Cruz Among Spanish Entertainment Industry Representatives Denouncing Israel’s Incursion into Gaza

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Penelope Cruz is denouncing Israel’s incursion into Gaza.

The 40-year-old Oscar-winning actress is among dozens of Spanish film stars, directors, musicians and writers, including her husband Javier Bardem and director Pedro Almodovar who’ve published an open letter published on Tuesday, in which they described Israel’s actions as “genocide.”

The entertainment industry representatives also called on the European Union to “condemn the bombing by land, sea and air against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip.”

In the letter, they demanded a ceasefire by the Israeli military and urged Israel to “lift the blockade, which the Gaza Strip has suffered for more than a decade.”

The letter also said: “Gaza is living through horror these days, besieged and attacked by land, sea and air. Palestinians’ homes are being destroyed, they are being denied water, electricity [and] free movement to their hospitals, schools and fields while the international community does nothing.”

Others who signed the letter include directors Montxo Armendariz and Benito Zambrano, actors Lola Herrera, Eduardo Noriega and Rosa Maria Sarda, as well as musicians Amaral and Nacho Campillo.

The entertainers blamed the new round of violence in the Middle East on the occupation of Palestinian land by Israel, which, the letter said, “continues to advance into and invade the Palestinian territories instead of returning to the 1967 borders.”  Almost 1,100 Palestinians and 56 Israelis have died since the Israeli military began its bombardments of Gaza three weeks ago, according to latest reports.  Bardem, who won the Oscar for supporting actor in 2008 for his role in No Country for Old Men, is a known political activist who frequently expounds on controversial issues.

Cruz won an Oscar in the best supporting actress category in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona in 2009.

The couple is good friends with Almodovar who has won two Oscars – one for best foreign language film for All About My Mother(2000) and one for best original screenplay for Talk To Her (2002).

Almodóvar to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Film Awards

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Almodóvar is being honored for his film achievements…

The European Film Academy will honor the 63-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning filmmaker with its lifetime achievement award, the European Achievement in World Cinema prize, at the European Film Awards in Berlin this December.

Almodóvar has been among the most acclaimed, and successful, European directors since his 1988 melodrama Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown won the best young film honor at the inaugural European Film Awards and went on to arthouse success worldwide.

He has won five more European Film honors, as well as five BAFTAs, four French Cesar awards and two Oscars.

Almodóvar’s Oscar wins came in the best foreign language film category for All About My Mother (1999) and in the best screenplay category for Talk to Her (2002).

“I am very thankful for this award. From its creation, the European Film Academy has been very generous with me and my closest collaborators,” Almodóvar said in a statement. “I share with them the joy of this award.”

Almodóvar will be honored at the 26th European Film Awards in Berlin on December 7.

Sony Pictures Classics Acquires the Rights to Almodóvar’s Next Film

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The anticipation is definitely building for Pedro Almodóvar’s next film, even though production hasn’t even started on the project…

Sony Pictures Classics announced Tuesday that they have acquired all North American rights to Almodóvar’s new comedy currently titled I’m So Excited from El Deseo.

The film, an ensemble comedy written and directed by Almodóvar, is set to begin production in July and will be released next summer.

The all-star cast includes Javier Cámara, Cecilia Roth, Lola Dueñas, Raul Arévalo, Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, Hugo Silva, Willy Toledo, Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Blanca Suárez, José Luis Torrijo, José María Yazpik and Laya Martí.

In addition, the film—which was previously known as Los Amantes Pasajeros—will include special collaborations from Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega.

The Sony Pictures Classics team has a long history with Almodóvar that began with Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at Orion Classics and has continued with seven films at Sony Pictures Classics , including Goya-winning film The Skin I Live In, Broken Embraces, Volver, Bad Education, All About My Mother and Talk to Her.

Vega to Star in Almodovar’s “Los Amantes Pasajeros”

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Paz Vega is reuniting with noted Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar this summer…

The 36-year-old Spanish actress has joined the cast of Almodovar’s latest film Los Amantes Pasajeros.

Vega, who was born in Seville and began her acting career in Spain, starred in Almodovar’s Spanish-language film Talk to Her, which won the Oscar for best original screenplay and the a Golden Globe for best foreign-language film.

