patricia López, last year’s Spanish Academy Goya Award-winner for best actress (“Ane is Missing”), and Isak Férriz (“Below Zero”), among others.
Set in the Andalusian mountains in the mid ‘90s, the show is billed as a...
- 1/20/2022
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In yet another sign of explosive growth on Spain’s drama scene, Amazon Prime Video has unveiled four new Amazon Original series or movies tapping the large talents of some of its most successful comedy directors, producers, novelists and drama series creators.
In a sign of Amazon Studios’ hiked ambitions, the productions were described by Georgia Brown, Amazon’s head of European Originals, as “local stories that resonate with local audiences and have a global impact.” In the past, Amazon has stressed more the need for the former.
Also updating Spanish journalists in Madrid on Wednesday morning on progress on the already announced “Sin Huellas” and “Un asunto privado,” Prime Video’s new slate shows it enrolling some of the biggest stars in Spain, led by “Below Zero’s” Javier Gutiérrez and Carmen Machi.
Alongside Sílvia Abril, the two actors topline family time-travel comedy “Mañana es hoy” which is directed...
In a sign of Amazon Studios’ hiked ambitions, the productions were described by Georgia Brown, Amazon’s head of European Originals, as “local stories that resonate with local audiences and have a global impact.” In the past, Amazon has stressed more the need for the former.
Also updating Spanish journalists in Madrid on Wednesday morning on progress on the already announced “Sin Huellas” and “Un asunto privado,” Prime Video’s new slate shows it enrolling some of the biggest stars in Spain, led by “Below Zero’s” Javier Gutiérrez and Carmen Machi.
Alongside Sílvia Abril, the two actors topline family time-travel comedy “Mañana es hoy” which is directed...
- 1/12/2022
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Major European indie Federation Entertainment is getting into the American market by launching a Los Angeles-based management and production company with a trio of top-tier executives.
Animal Federation will act as a subsidiary of Paris-based group Federation, which has credits including The Bureau, Bad Banks and the upcoming Around the World in 80 Days starring David Tennant.
The offshoot will be spearheaded by producers Juan Solá and Nacho Manubens, alongside Talent Manager Adil Chamakh. Solá and Manubens first came into the Federation fold when they teamed with the Paris-based company to launch Federation Spain last year.
Animal Federation will have a global outlook bridging the U.S. market and the rest of the world, its executive team said. The outfit is developing original content and adaptations from Federation’s IP library for the Latam and U.S. market and is looking to highlight diverse,...
Animal Federation will act as a subsidiary of Paris-based group Federation, which has credits including The Bureau, Bad Banks and the upcoming Around the World in 80 Days starring David Tennant.
The offshoot will be spearheaded by producers Juan Solá and Nacho Manubens, alongside Talent Manager Adil Chamakh. Solá and Manubens first came into the Federation fold when they teamed with the Paris-based company to launch Federation Spain last year.
Animal Federation will have a global outlook bridging the U.S. market and the rest of the world, its executive team said. The outfit is developing original content and adaptations from Federation’s IP library for the Latam and U.S. market and is looking to highlight diverse,...
- 11/16/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has acquired exclusive rights for Latin America to Pedro Almodóvar’s “Parallel Mothers,” which won Penélope Cruz the best actress award at September’s 78th Venice Film Festival.
Struck by Netflix and El Deseo, Pedro and brother Agustín Almodóvar’s Madrid-based production company, the deal marks the first time that Netflix has taken all and exclusive rights to a territory on a first-run Almodóvar film.
Hailed by Variety as Almodóvar’s best movie since “All About My Mother,” “Parallel Mothers” will be released in Latin America at the beginning of the 2022, Netflix announced Tuesday.
Almodóvar’s films have traditionally been released by a stable network of theatrical distributors. Announced this April, for instance, Sony Pictures Classics acquisition of rights to North America, Australia and New Zealand on “Parallel Mothers” represented the 13th collaboration between the distributor and El Deseo.
Latin America’s distinct distribution challenge, however, is that it is grossly under-screened.
Struck by Netflix and El Deseo, Pedro and brother Agustín Almodóvar’s Madrid-based production company, the deal marks the first time that Netflix has taken all and exclusive rights to a territory on a first-run Almodóvar film.
