News

It's been a busy few days for Magical Girl Raising Project , and today brings more news for the ever-expanding magical girl story! Today, we get a look at the whole cast of Magical Girl Raising Project F2P the Stage in costume. The new poster spotlights lead magical girls Stella Lulu and Alma, with the rest of the cast in the background: Related: Magical Girl Raising Project F2P the Stage Shares Cast Photo of Alma Additionally, Magical Girl Raising Project has launched a portal site with links to all its major project and information on the series as a whole. Magical Girl Raising Project F2P the Stage ~Chapter 1~ will be performed at Tokyo's Hakuhinkan Theater from February 6-10, 2025. Toshiki Tanabe (stage adaptations of Yuki Yuna Is A Hero and Black Jack ) will direct, and the show will be produced by Odd Entertainment. Crunchyroll currently streams the anime adaptation...

Long-time fans of stop-motion anime Pui Pui Molcar will recall Magical Girl Morumi: the guinea pig-themed anime character who appeared as molcar art in episode 10 of the series. In the tradition of all great magical girls, she's getting a feature film power up! Great Magic Angel Morumi will make her debut in Pui Pui Molcar the Movie: Molmax , with a suitably elevated character design: Related: Pui Pui Molcar the Movie: Molmax Gets Fast and Furious in Latest Teaser Trailer Voice actress Yukari Tamura will provide the voice of Morumi for the film. Tamura has a long history of bringing anime magical girls to life, having voiced Nanoha Takamachi in the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha franchise and Cure Amour in 2018's Hugtto! Precure . The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague anime director Mankyu will be directing Pui Pui Molcar the Movie: Molmax at Toho Next with a script by Yuko Kakihara...

Spain’s Aquí y Allí Films, behind Antonio Méndez Esparza’s “Life and Nothing More,” winner of the John Cassavetes Spirit Award in 2017, is preparing a new film, “Stay,” an identity dramedy set in Madrid’s queer community.

London-based Altitude Films has boarded the project as its international sales agent.

In it, Sophie, a “normal” American girl who studies in Madrid is introduced to Spain’s queer community by her non-binary tutor, where she breaks free from the rules and expectations which have governed her life.

Set to be presented at the Spanish Screenings on Tour Producers’ Showcase at the American Film Market, “Stay” has been penned by American writer Angela Paolini and Spain’s Caru Basakatua.

Paolini has also been a consultant and co-editor on several novels, including five No. 1 New York Times bestsellers and is the author of one of the stories in the anthology “The Fork, The Witch,...

As previously reported in July , the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha anime franchise officially launched its 20th anniversary project on October 1, 2024. Exactly 20 years ago, on October 1, 2004, the first episode of the TV anime first season aired in Japan. The project's official website opened with a first memorial visual featuring the protagonist, Nanoha Takamachi, and Fate Testarossa. Items using this visual, such tapestry, chara fine graph, and acrylic stands, will be available at King Amusement Creative's Kinkurido Store from October 8. Related: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Anime to Launch 20th Anniversary Project in October 2024 Meanwhile, Takuya Fujima , the illustrator of the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha ViVid manga series, has also posted a commemorative illustration on his official X (formerly Twitter). The anime franchise's official YouTube channel will start streaming the TV anime first season, one episode per week, for free starting October 10. Additionally, TV-edited versions of two films — Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha...

On November 3, Tokyo Kasei University will host Record Day 2024 : Japan's largest event dedicated to analog records. It only seems fitting for Creamy Mami—Studio Pierrot's magical, musical Showa-era idol—to put out a new release for the occasion! Fans of 80s music can grab a new cassette tape release of last year's Magical Angel Creamy Mami 80's on Vinyl , which features ten songs from Magical Angel Creamy Mami newly recorded by lead voice actress Takako Ohta. The tape will be priced at 2,300 yen. No cassette player? No problem! A mini cassette player will also be available, featuring art of Yu and her alter ego Mami. The player is sold separately and priced at 5,980 yen. Related: Studio Pierrot Announces New Magical Girl TV Anime in Production Both the cassette and the cassette player will go on sale in stores and online shops on November 2, the day before the event.

Discotek Media announced a new slate of licenses at their Discotek Media Industry Extravaganza panel at Otakon 2024 today, including new releases of MxC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (the recut series of Takeshi's Castle which aired on Tnn/Spike TV), Gto: Great Teacher Onizuka , the live-action Ouran High School Host Club movie and more. Announcements made during the panel and stream are in alphabetical order. Android Kikaider : 43-episode Blu-ray release of the tokusatsu series in Japanese with English subtitles. Extras include a Daisuke Ban interview, vintage Hawaii stage event and retrospective video. Scheduled to release in 2024. Captain Harlock: Space Pirate : 42 episode Blu-ray release in upscaled 1080p of Leiji Matsumoto's classic series in Japanese with English subtitles. Scheduled to release in September 2024. Chie the Brat 2nd TV Series : First US release of the second Chie the Brat TV series, featuring all 39 episodes on Sd-bd in Japanese with English subtitles.

