Lin-Manuel Miranda Added to the Presenters List at This Year’s Oscars

Lin-Manuel Mirandais headed to the Oscars…

The 40-year-old Puerto Rican composer/lyricist, actor and Broadway star will be one of the presenters taking the stage at the 92nd annual Academy Awards.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Miranda, widely known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, was previously nominated in the Best Original Songcategory for “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana.

Anthony Ramos, who is starring in Miranda’s film adaptation of In The Heights, will also take the stage as a presenter.

They’re among the list of presenters that includes Zazie BeetzTimothée ChalametWill FerrellGal Gadot, Mindy KalingJulia Louis-DreyfusMark RuffaloKelly Marie Tran and Kristen Wiig.

The Oscars will air live Sunday, February 9, on ABC.

Pedro Almodovar’s “Pain and Glory” Earns César Awards Nomination

Pedro Almodovar’s pain (and Glory) is spreading…

Nominations for the 45th César Awards have been announced, with the 70-year-old Spanish filmmaker and Oscar nominee this year earning a nod.

Pedro Almodovar

Almodovar’s acclaimed Pain and Glorywhich swept at this year’s Goya Awards, earned the director a nom in the Best Foreign Film category. 

He’s previously taken home Cesars for his films Talk to HerAll About My Motherand High Heels.

France’s equivalent to the Oscars, the Césars are doled out by the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma

This year’s ceremony will take place on February 28.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

BEST FILM
LA BELLE ÉPOQUE, dir: Nicolas Bedos
GRÂCE À DIEU, dir: François Ozon
HORS NORMES, dirs: Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache
J’ACCUSE (An Officer And A Spy), dir: Roman Polanski
LES MISÉRABLES, dir: Ladj Ly
PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU (Portrait Of A Lady On Fire), dir: Céline Sciamma
ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE, dir: Arnaud Desplechin

BEST DIRECTOR
NICOLAS BEDOS – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
FRANÇOIS OZON – GRÂCE À DIEU
ERIC TOLEDANO, OLIVIER NAKACHE – HORS NORMES
ROMAN POLANSKI – J’ACCUSE
LADJ LY – LES MISÉRABLES
CÉLINE SCIAMMA – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU
ARNAUD DESPLECHIN – ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE

BEST ACTRESS
ANAÏS DEMOUSTIER – ALICE ET LE MAIRE
EVA GREEN – PROXIMA
ADÈLE HAENEL – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU
CHIARA MASTROIANNI – CHAMBRE 212
NOÉMIE MERLANT – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU
DORIA TILLIER – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
KARIN VIARD – CHANSON DOUCE

BEST ACTOR
DANIEL AUTEUIL – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
DAMIEN BONNARD – LES MISÉRABLES
VINCENT CASSEL – HORS NORMES
JEAN DUJARDIN – J’ACCUSE
REDA KATEB – HORS NORMES
MELVIL POUPAUD – GRÂCE À DIEU
ROSCHDY ZEM – ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE

BEST FOREIGN FILM
PAIN AND GLORY, dir: Pedro Almodovar
LE JEUNE AHMED, dirs: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
JOKER, dir: Todd Phillips
LOLA VERS LA MER, dir: Laurent Micheli
ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD, dir: Quentin Tarantino
PARASITE, dire: Bong Joon-Ho
THE TRAITOR, dir: Marco Bellocchio

BEST DOCUMENTARY
68, MON PÈRE ET LES CLOUS, dir: Samuel Bigiaoui
LA CORDILLÈRE DES SONGES, dir: Patricio Guzman
LOURDES, dirs: Thierry Demaizière, Alain Teurlai
M, dir: Yolande Zauberman
WONDER BOY OLIVIER ROUSTEING, NÉ SOUS X, dir: Anissa Bonnefont

BEST FIRST FILM
ATLANTIQUE (Atlantics), dir: Mati Diop
NOM DE LA TERRE, dir: Edouard Bergeon
LE CHANT DU LOUP, dir: Antonin Baudry
LES MISERABLES, dir: Ladj Ly
PAPICHA, dir: Mounia Meddour