Hailed by Variety as Almodóvar’s best movie since “All About My Mother,” “Parallel Mothers” will be released in Latin America at the beginning of the 2022, Netflix announced Tuesday.
Almodóvar’s films have traditionally been released by a stable network of theatrical distributors. Announced this April, for instance, Sony Pictures Classics acquisition of rights to North America, Australia and New Zealand on “Parallel Mothers” represented the 13th collaboration between the distributor and El Deseo.
Latin America’s distinct distribution challenge, however, is that it is grossly under-screened.
- 11/2/2021
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix’s Spanish adaptation of its hit original movie “Bird Box” is coming together.
Cast and a handful of early details were announced for the previously announced project from Àlex and David Pastor. Leading the international cast are Mario Casas, one of Spain’s most bankable leading men who this year won a best actor Spanish Academy Goya Award for his performance in “Cross the Line,” and Georgina Campbell, a best leading actress BAFTA winner for her work in “Murdered by My Boyfriend.”
Casas was also the star of horror thriller “The Paramedic,” one of Netflix’s best performing Spanish original films to date.
Other cast includes Diego Calva (“I Promise You Anarchy”), Alejandra Howard (“Ana. all in”), Naila Schuberth (“Unbroken”), Patrick Criado (“Riot Police”) and Celia Freijeiro (“Perfect Life”), with Lola Dueñas (“The Sea Inside”), Gonzalo de Castro (“La torre de Suso”), Michelle Jenner (“Isabel”) and Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Pain and Glory...
Cast and a handful of early details were announced for the previously announced project from Àlex and David Pastor. Leading the international cast are Mario Casas, one of Spain’s most bankable leading men who this year won a best actor Spanish Academy Goya Award for his performance in “Cross the Line,” and Georgina Campbell, a best leading actress BAFTA winner for her work in “Murdered by My Boyfriend.”
Casas was also the star of horror thriller “The Paramedic,” one of Netflix’s best performing Spanish original films to date.
Other cast includes Diego Calva (“I Promise You Anarchy”), Alejandra Howard (“Ana. all in”), Naila Schuberth (“Unbroken”), Patrick Criado (“Riot Police”) and Celia Freijeiro (“Perfect Life”), with Lola Dueñas (“The Sea Inside”), Gonzalo de Castro (“La torre de Suso”), Michelle Jenner (“Isabel”) and Leonardo Sbaraglia (“Pain and Glory...
- 10/28/2021
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Spain’s flagship film event, the San Sebastian Film Festival, gets underway tonight. Ahead of the fest, Deadline sat down with Netflix’s two top content executives in Spain to hear about the streamer’s strategy in the key European market, which has the unique advantage of also being a content bridge into the company’s Latin American activities.
Netflix bet big on Spain early. In 2018, it opened its own film and TV studio in Tres Cantos, just outside of Madrid, marking its first European production hub. The facility has housed Spanish hits including Money Heist to date. As you’d expect, the streamer isn’t resting on its laurels, and is now more than doubling the number of sound stages at the site as it continues to ramp up activity.
Below, we dig into the strategy with Diego Avalos, VP of original content, and Teresa Moneo, Director, International Original film.
Netflix bet big on Spain early. In 2018, it opened its own film and TV studio in Tres Cantos, just outside of Madrid, marking its first European production hub. The facility has housed Spanish hits including Money Heist to date. As you’d expect, the streamer isn’t resting on its laurels, and is now more than doubling the number of sound stages at the site as it continues to ramp up activity.
Below, we dig into the strategy with Diego Avalos, VP of original content, and Teresa Moneo, Director, International Original film.
- 9/17/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Opening up what could be a rich vein in Spanish movies coming onto the open market, Film Factory Entertainment has acquired world sales rights outside Spain to “Modelo 77,” the next film by Alberto Rodríguez, director of “Marshland” and “The Plague.”
A potential jewel in Spanish cinema’s 2022 crown, “Modelo 77” is produced by Spanish pay TV/VOD giant Movistar Plus and Madrid-based Atípica Films, Rodríguez’s career-long producer. It raises the large question of whether “Modelo 77” will mark a fully-fledged embarkment by Movistar Plus into regular movie co-production with Spain’s film industry.