The official portal site for the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha anime franchise revealed today on July 8 that the anime's 20th anniversary project is scheduled to launch in October 2024. The project's commemorative logo was unveiled for the first time on the site, and has also been introduced on the anime's official X (formerly Twitter). Related: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Teases More Magical Action in New Project As the first phase of the 20th anniversary project, under the title of "Lyrical Selection," TV-edited versions of two films — Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 1st (2010) and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 2nd A's (2012) — will be broadcast from October 2024. The former is based on the anime franchise's first TV series aired in 2004, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha , while the latter is based on the second TV series aired in 2005, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's . On the occasion of the broadcast, a campaign entitled "Lyrical...

In what remains the Spanish film industry’s biggest event of 2024, last January, pay TV Movistar Plus+, behind premium series like “A Perfect Life” and “The Plague,” summoned local press to unveil its biggest strategic move for the last few years.

Accompanying Movistar Plus execs Domingo Corral and Guillermo Farré were five of the coolest, most successful and relatively young filmmakers in Spain today: Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Alberto Rodríguez, Iciar Bolláin, Oliver Laxe and Ana Rujas. Together they outlined plans to make event auteur movies backed for commercial release in Spanish theaters by the promotional muscle of Movistar Plus+.

Six months later, Rodríguez, director of Goya Award winner “Marshland” and 1580s Seville thriller series “The Plague,” is caught on set by Variety on Spain’s southern seaboard, on a boat just off Huelva, home to huge smoke-belching refineries and stunning natural parks.

That setting provides “Los Tigres” a bigger canvas. However,...

June 29, 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Japanese broadcast of the final episode of Creamy Mami, the Magical Angel , and to celebrate Studio Pierrot has announced the production of a new magical girl TV anime series . A teaser trailer and a teaser image (below) have been revealed for the as-yet-untitled new project. Related: Magical Angel Creamy Mami 40th Anniversary Unveils One-of-a-Kind Goods The visual includes a tag-line that translates to: “ I want you to sing once more...” Pierrot produced 5 magical girl anime series beginning with Cream Mami, the Magical Angel in 1983 and concluding with Fancy Lala, the Magic Stage in 1998. In addition to the new magical girl TV series announcement, an official website and a dedicated social media feed for these five series have also been published. Source: Pierrot Magical Girls Series on X.com (formerly Twitter)...

Luis Bermejo y Adriana Ozores protagonizan la película. © Filmax

Ya se ha publicado el primer tráiler y póster de “Norberta”, la película española dirigida por las debutantes Sonia Escolano, que firma también el guion, y Belén López Albert. Se trata de una comedia ágil con mucho amor y verdad que cuenta con un trasfondo Lgtbiq+. Se inspira no solo en una historia real, sino en miles de ellas.

La comedia sigue a una pareja, Norberto y María, que son gente humilde, de barrio, y de vez en cuando atracadores. Pero Norberto necesita dar un giro para sentirse vivo, libre, para sentirse Ella misma. Una confesión inesperada que pondrá en jaque toda su vida.

“Norberta” está encabezada por Luis Bermejo (“Magical Girl”) y Adriana Ozores (“Los Pequeños Amores”) como la pareja protagonista. Completan el reparto Mariona Terés, María Romanillos, Adelfa Calvo, Carme Balagué, María Lanau, Ramon Agirre, Xavier Deltell y César Tormo.

Toma nota: la película llegará este verano. © Filmax

“Norberta”, la película española dirigida por las debutantes Sonia Escolano, que firma también el guion, y Belén López Albert, ya tiene fecha de estreno. Se trata de una comedia ágil con mucho amor y verdad que cuenta con un trasfondo Lgtbiq+. Se inspira no solo en una historia real, sino en miles de ellas.

La comedia sigue a una pareja, Norberto y María, que son gente humilde, de barrio, y de vez en cuando atracadores. Pero Norberto necesita dar un giro para sentirse vivo, libre, para sentirse Ella misma. Una confesión inesperada que pondrá en jaque toda su vida.

“Norberta” está encabezada por Luis Bermejo (“Magical Girl”) y Adriana Ozores (“Los Pequeños Amores”) como la pareja protagonista. Completan el reparto Mariona Terés, María Romanillos, Adelfa Calvo, Carme Balagué, María Lanau, Ramon Agirre, Xavier Deltell y César Tormo.

En palabras de Sonia Escolano,...

Following the teaser trailer introduced on Wednesday, Japanese virtual YouTuber agency hololive's new magical girl-themed mixed-media project Magical Girl holoWitches! released an main trailer on its official website today on May 17. The project features the six VTubers who belong to the agency — Sakura Miko , Houshou Marine , Amane Kanata , Himemori Luna , Sakamata Chloe , and Murasaki Shion . They play themselves in the project. The clip introduces two more original fairy characters — Aelu voiced by Rie Takahashi (Megumin in Konosuba -God's blessing on this wonderful world! ) and Lagu voiced by Aoi Yuki (Madoka Kaname in Puella Magi Madoka Magica ). The project's official website describes the project's story: This is a world where the magical world of “Holocas World” exists, created when the light of people's hearts, “Holo,” is gathered through the “Holocas” streaming app. The main characters are usually active as “Holocas” streamers. The “Yumeochi” phenomenon occurs when people who are anxious or...

Antonio de la Torre y Bárbara Lennie protagonizan este thriller. © Disney

Ha comenzado el rodaje de “Los Tigres”, una nueva película española que se define como un thriller atmosférico.