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
NICOLAS BEDOS – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
FRANÇOIS OZON – GRÂCE À DIEU
ERIC TOLEDANO, OLIVIER NAKACHE – HORS NORMES
LADJ LY, GIORDANO GEDERLINI, ALEXIS MANENTI – LES MISÉRABLES
CÉLINE SCIAMMA – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
COSTA-GAVRAS – ADULTS IN THE ROOM
ROMAN POLANSKI, ROBERT HARRIS – J’ACCUSE
JÉRÉMY CLAPIN, GUILLAUME LAURANT – J’AI PERDU MON CORPS
ARNAUD DESPLECHIN, LÉA MYSIUS – ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE
DOMINIK MOLL, GILLES MARCHAND – SEULES LES BÊTES

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
FANNY ARDANT – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
JOSIANE BALASKO – GRÂCE À DIEU
LAURE CALAMY – SEULES LES BÊTES
SARA FORESTIER – ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE
HÉLÈNE VINCENT – HORS NORMES

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
SWANN ARLAUD – GRÂCE À DIEU
GRÉGORY GADEBOIS – J’ACCUSE
LOUIS GARREL – J’ACCUSE
BENJAMIN LAVERNHE – MON INCONNUE
DENIS MÉNOCHET – GRÂCE À DIEU

BEST FEMALE NEWCOMER
LUÀNA BAJRAMI – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU
CÉLESTE BRUNNQUELL – LES ÉBLOUIS
LYNA KHOUDRI – PAPICHA
NINA MEURISSE – CAMILLE
MAMA SANÉ – ATLANTIQUE

BEST MALE NEWCOMER
ANTHONY BAJON – AU NOM DE LA TERRE
BENJAMIN LESIEUR – HORS NORMES
ALEXIS MANENTI – LES MISÉRABLES
LIAM PIERRON – LA VIE SCOLAIRE
DJEBRIL ZONGA – LES MISÉRABLES

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
LA FAMEUSE INVASION DES OURS EN SICILE, dir: Lorenzo Mattotti
LES HIRONDELLES DE KABOUL, dir: Zabou Breitman
J’AI PERDU MON CORPS (I Lost My Body), dir: Jérémy Clapin

BEST EDITING
ANNY DANCHÉ, FLORENT VASSAULT – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
LAURE GARDETTE – GRÂCE À DIEU
DORIAN RIGAL-ANSOUS – HORS NORMES
HERVÉ DE LUZE – J’ACCUSE
FLORA VOLPELIÈRE – LES MISÉRABLES

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
NICOLAS BOLDUC – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
PAWEL EDELMAN – J’ACCUSE
JULIEN POUPARD – LES MISÉRABLES
CLAIRE MATHON – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU
IRINA LUBTCHANSKY – ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE

BEST COSTUMES
EMMANUELLE YOUCHNOVSKI – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
THIERRY DELETTRE – EDMOND
PASCALINE CHAVANNE – J’ACCUSE
ALEXANDRA CHARLES – JEANNE
DOROTHÉE GUIRAUD – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
STÉPHANE ROZENBAUM – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
BENOÎT BAROUH – LE CHANT DU LOUP
FRANCK SCHWARZ – EDMOND
JEAN RABASSE – J’ACCUSE
THOMAS GRÉZAUD – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
FATIMA AL QADIRI – ATLANTIQUE
ALEXANDRE DESPLAT – J’ACCUSE
DAN LÉVY – J’AI PERDU MON CORPS
MARCO CASANOVA, KIM CHAPIRON – LES MISÉRABLES
GRÉGOIRE HETZEL – ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE

BEST SOUND
RÉMI DARU, SÉVERIN FAVRIAU, JEAN-PAUL HURIER – LA BELLE ÉPOQUE
NICOLAS CANTIN, THOMAS DESJONQUÈRES, RAPHAËL MOUTERDE, OLIVIER GOINARD, RANDY THOM – LE CHANT DU LOUP
LUCIEN BALIBAR, AYMERIC DEVOLDÈRE, CYRIL HOLTZ, NIELS BARLETTA – J’ACCUSE
ARNAUD LAVALEIX, JÉRÔME GONTHIER, MARCO CASANOVA – LES MISÉRABLESJULIEN SICART, VALÉRIE DE LOOF, DANIEL SOBRINO – PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU

Tubi Acquires Streaming Rights to Robert Rodriguez’s Sci-Fi Horror Film”Red 11″ & Companion Docuseries

Life is but a stream for Robert Rodriguez

Tubi has scored the exclusive streaming rights to the 51-year-old Mexican American filmmaker and visual effects supervisor’s sci-fi horror film Red 11as well as his docuseries The Robert Rodriguez Film School.