Few titles, if that were to happen, will tick more boxes than Rodríguez’s “Modelo 77,” which Film Factory will bring onto the open market at this week’s Toronto Festival.
A penitentiary drama-thriller feature directed by Alberto Rodríguez and written by Rafael Cobos and the director, the creative powerhouses behind “Marshland” and Movistar Plus banner series “The Plague,...
A potential jewel in Spanish cinema’s 2022 crown, “Modelo 77” is produced by Spanish pay TV/VOD giant Movistar Plus and Madrid-based Atípica Films, Rodríguez’s career-long producer. It raises the large question of whether “Modelo 77” will mark a fully-fledged embarkment by Movistar Plus into regular movie co-production with Spain’s film industry.
Few titles, if that were to happen, will tick more boxes than Rodríguez’s “Modelo 77,” which Film Factory will bring onto the open market at this week’s Toronto Festival.
A penitentiary drama-thriller feature directed by Alberto Rodríguez and written by Rafael Cobos and the director, the creative powerhouses behind “Marshland” and Movistar Plus banner series “The Plague,...
- 9/10/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
National Geographic Greenlights Three New Series, Third Season of Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller
At National Geographic's TCA Summer Press Tour panel today, Courteney Monroe, president, National Geographic Content, announced the greenlight of three new linear unscripted series, featuring all-new storytellers with riveting tales to share, all in the name of exploration.
The network also gave the green light to the third season of Emmy-nominated Trafficked with Mariana Von Zeller ahead of the winter premiere of the docuseries’ second season bow.
Get the details below.
To expand on the successful Life Below Zero franchise is Life Before Zero: First Alaskans, the first nonfiction series on National Geographic with a cast of Native Alaskans at its core, including representation on the production team.
The 7 Toughest Days on Earth will feature natural-born survivor Dwayne Fields, the first Black British citizen to conquer the magnetic north pole, as he aims to survive the most extreme elements on the planet.
Award-winning BBQ Pitmaster and former U.S. Navy...
The network also gave the green light to the third season of Emmy-nominated Trafficked with Mariana Von Zeller ahead of the winter premiere of the docuseries’ second season bow.
Get the details below.
To expand on the successful Life Below Zero franchise is Life Before Zero: First Alaskans, the first nonfiction series on National Geographic with a cast of Native Alaskans at its core, including representation on the production team.
The 7 Toughest Days on Earth will feature natural-born survivor Dwayne Fields, the first Black British citizen to conquer the magnetic north pole, as he aims to survive the most extreme elements on the planet.
Award-winning BBQ Pitmaster and former U.S. Navy...
- 8/18/2021
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Miguel Herrán, who plays Aníbal “Río” Cortés in “Money Heist” and Christian Varela in “Elite,” will star with “Below Zero” lead Javier Gutiérrez in “Modelo 77,” produced by Movistar Plus and Madrid-based Atípica Films.
The feature film will be released in Spanish cinema theaters by Buena Vista Intl. before screening in exclusivity on Movistar Plus.
Directed by Alberto Rodríguez and written by Rafael Cobos and Rodríguez, the creative powerhouses behind Movistar Plus banner series “The Plague,” the movie sees Movistar Plus maintaining in a movie a key talent relationship forged by a drama series. As competition for top talent becomes the key battleground between pay TV operators and platforms the world over, that looks like a crucial coup.
Set to go into production on Aug. 2, “Modelo 77” also begs the question as to whether Movistar Plus, one of Spain’s key drama series investors, will now be driving into movie production in...
The feature film will be released in Spanish cinema theaters by Buena Vista Intl. before screening in exclusivity on Movistar Plus.
Directed by Alberto Rodríguez and written by Rafael Cobos and Rodríguez, the creative powerhouses behind Movistar Plus banner series “The Plague,” the movie sees Movistar Plus maintaining in a movie a key talent relationship forged by a drama series. As competition for top talent becomes the key battleground between pay TV operators and platforms the world over, that looks like a crucial coup.