Antonio y Estrella son hermanos. Llevan toda la vida vinculados al mar. Antonio trabaja como buzo industrial. Estrella estudia los fondos marinos y ayuda a su hermano en la barcaza para la que trabaja. A pesar de jugarse la vida cada día, su situación económica es delicada. Una situación que puede cambiar cuando dan con un alijo de cocaína escondido en el casco de un carguero anclado en el puerto de Huelva.

“Los Tigres” está protagonizada por Antonio de la Torre (“El Reino”) y Bárbara Lennie (“Magical Girl”). Completan el reparto, Joaquín Núñez (“Grupo 7”), José Miguel Manzano Bazalo “Skone” que debuta en la actuación) y Silvia Acosta (“Mamacruz”). Por otro lado, la película está dirigida por Alberto Rodríguez (“La Isla Mínima...

El País, a Spanish-language newspaper based in Madrid that is the second-largest newspaper in the country, is reporting that filmmaker Carlos Vermut sexually abused three women.

Vermut, winner of the San Sebastián Film Festival’s Golden Shell for the neo-noir movie Magical Girl (2014), said his relationships with his accusers were consensual. He was interviewed three times by the media outlet, and claimed not to have been “aware of having exercised sexual violence against any woman.”

“I have always practiced rough sex in a consensual manner, because I believe that consent is very important,” he said. “It’s another thing if the person… if she later felt bad — and maybe, at the time, was afraid to say it — I can’t know that.

“I would like it to be published that I’ve had many relationships of many types, always wanting the other person to be ok. And I think that...

Discotek Media announced a new slate of licenses and releases during their "It's a Very Big Discotek New Years! Livestream" ( Part 1 and Part 2 ) today, including the 1997 TV anime adaptation of Berserk , the final season of Medabots , the Urusei Yatsura Ova series and much more. Announcements made during the livestream are in alphabetical order. Berserk (1997 TV series): Blu-ray release of the original Berserk anime series in Japanese with English subtitles, the original Nyav Post dub, and extras from previous releases and outtakes. Scheduled for March 2024. Futakoi Alternative : Blu-ray release in Japanese with revised English subtitles of the 2005 spin-off anime from the Futakoi series. Scheduled for 2024. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple: The Attack of Darkness : Blu-ray release of the 11-episode Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Ova series released in Japanese with subtitles and a new English dub for the first time. Lightspeed Electroid Albegas : Sd-bd release in Japanese with...

In one of the first deals to emerge from the San Sebastian Film Festival, powerhouse indie studio, Filmax, which celebrates its 70th anniversary at San Sebastian Festival, has snapped up international rights to LGBTQ+ dramedy “Norbert(a)” from Imposible Films, the producers of hits “Truman,” “The People Upstairs” and “Stories not to be Told.”

Directed by newcomers Sonia Escolano, who also penned the script, and Belén López Albert, it is toplined by Luis Bermejo (“Magical Girl”), Adriana Ozores (“Alba”), Mariona Terés (“The Girls at the Back”) and María Romanillos.

Norbert(a) follows Norberto and María, who’ve been married for decades and live what seems like an ordinary life in their working-class neighborhood. But little do people know that every night, to supplement their meager incomes, Norberto dresses up as a woman and carries out petty robberies while Maria waits for him in the getaway car.

But Norberto later confesses...

Spanish mini-major Filmax has picked up international sales rights to “Teresa,” the new feature by Paula Ortiz, a fictional story turning on the prominent Spanish mystic and religious reformer Saint Teresa of Jesus.

“Teresa” marks the big screen adaptation of Spaniard playwright Juan Mayorga’s stage play ”La lengua en pedazos,” which narrates a meeting between Saint Teresa of Jesus – also known as Teresa de Ávila – and a character called The Inquisitor.

The feature is not a classic biopic, but rather a free adaptation of the text written by Mayorga – a winner of Spain’s National Prize for Dramatic Literature – which in turn, is based on “The Book of Life,” by Saint Teresa herself.

In the movie, Teresa patiently awaits the Inquisitor’s arrival and judgement. His visit and his words will determine her future. They will hold a religious and dialectical duel, where the question will be if she is set free,...

Following Goya and Catalan Gaudi prize wins for short “The Disinherited” which also won a Cannes Discovery Award, Laura Ferrés’ debut feature “The Permanent Picture” is setting its sights on the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival.

Drawing from a rich tapestry of personal and historical narratives, Ferrés showcases her distinctive approach to storytelling, blending dry humor and captivating cinematography with a resonant narrative.

The film is a journey through the lives of migrants who moved from Andalusia to Catalonia, inspired by the director’s own grandmother’s post-war experiences. Coupling real elements with fictional constructs, the film strikes a delicate balance between naturalism and artifice.

It opens in rural Southern Spain. We meet Antonia, played by Rosario Oretega, a teenager pushing against convention. In the opening moments she is challenged that those who can’t control themselves can’t be pretty, to which her retort is “Who said I wanted to be pretty?...

Laura Ferrés’ “The Permanent Picture” has been acquired by Be For Films. The deal is announced a fortnight before the film screens at Malaga Wip where it ranks as the most buzzed of the section’s titles.

The debut follows Ferrés success with short “The Disinherited,” which won the 2017 Cannes Critics’ Week Leica Cine Discovery Prize, in addition to grabbing Goya and Gaudi gongs. It depicts the director’s own father reluctantly facing the end of the family business.

“The Permanent Picture” is produced by Spain’s Fasten Films, in co-production with Le Bureau (France), and Volta Production (Spain).