Robert Rodriguez

Red 11 is based on Rodriguez’s experiences in a medical research facility to finance his first feature El Mariachi

The film, which made its world premiere at SXSW and went on to play in the Directors Fortnightsection at the Cannes Film Festival, is set in the dark, twisted world of legal drug research. College kids turn lab rats to make quick money. The film’s protagonist Rob (who is assigned the color and number Red 11), is trying to buy his way out of a huge debt to the tune of $7K. But things get surreal when he’s not sure if the hospital is really trying to kill him, or if it’s side effects from the experimental drugs.

Red 11 will hit the free ad-supported streaming service in the U.S., Canada and Mexico this summer.

Robert Rodriguez Film School is the companion piece to Red 11that explains the director’s guerrilla filmmaking process, while speaking to filmmakers and entrepreneurs alike on overcoming the perceived limitations of time, budget and other variables.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Tubi to deliver Red 11and its accompanying Film School docuseries free of charge and easily accessible to all audiences,” said Rodriguez. “I made both Red 11and the Film School series to celebrate the 25th anniversary of El Mariachi, and this project shows truly actionable methods using my no crew, micro budget filmmaking style that will inspire others to make their own films and have their voices be heard. These are both dream projects of mine, an entertaining culmination of ideas and ruminations on the creative process that also highlight the heightened sense of spirituality that comes from dancing with creativity when there is an absence of the usual financial resources. In other words, ‘low budget fun.’”

Red 11 and the story of how Robert made this movie is inspirational to up-and-coming filmmakers,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “We are thrilled to amplify Robert’s message to the next generation of filmmakers as a part of our commitment to helping independent films find a wide audience.”

Tubi counts more than 20K movies and TV series – more than double the size of Netflix. This month it was announced that Tubi will launch in Mexico with TV Azteca, one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language TV programming in the world. 

Tubi is available on Hisensetelevisions, Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo ShowGoogle Nest Hub MaxComcast Xfinity X1Cox Contour, and on OTT devices like Amazon Fire TVVizio TVs, SonyTVs, SamsungTVs, RokuApple TVChromecastAndroidTV, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

Los Angeles Azules Bringing Their ‘Todos Somos Cumbia’ Tour to the U.S.

Los Angeles Azules are ready to cumbianorth of the border…

The Mexican musical group will bring all of their classics to the U.S. with their Todos Somos Cumbia tour, adding 21 dates for a total of 27 shows in the states. 

Los Angeles Azules

In support of Gran Centenario Tequila, the tour will kick off February 21 in Ft. Myers, Florida, with gigs to follow in West Palm Beach and Auburndale, marking the Mexican group’s first-ever concerts in the Sunshine State. 

From late February to late April, Los Angeles will make stops in cities like Houston, New York, Washington, and Chicago. The group will retake the tour in September and November, visiting their fans in the West Coast and Canada. Additional dates will be announced. 

Ximena Sariñana and Jay de la Cueva will be the special guests in select cities.

Formed by siblings of the Mejia Avante family — Elías, Alfredo, José Hilario, Jorge, Cristina and Guadalupe in 1983 — the group is known for their catchy cumbia soniderasound, including Billboard chart hits like “Como Te Voy a Olvidar” and “Nunca es Suficiente” featuring Natalia Lafourcade, which landed the group their first No. 1 in 19 years on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart (dated Jan. 26, 2019).

Their latest single “Amor a Primera Vista,” in collaboration with BelindaHoracio Palencia, and Lalo Ebratt, jumped 11-4 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart-dated August 17, 2019, nabbing the group their eighth top 10. 

Tickets for the Todos Somos Cumbia tour are currently on sale to the general public via Ticketmasterand Live Nation.

Todos Somos Cumbia U.S. tour dates:
*with special guests Ximena Sariñana and Jay de La Cueva
2/21 — Fort Myers, FL  @ Lee Civic Center
2/22 — West Palm Beach, FL @ South Florida Fairgrounds
2/23 — Auburndale, FL @ International Market World
2/28 — Laredo, TX @ Sames Auto Arena *
2/29 — Corpus Christi, TX @ Selena Auditorium *
3/1 — Houston, TX @ Smart Financial Centre *
3/12 — New York, NY @ United Palace 
3/13 — Washington, D.C @ MGM National Harbor
4/16 — Dallas, TX @ Toyota Music Factory
4/17 — San Antonio, TX @ Freeman Coliseum
4/18 — Hidalgo, TX @ Payne Arena
4/19  — Austin, TX @ HEB Center 
4/24 — Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theatre 
4/25 — Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
4/26 — Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room 
9/11 — Bakersfield, CA @ Mechanics Arena
9/12 — Temecula, CA @ Pechanga Summit 
9/13 — Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
9/17 — El Paso, TX @ El Paso County Coliseum
9/18 — Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre 
9/26 — San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
9/27 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
11/13 — Duluth, GA @  Infinite Energy Arena
11/14 — Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum 
11/19 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
11/20 — San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
11/21 — Ontario, CA @ Toyota Arena