Set to go into production on Aug. 2, “Modelo 77” also begs the question as to whether Movistar Plus, one of Spain’s key drama series investors, will now be driving into movie production in...
- 7/28/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Spain is no longer a distant country for international film and TV shoots, as the industry builds dramatically amid a flash flood of public financing.
In May 2020, as the first wave Covid-19 roiled the country, Spain’s Psoe socialist government raised the cap from €3 million ($3.6 million) to $14.4 million for both tax rebates for international projects and tax credits for local productions. Deduction rates edged up from 25% to 30% of investment.
In March, prime minister Pedro Sánchez raised the ante with a $1.9 billion Avs Hub Plan for 2021-25 to power up the local film and TV production industry and encourage big foreign players to shoot and set up production offices in Spain.
Already, thanks in part to a vaccination drive decimating infections, international shoots in Spain surpass pre-pandemic levels.
“Even in such a globally competitive marketplace, Spain remains one of the world’s leading destinations for producers wishing to capture content,” says Mike Day,...
In May 2020, as the first wave Covid-19 roiled the country, Spain’s Psoe socialist government raised the cap from €3 million ($3.6 million) to $14.4 million for both tax rebates for international projects and tax credits for local productions. Deduction rates edged up from 25% to 30% of investment.
In March, prime minister Pedro Sánchez raised the ante with a $1.9 billion Avs Hub Plan for 2021-25 to power up the local film and TV production industry and encourage big foreign players to shoot and set up production offices in Spain.
Already, thanks in part to a vaccination drive decimating infections, international shoots in Spain surpass pre-pandemic levels.
“Even in such a globally competitive marketplace, Spain remains one of the world’s leading destinations for producers wishing to capture content,” says Mike Day,...
- 7/8/2021
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Marvista Entertainment, one of the world’s biggest independent movie studios, and Elefantec Global, the media-entertainment startup launched by former Televisa execs José “Pepe” Bastón and Jeff Symon, have joined forces to create a Spanish-language movie studio.
Underscoring the scale of the studio’s ambition, 15 movies are currently in pre-production and 30 more in development, Marvista and Elefantec announced Tuesday.
The “pre-eminent movie studio,” as the partners describe it, will focus on “crafting original, highly commercial and locally produced Spanish-language content to meet the growing appetite of existing and emerging platforms,” the partners added. Films in development run a broad gamut of comedies, romantic comedies, dramas, family features and thrillers.
The films look set to play off the complementary skill-sets of the two companies. Bastón and Symon are institutions on the Spanish-language scene, Bastón serving for years in top positions at Mexico’s Televisa Group, including president of television and content,...
Underscoring the scale of the studio’s ambition, 15 movies are currently in pre-production and 30 more in development, Marvista and Elefantec announced Tuesday.
The “pre-eminent movie studio,” as the partners describe it, will focus on “crafting original, highly commercial and locally produced Spanish-language content to meet the growing appetite of existing and emerging platforms,” the partners added. Films in development run a broad gamut of comedies, romantic comedies, dramas, family features and thrillers.
The films look set to play off the complementary skill-sets of the two companies. Bastón and Symon are institutions on the Spanish-language scene, Bastón serving for years in top positions at Mexico’s Televisa Group, including president of television and content,...
- 5/18/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
National Geographic will bring back a number of franchise titles for the 2021-2022 season. During its upfront presentation on Tuesday, National Geographic revealed that has handed renewals to its Life Below Zero and Wicked Tuna franchises. Also set to return for new seasons are adventure shows Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, and Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller.
The documentary network has also set the return for its annual Sharkfest special, marking its 10th anniversary on Nat Geo. It was also revealed that Good Morning America co-anchors Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan will join National Geographic for Explorer, a special produced in partnership with ABC News.
See National Geographic’s complete renewal slate below.
Returning Series
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted
Renewed for Season Four (Studio Ramsay)
Gordon Ramsay laces his boots, grabs his knives and buckles up as he hits the road to embark on more exhilarating adventures, exploring...