Selected by Variety as a Spanish talent to track, Ferrés studied at Barcelona’s prestigious Escac film school. Part of the inspiration for this film, though it’s not autobiographical, stems from the director’s years working as a casting director in the advertising sector.

Ferrés wrote the film in collaboration...

Madrid-based Aquí y Allí Films, one of Spain’s most successful auteur movie production houses, is joining forces with popular Spanish actor turned writer-director Daniel Guzmán to produce drama thriller “La deuda.”

Backed by Spain’s pay TV giant Movistar+ and public broadcaster Rtve, “La deuda” will be produced by Aquí y Allí’s Pedro Hernández and Guzmán at El Niño Producciones.

The film is scheduled to roll in Madrid by the fall.

Written by Guzmán, “La deuda” tells the story of Lucas, a 37-year-old man and the 86 year-old woman Antonia, who live together in a city too big to be alone. Lucas is looking for a job but the job seems not to be looking for him.

Despite the economic difficulties they are going through, and their generational difference, they live day to day with a certain enthusiasm. Until Lucas’ decision will change the rest of their lives.

“I...

Fresh off her 2023 Goya best actress win for “Lullaby” on Saturday night,” Laia Costa is set to star in the passionate romance drama “Un Amor,” by multi-prized Spanish filmmaker Isabel Coixet.

Film Constellation, the London and now Paris-based production, finance & sales company, will introduce the new production to buyers at thus and next week’s Berlin European Film Market.

Distributor of Berlin competition entry “20,000 Species if Bees” and La Maternal, a San Sebastian best leading performance winner for Carla Quílez, BTeam Pictures will handle the film’s release in Spain.

Written by Spanish novelist and short-story writer Laura Ferrero and Coixet, “Un Amor” is based on an admired novel by Sara Mesa. A fiction study of emotional dependence in which Mesa returns to the themes of power and subjugation which thread much of her work, “Un Amor” was selected by Spanish newspaper El Pais as Spain’s 2020 book of the year.

Three first features from Spain’s burgeoning next generation of female filmmakers, led by Cannes Critics’ Week winner Laura Ferrès, is one highlight at this year’s Málaga Work in Progress, an Málaga Festival industry centerpiece where productions such as “The Platform” first saw the light of day.

Playing in Malaga Wip, “The Platform” was acquired by Latido Film which sold the title to Netflix at Toronto. It has gone on to rank as the third most-watched non-English movie ever on Netflix.

At least three titles – Spanish road movie “Devil Dog Road,” horror pic “The Hidden City,” the neo-noir “Foremost by Night” – boast genre gristle. Some titles turn on gender oppression (“As Neves”), female self-discovery (“Mara’s Vacation”) or sexual diversity (“I Trust You”). Many, especially from Spain, have social-issue overtones.

Production companies range from established indie forces – Madrid’s Aquí y Allí, Buenos Aires’ Magma Cine, Portugal’s Ukbar Filmes – to on-the-rise outfits,...

Spanish filmmaker Carlos Vermut has never been one to shy away from difficult subjects or characters, whether it be cruel kidnappings or heartbreaking suicides, his methodical and considerate touch gives more insight and power to the brutality of his character's lives. It's no wonder that his latest film, Manticore, would tackle one of the most taboo subjects, and as usual, with Vermut's signature style that will leave much of its audience reeling in shameful fascination. Julián (Nacho Sánchez) is a graphic modeller for a video game company, creating the kind of monstors and creatures that gamers love to battle. In his social life, he is painfully shy, living in a fair-sized apartment, working from home as often as possible, and...

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

Ferrés’ debut feature started shooting this week near Barcelona.

Director Carlos Vermut, whose Magical Girl won San Sebastian’s Golden Shell in 2016, has teamed up with director Laura Ferrés to co-write a final version of the script for feature The Permanent Picture.

Ferrés’ feature debut The Permanent Picture started shooting this week in El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona. Ferrés previously directed 2017 Cannes Critics’ Week short film winner The Disinherited.

Producer Nadine Rothschild of newly-launched Barcelona-based independent production company Volta has also boarded The Permanent Picture, alongside Adrià Monés at Barcelona’s Fasten Films and Gabrielle Dumon at Le Bureau.

Spanish thesp Luis Tosar has joined the cast of sci-fi comedy “Golem,” produced by Spain’s top indie house Aquí y Allí Films.

Directed by Juan González and Fernando Martínez (a.k.a. Burnin’ Percebes), the project toplines Brays Efe, star of Netflix hit series “Paquita Salas,” Goya Award winner Bruna Cusí (“Summer 1993”) and Javier Botet.

Aquí y Allí Films’ Pedro Hernández and Elamedia’s Roberto Butragueño produce the film, scheduled to roll in Madrid from August.

Elamedia will distribute in Spain.

Aquí y Allí is one of the five Spanish companies selected by Spain’s trade promotion board Icex and the Icaa film institute to pitch their production slates at Cannes’ Producers Network.

Burnin’ Percebes earned a reputation as a cult indie film pair with previous features “Searching for Meritxell,” “Ikea 2” and “The Lizard Queen.”

“Golem” narrates the story of two friends, Juan and David, who after an...