Demi Lovato Makes Emotional Return to the Music Scene with Grammys Performance of New Single “Anyone”

Demi Lovato‘s back, and she’s bringing the house (and the tears) down…

In the 27-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress’ gave her first live performance in two years at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, debuting her new, highly personal single “Anyone.”

Demi Lovato

Lovato, who was so overcome with emotion that she had to restart the performance a second time, took the stage in a dramatic white gown, and backed only by piano to sing the song’s somber, pain-filled lyrics. 

“I feel stupid when I sing / Nobody’s listening,” she sang, with tears running down her face.

Lovato has said that she recorded “Anyone,” four days before her near-fatal overdose in July 2018. And it’s easy to believe someone near rock bottom penned those lyrics. 

“I tried to talk to my piano, I tried to talk to my guitar,” she begins. “Talked to my imagination / Confided into alcohol / I tried and tried and tried some more / Told secrets ’til my voice was sore.” She goes on, singing that she felt dumb for praying, that her wishes upon shooting stars were for naught, that even with “a hundred million stories / and a hundred million songs / I feel stupid when I sing / Nobody’s listening to me.”

Lovato’s emotional performance earned rave reviews from her peers online…

“Oh Demi Lovato, you just tore me down,” wrote P!nk. “I’m so glad you’re here to sing those words, to sing like that.” 

“I am in tears. That is singing. That is heart and that is truth,” said Sam Smith in his Instagram Story.

Lovato’s longtime friend Selena Gomezposted a pic of the performance and wrote, “I wish there were words to describe how beautiful, inspirational and DESERVED this moment was. Demi I’m so happy for you. Thank you for your courage and bravery.”

Rosalia to Appear at This Year’s LatinFest+

Rosalíais hittin’ the fest…

The 26-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter is set to take part in the 2020 LatinFest+, which is produced by Billboardand Telemundo.

The Grammy nominee for Best New Artist will be part of a superstar Q&A taking place the week of April 20-23 in Las Vegas. 

Rosalia

Hailed as one the breakthrough artists of the world last year, Rosalía was the only newcomer to secure a spot on Billboard’s year-end Top Latin Artistschart and one of only six female acts to claim a spot on the 50-deep male predominant list. She has steadily populated the Latin charts captivating the industry with her flamenco genre-bending sonority and stylistic musical collision making her a trailblazer of the genre.  

Her second-studio album, the flamenco-pop-urban tinged El Mal Quererdebuted at No. 10 on the Top Latin Albumschart and Rosalía has claimed four titles on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Con Altura,” with J Balvinand El Guincho, which peaked at No. 13 and won best urban song at the 2019 Latin Grammyawards.

Formerly known as Billboard Latin Music Week, the now substantially bigger weeklong event and panel series will unite Latin’s top artists, including Los Tigres del NorteOzunaand J Balvin, to celebrate Hispanic music and entertainment at large. 

The inaugural Latinfest+ also marks the 30th anniversary of Billboard’s Latin Music Conference, the longest-running and biggest Latin music gathering in the world. 

Latinfest+ will be an immersive, weeklong experience for the Latin entertainment industry, artists, executives and fans and will include superstar conversations, industry panels and workshops, celebrity fireside chats, live concerts, fan experiences and live activations of some of Billboard’s most celebrated franchises, including On the Riseand Growing Up Latino.

The full-run week of activities culminates with the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will air live April 23 on Telemundo. Finalists for the awards will be announced in February.

Registration for 2020 LatinFest+ is officially open at http://latinfestplus.com.

The Martinez Brothers to Appear at Miami’s Ultra Music Festival

The Martinez Brothersare spinning their way to the Sunshine State

Latino brothers Steven and Chris Martinez, noted disc jockeys, music producers and remixers, are set to deejay at this year’s Ultra Music Festival in Miami.