The documentary network has also set the return for its annual Sharkfest special, marking its 10th anniversary on Nat Geo. It was also revealed that Good Morning America co-anchors Robin Roberts and Michael Strahan will join National Geographic for Explorer, a special produced in partnership with ABC News.
See National Geographic’s complete renewal slate below.
Returning Series
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted
Renewed for Season Four (Studio Ramsay)
Gordon Ramsay laces his boots, grabs his knives and buckles up as he hits the road to embark on more exhilarating adventures, exploring...
- 5/18/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Morena Films, one of Spain’s biggest movie production forces, has closed Spanish distribution on “On the Fringe,” starring Penelope Cruz and Luis Tosar (“The Minions of Midas”).
The feature debut of actor-turned-director Juan Diego Botto, “On the Fringe” (“En las margenes”) will be released in Spain by Vértice Cine.
Scheduled to shoot in Madrid from October and sold by the U.K.’s Bankside Films, “On the Fringe” is produced by Morena’s Alvaro Longoria and Cruz and co-produced by André Logie at Belgium’s Panache Productions and by Spanish public broadcaster Rtve. Amazon Prime Video handles Spanish SVOD rights.
“On the Fringe” interweaves three stories, which unspool over 24 hours: of Rafael (Tosar), an activist lawyer; of Azucena (Cruz), a woman battling to save her son from a new wave of economic crisis, which has destroyed her life; and of Teodora, a grandmother wishing to say goodbye to her son.
The feature debut of actor-turned-director Juan Diego Botto, “On the Fringe” (“En las margenes”) will be released in Spain by Vértice Cine.
Scheduled to shoot in Madrid from October and sold by the U.K.’s Bankside Films, “On the Fringe” is produced by Morena’s Alvaro Longoria and Cruz and co-produced by André Logie at Belgium’s Panache Productions and by Spanish public broadcaster Rtve. Amazon Prime Video handles Spanish SVOD rights.
“On the Fringe” interweaves three stories, which unspool over 24 hours: of Rafael (Tosar), an activist lawyer; of Azucena (Cruz), a woman battling to save her son from a new wave of economic crisis, which has destroyed her life; and of Teodora, a grandmother wishing to say goodbye to her son.
- 5/10/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
May will see the launch of some exciting new titles like Resident Evil Village, Rune Factory 5, and Hood: Outlaws and Legends. The Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is a long-awaited trilogy remaster that will bring the first three Mass Effect titles plus all Dlc to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Subnautica: Below Zero […]
The post Here are the Video Games Launching in May 2021 appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..
The post Here are the Video Games Launching in May 2021 appeared first on Cinelinx | Movies. Games. Geek Culture..
- 5/3/2021
- by katykakes
- Cinelinx
Membership falls short of company’s expectations; revenue growth beats the Street.
Netflix leadership has targeted a $17bn content spend for 2021 and expect a heavier offering of film and TV in the second half of the year following production delays due to the pandemic.
The streamer said it is back in production in every major market except Covid hotspots Brazil and India.
Local language content remains a priority and the company noted standouts that have travelled beyond borders led by Who Killed Sara?, the Mexican series that generated an estimated 55m views in its first 28 days and now ranks as...
Netflix leadership has targeted a $17bn content spend for 2021 and expect a heavier offering of film and TV in the second half of the year following production delays due to the pandemic.
The streamer said it is back in production in every major market except Covid hotspots Brazil and India.
Local language content remains a priority and the company noted standouts that have travelled beyond borders led by Who Killed Sara?, the Mexican series that generated an estimated 55m views in its first 28 days and now ranks as...
- 4/20/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Netflix revealed that it will spend over $17 billion on content this year, according to its first-quarter earnings report.
“As we’ve noted previously, the production delays from Covid-19 in 2020 will lead to a 2021 slate that is more heavily second half weighted with a large number of returning franchises,” said the company in its letter to shareholders. “And while the roll out of vaccines is very uneven across the world, we are back up and producing safely in every major market, with the exception of Brazil and India. Assuming this continues, we’ll spend over $17 billion in cash on content this year and we’ll continue to deliver an amazing range of titles for our members with more originals this year than last.”
That’s a notable uptick from the streamer’s 2020 spend of $11.8 billion, as the pandemic prompted production delays across the industry, and a 2019 content spend of $13.9 billion.