“El agua,” (Elena López Riera)

A Directors’ Fortnight title, the feature debut of Locarno winning López Riera (“Los Que Desean”), a fantasy-laced village-set critique of gender violence. S.A. Elle Driver

“Alcarràs,” (Carla Simón)

The 2022 Berlin Golden Bear winner, Simón’s follow-up to “Summer 1993” and the flagship title for Catalonia and Spain’s newest filmmaking generation. S.A. MK2 Films

“Amazing Elisa,” (Sádrac González-Perellón)

The next from 2017 BiFan Grand Jury Prize winner González-Perellón (“Black Hollow Cage”), once more mixing fantasy and family dynamics as Elisa, 12, plans revenge after her mother’s tragic death. S.A. Filmax

“The Beasts,” (Rodrigo Sorogoyen)

One of 2022’s most awaited Spanish titles, playing Cannes Premiere, a Galicia-set thriller from Oscar-nominee Sorogoyen (“Mother”), produced by Arcadia, Caballo Films and Le Pacte. S.A. Latido Films

“The Communion Girl,” (Víctor García)

A revenge thriller involving an urban legend about a girl in a communion dress. S.

It’s Monday morning, so you know what that means… it’s time for our review of Friday night’s episode of Aew: Rampage, which this week emanated from the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore. We’ve got Excalibur, Taz, Ricky Starks and Chris Jericho on commentary so let’s get right to the review!

Match #1: Ruby Soho and Toni Storm def. Jamie Hayter and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Hayter and Storm locked up. Hayter hit a shoulder block on Toni Storm, but Storm fired back with a shoulder tackle of her own. Ruby Soho tagged in and connected with a running forearm to Hayter. Jamie Hayter hoisted up Ruby and rammed her into the turnbuckles, allowing Britt Baker to tag in and use the sling blade for a near fall. Britt was looking for the air raid crash but Ruby had it scouted.

Based out of the U.S. and Spain, 34T Sales has taken international rights to surrealist romcom “The Queen of Lizards,” directed by Nando Martínez and Juan González, who go by the name of Burnin’ Percebes.

The feature is produced by Pedro Hernández at Madrid-based Aquí y Allí Films which first caught notice with “Here and There,” the debut feature of Antonio Méndez Esparza, which won Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prize in 2012. Carlos Vermut’s “Magical Girl” scooped San Sebastian’s Golden Shell in 2016, while another Aqua y all production, Méndez Esparza’s “Life and Nothing More,” was proclaimed an “essential film2 of 2017 by Variety.

The Spanish producer has proven to have a keen eye for discovering young original talent working on stories deeply rooted in memorable characters.

Martínez and González broke out with their first feature, 2014’s “Searching for Meritxell,” then made “Ikea 2,” two low-cost indie features which confronted classic scenarios,...

No event in the world offers a broader spread of recent movies from Spain than the Malaga de Cine – Spanish Screenings. Unspooling online over Oct. 20-22, this year’s lineup offers buyers a chance to catch up with titles at San Sebastian, as well as upcoming releases, 2021 Malaga fest winners and its pix-in-post panorama. At the heart of the event are its Screenings, new or newish titles which in an ordinary onsite year would play in cinema theaters in Malaga. Variety drills down on a score of films playing at this year’s event, including a clutch of notable debuts.

“All the Moons,” (Arcadia Motion Pictures, Kowalski Films, Pris & Batty, Ilargia Films, Noodles Production)

A fantasy vampire period drama, set in 19th century Spain during its Carlist wars. Bullish sales prospects. Sales agency: Filmax

“Ama,” (Julia de Paz Solvas, La Dalia Films)

Paz Solvas’ first feature and a Malaga best...

The heart of Conecta Fiction is its pitching sessions where producers and creators bring onto the market, looking for partners and sales, projects which have often flown completely under the radar. Following, details of titles in the three main sections at Conecta Fiction:

Copro Series

“Antonio,” (Enrique Videla, Paula del Fierro, Zumbastico Studios, Pipeline Studios, Chile)

A sci-fi parable for the young teen crowd backed by Zumbastico (“Paper Port”), owned by Canada’s Pipeline Studios Group. Antonio (13) can repair most anything, except for his ailing mother. But by entering a strange mechanical world, he gets a chance to make that repair as well. From two of the writing stars of Chile’s fast burgeoning premium TV scene: Videla, whose credits take in Pablo Larrain’s “Prófugos,” Lucía Puenzo’s “La Jauria” and the upcoming “The Cliff,” from The Mediapro Studio and Vice Studios; and Del Fierro.

“Black Times,” (Alexandre Manneville,...

Netflix in Spain has kicked off production on “Rainbow,” a new feature film from celebrated film and TV multi-hyphenate Paco León. Inspired by “The Wizard of Oz,” the film will heavily feature important aspects of contemporary culture such as dance, fashion, plastic arts and above all, music.

Netflix has teamed with Mediaset España’s Telecinco Cinema, the powerful feature film production arm of Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, to produce the new film, which his currently shooting in Madrid. The film will track the journey of a modern-day Dorothy teenage girl who embarks on a journey of her own.

According to León, he is “dead scared and hugely excited to see how this film, written during quarantine, comes out as I believe it is a step forward in my career as a director.”

“This is also a bigger film than my previous ones, not only budget-wise but also because of the complexity...

Fernando León de Aranoa’s “The Good Boss,” starring Javier Bardem, Alejandro Amenábar’s first drama series “La Fortuna,” and Carlos Saura’s “Rosa Rosae. A Civil War Elegy” head a robust Spanish presence at September’s San Sebastian Film Festival.