The Martinez Brothers

The Martinez Brothers were among the acts listed in the festival’s Phase 2 announcement that includes fellow Latino acts Paco OsunaDennis Cruz and Deorro.

Ultra Music Festival in Miami returns to its long-time home of Bayfront ParkFriday to Sunday, March 20 to 22, 2020. Tickets are on sale now. 

Click here to see the full lineup.

Sheila E to Perform Special Prince Tribute at the Grammy Awards

Sheila E is ready to make it (purple) rain…

The 62-year-old half-Mexican American percussionist/singer, known as The Queen of Percussion, will join Usher for a special tribute performance honoring Prince at the Grammy Awards on Sunday, according to the Recording Academy as part of the final round of performers set to hit the Staples Center stage this weekend. 

Sheila E.

Prince met Sheila E. at a concert in 1978, when she was performing with her father, Pete Escovedo. The two would eventually join forces during the Purple Rain recording sessions. She provided vocals on the B-side to “Let’s Go Crazy“, “Erotic City” in 1984. Though taken under Prince’s wing, she proved to be a successful artist in her own right with songs like “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre.”

The Prince tribute is just a teaser for the Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince concert scheduled for next Tuesday night on CBS. The Grammy Salute performance already has a range of artists onboard like BeckAlicia KeysJohn LegendChris Martin and Juanes.

Alicia Keys will host the Grammy Awards show. 

Other performances throughout the night will include Ariana GrandeCamila CabelloTyler, The Creator, the Jonas BrothersH.E.R.RosalíaBonnie RaittCharlie WilsonRun-DMC, who will duet with Aerosmith, as well as Billie EilishDemi Lovato, LizzoBlake Shelton and Gwen Stefani.

Los Tigres Del Norte Join the Roster of Latino Super Bowl Participating Acts

Los Tigres Del Norte are ready for a Super performance…

The legendary Mexican norteño band is joining the Latin celebration at Super Bowl LIVon February 2. 

Los Tigres del Norte

Los Tigres Del Norte will appear during the opening of the Spanish broadcast in a special video presentation (filmed in San Jose, California) that will celebrate the legacy of Los Tigres and the 100 seasons of the NFL.

Los Tigres are the latest Latin act added to the Super Bowl festivities…

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will co-headline the Super Bowl halftime show, while Demi Lovato will perform the National Anthem before the game.

On January 31, Los Tigres del Norte are releasing their new project Y Su Palabra es la Ley, an homage to Vicente Fernandez. With the tribute Los Tigres want to pay their admiration and respect to the legendary Mexican singer by bringing their distinctive norteño style to new arrangements of many of Fernandez songs, but without losing the traditional mariachi sound.

This year, Los Tigres del Norte is confirmed for an exclusive panel conversation at the 2020 Latinfest+ by Billboardand Telemundo, taking place from April 20 to 23 in Las Vegas.

Gloria Estefan to Host Facebook Watch’s Special “Red Table Talk” Offshoot

Gloria Estefanis headed to the red table…

The 62-year-old Cuban singer will be at the center of Facebook Watch’s expanded Red Table Talk show.

Gloria Estefan

The online platformhas given the green light for the second installment of the Jada Pinkett Smithand Westbrook Studiosproduced Daytime Emmy-nominated talk show. 

Set in Miami, Red Table Talk: The Estefans, features music icon Estefan, her daughter and rising musician Emily Estefan and her niece and Daytime Emmy-winning TV host Lili Estefan.

Like the mothership program, the offshoot will feature the three women of different generations discussing social and personal issues with family, celebrity guests and experts. Pinkett Smith and Gloria Estefan will both serve as executive producers.

“I’m incredibly proud of Red Table Talk, and thrilled to build upon this franchise with my family and with Gloria, Emily and Lili,” said Pinkett Smith. “Red Table Talk has created a space to have open, honest and healing conversations around social and topical issues, and what’s most powerful for me is hearing people’s stories and engaging with our fans in such a tangible way on the Facebook Watch platform. I’m excited to see the Estefans put their spin on the franchise and take it to new places.”

“I’m incredibly excited to carry the Red Table Talk torch with my family in Miami,” said Gloria (on behalf of Gloria, Emily & Lili). “Jada and I have spoken about this a lot and feel my daughter, niece and I can tackle issues important to us and our fans with a new and fresh voice. Jada has done this incredibly and continues to do with her family in their candid, intimate, and groundbreaking conversations at the iconic Red Table.”