Los Amantes Pasajeros, which Almodovar also wrote, follows a group of travelers who are placed in life-threatening situation aboard a plane flying to Mexico City. The passengers are defenseless in the face of danger, which provokes colorful confessionals that are their way to put out of mind the possibility they might be about to die.

Vega, who made her U.S. debut in director James L. Brooks’ Spanglish, has starred in several Hollywood films including The Spirit and the indie 10 Items or Less. She’ll next voice the character of Carmen in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, which opens June 8.

Along with Vega, the movie stars Javier Camara (Talk to Her), Cecilia Roth (All About My Mother) and Lola Duenas (Volver). Spanish comedians Carlos Areces, Raul Arevalo and Jose Maria Yazpik are also in the cast.

Agustin Almodovar, the director’s brother, is producing the film. It is expected to shoot in Madrid this summer and will be released in spring 2013.

Vega joined a theater school at age 16 and made her acting debut on Spanish television. Her first big-screen role was in 1999’s Zapping.

The Goya Award-winning actress, who recently replaced Almodovar’s muse Penelope Cruz as the face of L’Oreal in Spain last year, is married to Orson Salazar, with whom she has three children.

Almodovar’s Next Project to Feature Familiar Faces…

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Almodovar‘s next film could be considered an all-stars project…

The 62-year-old Spanish director’s upcoming film will feature actors and actresses from some of his most noted films.

Almodovar’s Amantes Pasajeros (Standby Lovers) will feature Volver’s Lola Duenas, Talk to Her’s Javier Camara and All About My Mother’s Cecilia Roth in a “choral” cast.

They’ll work alongside well-known Spanish comedians Carlos Areces and Raul Arevalo and Mexican actor Jose Maria Yazpik, according to the film’s producer Agustin Almodovar.

The Almodovars are expected to start shooting Amantes Pasajeros this summer in Madrid. The film will be a “pure comedy,” in the tradition of some of Almodovar’s old school classics like Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, harkening back to the films “we did back in the ’80s,” says Augustin. Rumors are swirling around the film indicate it is set on a plane and focuses on the relationships of passengers.

Almodovar’s production outfit El Deseo said it will look to release the film in the spring of 2013 in as many territories as possible at the same time “to avoid piracy.”

Almodóvar’s “The Skin I Live In” Scores a BAFTA Upset

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Pedro Almodóvar has claimed his fifth BAFTA award, and he scored an upset in the process…

The 62-year-old Spanish director won the British film industry’s BAFTA award for Best Film Not in the English Language for his critically acclaimed film The Skin I Live In, which stars Antonio Banderas.

Almodóvar beat out the night’s favorite in the category, Iran’s The Separation.

This is Almodóvar’s third win for best film in a language other than English. He’d previousaly claimed the prize for All About My Mother in 2000 and Talk to Her in 2003.

Almodovar didn’t attend the ceremony on Sunday evening at London’s Royal Opera. Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor accepted the prize on his behalf, reading a gracious thank-you and acceptance message from the director.

The favorite in the best foreign language film category had been The Separation, which one the Golden Bear award in Berlin and a Golden Globe.

It’s All About Almodóvar & His Inspired Work in New York City

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

He’s written and directed cherished films like All About My Mother and Volver… And, now Pedro Almodóvar is being recognized for his award-winning work.

The Museum of Modern Art honored the 62-year-old Oscar-nominated filmmaker with a special tribute during the museum’s fourth annual Film Benefit this evening in New York City.

Possibly the most successful and internationally acclaimed Spanish filmmaker of his generation, Almodóvar is renowned for the Academy Award-winning films Talk to Her and All About My Mother, as well as the award-winning films Broken Embraces, Volver, Bad Education and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. In all, Almodóvar’s career spans more than 30 years—with 18 films on his impressive resume.

His most recent critically-acclaimed film The Skin I Live In, starring Antonio Banderas, was released last month.

It’s no wonder Banderas and Almodóvar’s muse Penélope Cruz served as this year’s Film Benefit honorary co-chairs. Banderas has starred in six of the Spanish director’s films; Cruz, who scored a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her starring role in Almodóvar’s Volver, has starred in four.

During the special diner reception, which raises funds to ensure great works of cinema continue to join the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, organizers made a special presentation recognizing Almodóvar’s acclaimed directorial work.

Attendees included Blake Lively, Emma Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker and Drew Barrymore.

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