Also in the mix are new films from Jonás Trueba, Iciar Bollaín and Paco Plaza, all playing in main competition, plus Daniel Monzón’s Warner Bros.-distributed “Las leyes de la frontera,” selected as San Sebastián’s closing night film, and “The Daughter,” from Manuel Martín Cuenca. “Rosa Rosae” will screen at the San Sebastian’s opening night ceremony on Sept. 17.

World premiering at Venice, Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas movie shoot comedy “Official Competition” will open San Sebastian’s best of fests section Perlak.

Spanish cinema’s socio-political traditions remain strong: “The Good Boss” is a study of company management machinations. In a highly polarized Spain, Bollaín’s “Maixabel,...

Conecta Fiction, Spain’s still expanding Europe-Latin American TV Forum, revealed the finalists for five of its six pitching categories at an opening online session of its 2021 4th edition.

Running June 28-3o, the online Conecta Fiction will be followed by a hybrid edition over Sept. 13-17 in Pamplona when the now selected projects will be pitched on site at sessions available online for delegates, especially from Latin America, who will not be able to attend in person.

Few details of projects have been given beyond titles, producers, key creatives and genre. Among series in the key international CoPro and Short-Form categories are titles from top Chilean animation producer Zumbastico Studios (“Paper Port”), Mr. Miyagi Films, co-producer of Netflix smash hit “The Platform,” and Spain’s Aqui y Alli Films, the company behind the the acclaimed “Life and Nothing More” and San Sebastian Golden Shell winner “Magical Girl.”

Also in...

“Words for an End of the World,” the third feature by Spain’s Manuel Menchón, continues his exploration of the towering figure of Miguel de Unamuno, also the subject of his prior fiction film, “The Island of Wind.” The documentary, however, covers new ground, embarks on a far more ambitious revisiting of Spain’s still not so distant past with a deep dive into a muddled history that for years has had just one interpretation that has simply been accepted as canon.

Unamuno, the great Spanish intellectual and analyst of Spain’s atavistic woes, was for decades regarded as the man who sided and funded the fascist coup led by Francisco Franco. With historical echoes that reverberate down to today’s political landscape, Unamuno’s final days have been increasingly revisited, most notably in Alejandro Amenabar 2019 “While at War.” Menchón’s documentary uses Unamuno, his position as head of Salamanca...

Vicente Canales’ Film Factory has acquired world sales rights to “Mantícora” (Manticore), the fourth feature from Carlos Vermut, whose second outing “Magical Girl” won best film and director at the 2015 San Sebastian Festival, reinforcing his status as a Spanish talent on the rise.

“Mantícora” is produced by Aquí y Allí Films, Bteam Prods (San Sebastian Golden Shell winner “Between Two Waters”) and Pablo Agüero’s French production label 77 Films.

“We are delighted to be back working on a project by Carlos after the great reception and recognition that ‘Quién te Cantará’ received. We are convinced that ‘Mantícora’ won’t leave anyone indifferent either,” Canales said to Variety.

Currently in pre-production, “Mantícora” follows Julian, a successful video game designer tortured by a dark secret. When Diana appears in his life, Julian will begin to see a chance at happiness.

According to Vermut, “Mantícora” dwells in the same universe of everyday...

Spanish producer-distributor Wanda Films is set to co-produce Antonio Méndez Esparza‘s “Madrid Is It,” a thriller with comedic touches produced by Pedro Hernández’s Aquí y Allí Films, the Madrid-based outfit that has backed all of the features directed by Esparza, one of Spain’s most laureled and lauded directors.

“Madrid Is It” focuses on Lucía, who leads a discrete life, has a peculiar sense of humor and sense of duty, and a dreamy personality. Her quiet life suddenly changes, however, when her boss embezzles funds at the company and everybody lose their jobs. She decides to reinvent her life, working as a taxi driver. When her life finally seems to regain a certain stability and ease, Lucía sees how everything takes another turn for the worst and the film, to this point a comedy, turns into a revenge thriller.

“‘Madrid Is It’ will also be a road movie across Madrid,...

Underscoring a larger perceived global market potential for Spanish movies, Warner Bros. Pictures Intl. España is upping its bet on Spanish film production, in volume, budgets and talent.

Once largely acquiring, and then releasing in Spain, around six national films annually, the Hollywood studio now plans to invest in, or officially produce, eight-10 features a year, with Spanish star-studded casts and top directorial talent.

Disclosed to Variety as Warner Bros. Spain unveiled its 2020-21 slate at Spain’s San Sebastian Festival, the bigger push into Spanish production will also see the Hollywood studio continuing to partner on a joint development fund with Atresmedia Cine – a title-by-title non-exclusive alliance which is emerging as a key production axis on the Spanish movie scene.

At San Sebastian, Warner Bros. España updated Spanish media on five Spanish titles on its 2020-21 release slate, all produced by Atresmedia Cine, in association with Buendía Estudios. It...

Shooting on the Spanish filmmaker’s new horror movie, written by Carlos Vermut, finished a few days ago after the hiatus caused by the health crisis. The fact that Paco Plaza and Carlos Vermut, two masters at triggering restlessness and disquiet, have joined forces and pooled their skills is much more than excellent news. The former finished last 5 August shooting his La abuela, with a script written by the author of a recent gem of Spanish cinema, Magical Girl. As fans of the maker of Eye for an Eye may have guessed, this is a horror film that draws heavily on psychological tension. Shooting started in Madrid last February, shortly after which it was interrupted by the viral tsunami, but it resumed in summer and the film has just entered the next stage: post-production. As the movie synopsis explains, Susana is forced to leave her life in Paris, where she.