During the first quarter,...
“As we’ve noted previously, the production delays from Covid-19 in 2020 will lead to a 2021 slate that is more heavily second half weighted with a large number of returning franchises,” said the company in its letter to shareholders. “And while the roll out of vaccines is very uneven across the world, we are back up and producing safely in every major market, with the exception of Brazil and India. Assuming this continues, we’ll spend over $17 billion in cash on content this year and we’ll continue to deliver an amazing range of titles for our members with more originals this year than last.”
That’s a notable uptick from the streamer’s 2020 spend of $11.8 billion, as the pandemic prompted production delays across the industry, and a 2019 content spend of $13.9 billion.
During the first quarter,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Elaine Low
- Variety Film + TV
The newly released Netflix original, “Firefly Lane,” starring Katherine Heigle and Sarah Chalke, was the only program to break the one billion minutes viewing threshold the week of Feb. 1 in all three weekly Top 10 lists, winning at just over 1.3 billion minutes. The show, which chronicles the life of two women throughout thirty years of friendship, was most popular with viewers 35 and older.
In addition to the originals list, the global marketing research firm will also be pushing out weekly Top 10 lists that take into consideration original programming and movies in an effort to provide an expanded and more inclusive look at most streamed programs for that given week.
Kids and teens were fixated on Nickelodeon’s “Henry Danger” on Netflix, which garnered 0.544 billion viewing minutes across its 65 episodes, landing the family-friendly superhero sitcom in sixth place on the acquired content Top Ten list for the week of Feb. 1 through 7. Mystery...
In addition to the originals list, the global marketing research firm will also be pushing out weekly Top 10 lists that take into consideration original programming and movies in an effort to provide an expanded and more inclusive look at most streamed programs for that given week.
Kids and teens were fixated on Nickelodeon’s “Henry Danger” on Netflix, which garnered 0.544 billion viewing minutes across its 65 episodes, landing the family-friendly superhero sitcom in sixth place on the acquired content Top Ten list for the week of Feb. 1 through 7. Mystery...
- 3/4/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Flushed by Netflix success with “Below Zero,” Spain brings an extraordinary gamut of movie titles to Berlin. Some highlights:
“All the Moons,” (Igor Legarreta)
A France-Spain co-production, “All the Moons” tracks two vampires in the northern Spain during the last Carlist war. S.A. Filmax
“Ane is Missing,” (David Pérez Sañudo)
A 2021 best picture Goya nominee, Patricia López Arnáiz dominates as a mother looking for her teenage daughter. S.A. Latido
“Alcarrás,” (Carla Simon)
Much anticipated after Simon’s “Summer 1993,” “Alcarrás” tracks the final harvest at a multi-generational family farm. Co-produced with Italy. S.A. MK2 Films
“Baby,” (Juanma Bajo Ulloa)
This dialogue-free thriller follows an upper-class drug addict trying to track down her baby after selling it to a child trafficker.S.A. Latido
“Beyond the Summit,” (Ibon Cormenzana)
Javier Rey (“Fariña”) & Patricia Lopez Arnaiz (“Ane”) star in this mountain climbing metaphor for self-realization.
S.A. Filmax
“Brothers-In-Law,...
“All the Moons,” (Igor Legarreta)
A France-Spain co-production, “All the Moons” tracks two vampires in the northern Spain during the last Carlist war. S.A. Filmax
“Ane is Missing,” (David Pérez Sañudo)
A 2021 best picture Goya nominee, Patricia López Arnáiz dominates as a mother looking for her teenage daughter. S.A. Latido
“Alcarrás,” (Carla Simon)
Much anticipated after Simon’s “Summer 1993,” “Alcarrás” tracks the final harvest at a multi-generational family farm. Co-produced with Italy. S.A. MK2 Films
“Baby,” (Juanma Bajo Ulloa)
This dialogue-free thriller follows an upper-class drug addict trying to track down her baby after selling it to a child trafficker.S.A. Latido
“Beyond the Summit,” (Ibon Cormenzana)
Javier Rey (“Fariña”) & Patricia Lopez Arnaiz (“Ane”) star in this mountain climbing metaphor for self-realization.
S.A. Filmax
“Brothers-In-Law,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Emilio Mayorga and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — A new order of global streamers is powering the biggest revolution in film-tv business models in the last 100 years. Covid-19 merely accelerated that seismic change, which cannot but wreak a disruptive effect on sales agents’ traditional business.
Spain’s top sales companies are adapting their strategies to a more competitive and complex market, in which a massive closure of theaters, a consequent bottleneck in film releases and the reformulation of festivals have multiplied challenges.
In the best of cases, indie distributors are cherry picking, waiting for larger visibility on a post-pandemic landscape.
For some Spanish agents, standout deals with global streamers takes up much of the slack. “We’ve sold many important titles to Netflix, which has given us a certain peace of mind,” attests Vicente Canales, CEO of Film Factory Entertainment.
Released on Jan. 29, Lluís Quílez’s action thriller “Below Zero,” a Morena Films and Amorós production, participated by Rtve,...
Spain’s top sales companies are adapting their strategies to a more competitive and complex market, in which a massive closure of theaters, a consequent bottleneck in film releases and the reformulation of festivals have multiplied challenges.
In the best of cases, indie distributors are cherry picking, waiting for larger visibility on a post-pandemic landscape.
For some Spanish agents, standout deals with global streamers takes up much of the slack. “We’ve sold many important titles to Netflix, which has given us a certain peace of mind,” attests Vicente Canales, CEO of Film Factory Entertainment.
Released on Jan. 29, Lluís Quílez’s action thriller “Below Zero,” a Morena Films and Amorós production, participated by Rtve,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
In a rare week where no single program exceeded the 1 billion minute threshold, mystery police procedural “Criminal Minds,” a recurring top performer in Nielsen’s regular Weekly Top 10 list, towered over all other programs available on subscription-based streaming platforms with 0.98 million viewing minutes for Jan. 25 through the end of the month. The CBS cult-classic also ended up in the number one slot on Nielsen’s Weekly Top 10 Acquired Content.
In addition to the acquired content list, the global marketing research firm will also be pushing out weekly Top 10 lists that take into consideration original programming and movies in an effort to provide an expanded and more inclusive look at most streamed programs for that given week. First in originals was Shondaland’s first steamy scripted Netflix show “Bridgerton,” which garnered about 0.94 billion minutes of watch time across its only 8 episodes on Netflix. First on movies was 2010’s “The Next Three Days” on Netflix,...
In addition to the acquired content list, the global marketing research firm will also be pushing out weekly Top 10 lists that take into consideration original programming and movies in an effort to provide an expanded and more inclusive look at most streamed programs for that given week. First in originals was Shondaland’s first steamy scripted Netflix show “Bridgerton,” which garnered about 0.94 billion minutes of watch time across its only 8 episodes on Netflix. First on movies was 2010’s “The Next Three Days” on Netflix,...
- 2/25/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Photo: 'Below Zero'/Netflix Violence and suspense are the name of the game in the new Spanish Netflix original film ‘Below Zero’, or ‘Bajocero’, the second feature-length directorial outing from co-scriptwriter Lluís Quílez. In the film, a National Police Corps officer named Martín (Javier Gutiérrez) transfers to a new precinct and his first assignment is to drive a prisoner transport truck in the dead of night. Gutiérrez’s starring role in ‘Below Zero’ marks his fourth Netflix film, after ‘The Motive’, ‘Mirage’, and ‘The Occupant’. Martín’s new partner Montesinos (Isak Férriz), a rule-bender, who for instance likes wearing an earring even though it’s not allowed, explains to Martín that the time of the transfer is random and last minute so that everything is safer and more discreet. For the same reasons, they can’t take their cellphones with them. A prisoner transfer in the middle of the night?...
- 2/2/2021
- by Claire L. Wong
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
This week offered little new on VOD. Did anticipation of “The Little Things” debuting on HBO Max as well as in theaters make others avoid the week? It left room for two titles to continue flying high with “Tenet” at $5.99, and “News of the World” at $19.99. Like last week, each placed #1 on two of the four charts we track.