Standout Spanish cinema actors Irene Escolar and Bárbara Lennie have teamed on a new anthology series commissioned by HBO España and produced by Calle Cruzada.

Created and executive produced by the pair (pictured), who will also perform in the show, “Escenario 0” features six episodes from prominent writers and filmmakers. A unique project that will mix different disciplines to create an exceptional fusion between the performing and audiovisual arts.

“Escanario 0” is the latest example of HBO Europe looking to tap Spanish talent for its HBO Spain original programming. Previous series include Isabel Coixet’s “Foodie Love” and Álex de la Iglesia’s “30 Coins,” as well as the much-anticipated series adaptation of best-selling novel “Patria,” and recently announced comedy series “Por H o por B.”

Commission

Keshet has closed a deal for a Dutch remake of the popular musical quiz program “The Hit List,” commissioned by public broadcaster Npo to be produced locally by Vincent TV.

Madrid-based Aqui y Alli, producer of two of last decade’s most admired Spanish movies – 2014’s San Sebastian winner “Magical Girl”; 2018’s “Life and Nothing More,” a Variety Top 10 film of the year – has pacted for “[Rec]”’s Filmax to handle international sales on “Counting Sheep,” one of the most anticipated Spanish feature debuts of 2020.

Filmax, which has acquired international sales rights, will also handled “Counting Sheep’s” theatrical release in Spain.

The deal extends a relationship between Aqui y Allí and Filmax which distributed Aquí y Allí’s “Boi,” released on Netflix outside Spain.

Described as a dark comedic thriller sluiced by caustic wit, “Counting Sheep,” the first feature of José Corral, will be introduced to buyers by Filmax at this week’s Cannes Marché du Film, who will have access to an exclusive Making Of promo showing what the sheep look like.

Also written by Corral, the acerbic comedy,...

Argentina’s “Mother Dough,” a four-part doc series portraying how women have fed humanity through their work at home and their doughs, has won the first Iberseries Pitch, ending first year activities at this year’s Iberseries, an event which is setting out to become the foremost Spanish-language drama series festival in the world.

“‘Mother Dough’ is innovative and, at the same time. universal in its treatment, channelling the principal issues of the 21st century in a proposition that is distinctive, with multiple values in its visuals and content, a nexus connecting with our emotions,” said a jury made up of Ana Celia Urquidi, general manager, production at Mexico’s Hemisphere Media Group, Arantxa Écija, Mediaset España fiction director, and Alex Medeiros, director of development at Globo Channels, Brazil.

The winner will walk away with a €3,000 cash prize, manna from heaven for any Argentine producer at this time.

The Pitch...

Despite dramatic times, there is room for some encouragement in recent moves by the Spanish film industry. Basque global hit “The Platform” proved the most-watched movie on Netflix in the U.S. The Mediapro Studio is upping film production with high-profile projects such as the Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas drama “Official Competition.” Meanwhile, Mr. Fields and Friends, headed by Bambú founders Ramón Campos and Teresa Fernández-Valdés, debuted with “Malasaña 32,” as well as plans to produce three to five movies every two years. Powerhouse Morena Films is in production with “Historias lamentables,” a drama from the team behind Spanish box office smash “Champions.”

Six days before producers will be allowed to restart production shoots in Spain, Pedro Sánchez’s Psoe socialist government has powered up the tax breaks cap for Hollywood and other foreign shoots as part of a relief package for Spain’s cultural industries.

Plowed through a...

Indefatigable art film activist José María Riba, a former head of Cannes Critics’ Week, driving force behind San Sebastian’s Films in Progress and co-founder of Espagnolas en Paris, died on May 2 from cancer, exacerbated by the effects of Covid-19. He was 68.

With his death, Spain and Latin America loses one of the founding fathers of an international Spanish-language arthouse sector which flowered from the turn of the century, an unflagging, perpetually smiling, convivial advisor to a new generation of Spanish-language talent which changed the face of Latin American and Spanish cinema and made of their films one of the best things that these territories had to offer.

Born in Barcelona, Riba relocated to Paris where he spent the rest of his professional life. The move was his making. Working as a journalist for Liberation and, from 1982 to 2017, France Press, Riba brought to the Spanish-language cinema a conviction – unquestioned in Paris,...

Netflix’s announcement of new Spanish series late last month underscored the platform’s intent to diversify its palette in the country while betting once again on one of their own, Carlos Montero. After co-writing “Elite” Season 2, and with a third set soon to bow, Montero has made the jump to the director’s chair for the small-screen adaptation of his novel “The Mess You Leave Behind.”

The novel, which won Montero a Primavera Literature Award, is the story of a lit teacher who takes a substitution position in a small town in the interior of Galicia. She soon finds out that her predecessor, Elvira, committed suicide. But, as Raquel gets more involved with those who knew Elvira, the truth about her death becomes murkier. A thriller unfolds amidst themes of personal lose, grief and guilt.

Starring Inma Cuesta (“Arde Madrid”) as Raquel and Barbara Lennie (“Magical Girl) as Elvira,...

Madrid — Netflix announced Thursday in Madrid seven new Spanish Originals: Two series, three features, one documentary and an unscripted title.

The titles confirm a rapid ramp-up in production volume for Netflix in Spain, whose output to date takes in two of the U.S. giant’s standout breakouts in international, not only in Spain but overseas “La Casa de Papel” (Money Heist), “High Seas” and “Elite.”

Netflix’s Spanish production output, which boasts the first Netflix European Production hub soundstage complex at Madrid’s Tres Cantosis already one of the most voluminous in the world with 32 current or upcoming productions, according to a September 2019 report by Ampere Analysis. Only the U.K., Japan, Cnada, Mexico and Brazil bettered that figure.

Among the novelties:

* A currently-untitled show, the first series created by renown Spanish film director Daniel Sanchez Arévalo,, described as “an exciting story of friendship and perseverance” in a netflix statement after the presentation.

Thematic Entertainment, the Los Angeles and Melbourne-based outfit launched by Chris Hemsworth, has optioned U.S. remake rights to “Bajo la rosa” (“Under the Rose”), Spaniard Josué Ramos’ debut feature.

The original psychological thriller was released in 2018 in Spain via arthouse Svod platform Filmin, and is experiencing a buoyant international roll-out as a completed film, sales handled by Urban Films.

To date, the original has been sold to Somos TV in the U.S., Virtual Cinema in China, Indeed Films in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Encripta in Latin America and Cinemundo in Portugal.

Scandinavia, France and Japan are under negotiation, according to Horacio Urban at Madrid’s Urban Films.

Urban Films is in talks for stage adaptations of the film in the U.S. and Germany, he added.

“Bajo la rosa” has also run up solid play on the festival circuit, scoring awards such as best foreign film at the Maryland International Film Festival,...

Antonio Méndez Esparza’s “Que nadie duerma,” Fernando Franco’s “La consagración de la primavera” and Agustí Villaronga’s “3.000 obstáculos” figure among the seven projects to be pitched at Paris’ Small Is Biutiful forum.

The closing event for the alternative Spanish film festival Dífferent 12!, Small Is Biutiful takes place June 26, bringing together French distributors and sales executives around a selection of Spanish feature projects seeking partners.

Backed by the Cannes Film Market, Different! is organised by Espagnolas en Paris and the Ile-de-France Film Commission.

Past projects presented at Small Is Biutiful take in Oliver Laxe’s “Mimosas,” which won Cannes 2016 Critics’ Week; Carlos Vermut’s “Magical Girl,” San Sebastián’s top Golden Shell Award in 2014, and Arantxa Echevarría’s “Carmen & Lola,” winner of breakout director and supporting actress nods at February’s Goya Awards, as well as a Cannes Directors’ Fortnight contender.

“Que nadie duerma” is produced by Pedro Hernández...

Berlin — Barbara Lennie and Eduard Fernandez, two of the most admired actors of their generation in Spain, are attached to star in “Nada,” the first drama series from Aquí y Alli Films, one of Spain’s most successful young production houses.

Founded by Pedro Hernández in 2010, Aqui y Allí’s movie credits include 2012 Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prix winner “Aqui y Allá,” 2014 San Sebastian Golden Shell winner “Magical Girl” and “Life and Nothing More,” included by Variety’s Peter Debruge in his 10 best films of 2018.

Created and written by Argentine Nicolás Britos, whose web series, “Limbo,” opened last year’s Conecta Fiction, “Nada” will be directed by Jorge Dorado, director of episodes of celebrated Spanish time travel series “The Department of Time,” San Sebastian hit “Gigantes” and “The Pier,” created by “La casa de papel’s” Alex Pina.

Spain’s Luis Bermejo is also attached to co-star in “Nada.”

“Nada...

Madrid — Nicolás Britos’ “Nada,” Jorge Hernández and Ainara Mentxaka’s “Los años de plomo” and Pablo Díaz and Alberto Heredia’s “La novena provincia” figure among the seven TV drama projects in development set to be presented at the 2nd Madrid TV Pitchbox.

An event focused on Spanish TV drama, organized by online platform Filmarket Hub, The 2018 Madrid TV Pitchbox will take place on Dec. 18.

The seven projects will be pitched before executives from some of the most important Spain-based TV companies. Broadcasters Mediaset España, Rtve and Atresmedia Studios, and Telefónica’s leading paybox Movistar + have confirmed their presence.

For this upcoming edition, organizers are opening Madrid TV Pitchbox to key independent production houses such as Weekend Studio and Dynamo, which have good relations with global Ott operators.

After the pitching session, there will be a networking lunch, where projects representatives and companies’ executives will be able to share impressions.

Spanish writer/director Carlos Vermut has an unusual imagination. In his first feature film, Diamond Flash, a fantastical drama, five women circled each other with dangerous secrets and kidnappings; in his second, Magical Girl, neo-noir mixes with black comedy as a man in desperate need of money, tries to bribe a rich yet mentally unstable woman with ties to a strange Bdsm community. In his third feature, Quién Te Cantará (which translates as ‘who will sing to you’), Vermut combines Hitchcock-style mystery with Bergman-esque crisis of identity. Lila (Najwa Nimri), a famous pop star, is about to embark on her first tour in years. On the eve of it, however, Lila has an accident, and when she wakes up in hospital, she can't remember who she was,...

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