Ongoing interest in Christopher Nolan’s film may seem ironic as it was the last major Warners release to see a traditional rollout. The studio reportedly recoups 70 percent of VOD rental; if there were 1 million rentals in a week, at the current price of $5.99, it would generate nearly $4.2 million. That would justify delaying a move to HBO Max.
As a PVOD, Universal sees a more generous revenue share of 80 percent on “News of the World” rentals. For a $4 million return — a nice bounty for a film with a reported $38 million budget...
Ongoing interest in Christopher Nolan’s film may seem ironic as it was the last major Warners release to see a traditional rollout. The studio reportedly recoups 70 percent of VOD rental; if there were 1 million rentals in a week, at the current price of $5.99, it would generate nearly $4.2 million. That would justify delaying a move to HBO Max.
As a PVOD, Universal sees a more generous revenue share of 80 percent on “News of the World” rentals. For a $4 million return — a nice bounty for a film with a reported $38 million budget...
- 2/1/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
The Spanish action thriller Below Zero (Bajocero in Spanish) is an old-school, uncomplicated mix of suspense and violence that avoids too much focus on details or subtexts. The idea works in a way. You get taut drama that runs for little over a hundred minutes, mostly sticking to the singular intent of delivering thrills.
The tension starts pretty much with scene one, even as the opening credits begin. A man whose face we do not see is chasing a heavily wounded youngster down nowhere in dead of the night. The victim has clearly been tortured and can't walk straight, the attacker wants information on the whereabouts of someone he simply refers to as "she". The bloodied youngster insists he has no clue.
The sequence ends on an ominous, if predictable, note, laying backdrop for the film's story to take off.
Quite simply, it isn't much of a story. It doesn't...
The tension starts pretty much with scene one, even as the opening credits begin. A man whose face we do not see is chasing a heavily wounded youngster down nowhere in dead of the night. The victim has clearly been tortured and can't walk straight, the attacker wants information on the whereabouts of someone he simply refers to as "she". The bloodied youngster insists he has no clue.
The sequence ends on an ominous, if predictable, note, laying backdrop for the film's story to take off.
Quite simply, it isn't much of a story. It doesn't...
- 2/1/2021
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
"You did something, and we're not going to pay for it." Netflix has revealed an official US trailer for Below Zero, an action thriller from Catalonian filmmaker Lluís Quílez (Out of the Dark). In the middle of a foggy, cold night, a prison van carrying convicts is assaulted. The driver, Martin, will need to defend himself from those inside and those outside if he wants to make it out alive. This reminded me of Con Air at first glance, but with a big prison bus driving through winter in Spain. The film's cast includes Javier Gutiérrez, Àlex Monner, Patrick Criado, Édgar Vittorino, Karra Elejalde, Florin Opritescu, Luis Callejo, and Isak Férriz. This actually looks like an intense, chilly thriller to enjoy at home this winter. Fire it up below. Here's the official trailer (+ two Spanish posters) for Lluís Quílez's Below Zero, direct from YouTube: On a lonely road, a prison transport is brutally assaulted.
- 1/11/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Netflix has long since blown past the snooty preconceptions of the Hollywood elite that dubbed them as a mere streaming service, with the company currently churning out some of the most acclaimed shows on television and countless feature-length awards season contenders on an annual basis. The old guard tried to resist the inevitable paradigm shift for as long as possible, but based on both the quantity and quality of the in-house originals, Netflix can now comfortably be viewed as genuine rivals to the traditional major studios.
Of course, that takes a whole lot of investment, with close to $20 billion being funnelled into content last year, and that number only set to rise even higher. The Coronavirus pandemic may have decimated the theatrical industry, but Netflix has seen their subscriber count and viewership numbers continue to grow. Thankfully, then, a a massive number of original movies are coming to the platform this year,...
Of course, that takes a whole lot of investment, with close to $20 billion being funnelled into content last year, and that number only set to rise even higher. The Coronavirus pandemic may have decimated the theatrical industry, but Netflix has seen their subscriber count and viewership numbers continue to grow. Thankfully, then, a a massive number of original movies are coming to the platform this year,...
- 1/10/2021
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
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