Bovaira Heading the Seven-Person Jury at This Year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Fernando Bovaira is the head of the class at one of Spain’s biggest film festivals…

The Spanish producer will head the seven-person jury that will select the winner of the top prize, the Golden Shell, at this year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival, which runs September 19-27.

One of Spain’s most international names, Bovaira has produced all of director Alejandro Amenabar’s films including The Others, The Sea Inside and the upcoming Regression — starring Ethan Hawke and Emma Watson — as well as Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Biutiful, Julio Medem’s Sex and Lucia and Javier Fesser’s Mortadelo and Filemon, The Big Adventure.

Bovaira is joined by Venezuelan writer/director/producer Mariana Rondon, who returns to San Sebastian after winning last year’s Golden Shell with her acclaimed film Bad Hair, while Iranian born writer and director Marjane Satrapi will come to the seaside resort town in Spain’s northern Basque region after premiering her latest work, The Voices, starring Ryan Reynolds, at the Toronto Film Festival.

Singaporean director Eric Khoo, who heads Zhao Wei Films/Gorylah Pictures, will also join the panel. He has been credited with putting Singapore on the international film map with films like My Magic and animated Tatsumi.

Berlin-born actress Natassja Kinski, Germany director of photography Reinhold Vorschneider and Romanian character actor Vlad Ivanov, who won the L.A. Critics Award for his portrayal of an illegal abortion doctor in 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, round out the jury.

In addition to the seven official jurors, named Thursday, jailed Ukraine filmmaker Oleg Sentsov is an honorary jury member. The Federal Security State of the Russian Federation (FSB) arrested Sentsov on May 10 for backing the protests in Kiev and for his opposition to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. The festival said it took the step of officially naming Sentsov to the jury to defend freedom of expression and in response to an request by the European Film Academy.

Dawson’s “The Captive” to His U.S. Theaters This Fall

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson will keep movie audiences captive this fall…

A24, in partnership with DirecTV, has acquired the rights to The Captive, which stars the 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban American actress.

Directed by Atom Egoyan, the film stars Ryan Reynolds as the father of a young girl who disappears fromtheir pick-up truck in a diner parking lot. The psychological thriller examines how the kidnapping destroys the relationships among those involved.

In addition to Reynolds and Dawson, who portrays the character of Nicole, the film also stars Scott Speedman, Mireille Enos, Kevin Durand and Bruce Greenwood.

“A24 is an extremely exciting company right now with a very smart vision of the future,” says Harold van Lier, president of eOne Films International. “Despite other serious offers on the table, they demonstrated the level of passion and commitment that we were looking for. We look forward to celebrating Atom’s film in Cannes with A24 and our other distribution partners around the world.”

A24 will release the film in the U.S. this fall.

Bruhl In Talks to Star Opposite Helen Mirren in “Woman in Gold”

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Daniel Bruhl is in talks to take on a golden role…

The 35-year-old half-Spanish actor, who earned critical acclaim and his first SAG Awards nomination for his role in Ron Howard’s Rush, is negotiating with The Weinstein Company to join Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds in Woman in Gold.

The fact-based story, which will be directed by Simon Curtis, will star Mirren as real-life heroine Maria Altmann, a Jewish WWII survivor who fought the Austrian government to get back several paintings by Gustav Klimt that were pilfered from her family during wartime.

Reynolds will play the attorney who took the case despite knowing little about art, and Bruhl will play his adversary.

The Woman in Gold script was written by Alexi Kay Campbell.

Bruhl most recently wrapped the Anton Corbjin-directed A Most Wanted Man.

Saldaña Named the New International Face of L’Oréal Paris

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Zoë Saldaña is the new face of beauty worldwide…

The 35-year-old half-Dominican/half-Puerto Rican American actress and Star Trek star has signed on as the new international spokesperson of L’Oréal Paris, according to E! News.

“Growing up, I was taught to believe that I am capable to do anything a man can do,” says the Colombiana actress. “This family philosophy has shaped who I am today, and is a conviction that will always accompany me through life.”

“As a L’Oréal Paris spokesperson, being able to say, ‘We’re worth it,’ means so much to me,” she continued. “I want to share that value with women so they can embrace it and execute life with confidence. I am thrilled to join this beauty journey with such an inspirational brand.”

Saldana’s campaign will include print and television ads.

“Zoe astonishes with her audacious style and feline beauty,” says Cyril Chapuy, L’Oréal Paris’ brand global president. “Attached to her values, unafraid to speak her mind, and confident in her own skin, she embodies infallible force and asserted femininity.”

The beauty giant’s roster of celeb spokespersons also includes Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Freida Pinto, Eva Longoria and Jane Fonda.

Saldana’s next projects include a television mini-series remake of Rosemary’s Baby, a biopic about singer Nina Simone and the film adaptation of the comic book Guardians of the Galaxy.

In addition, she’s committed to reprise her role in the next three Avatar films.

Martinez to Star Opposite Ryan Phillippe in the ABC Drama Pilot “Secrets & Lies”

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Martinez’s future will could be filled with plenty of secrets & lies…

The 29-year-old Cuban American actress, who most recently starred on CBS’ Under the Dome, has signed on to star in ABC’s drama pilot Secret & Lies.

Martinez will star opposite Ryan Phillippe in the project, an adaptation of the upcoming Australian crime mystery series.

Secrets & Lies centers on a family man (Phillippe) who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a young boy when he finds the body. He has no choice but to try to find the real killer as his marriage, his kids, his reputation, and his sanity are all at stake.

Martinez will play Jess, the child’s devastated mother.

She’ll next star opposite Ryan Reynolds in FilmDistrict and Endgame Entertainment’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Selfless.

Martinez to Star Opposite Bella Thorne in “Home Invasion”

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Martinez will be invading a theater near you soon…

The 29-year-old Cuban American actress, one of the stars of CBS’ recently renewed Under the Dome, has been cast as a lead in the thriller Home Invasion.

Directed by Sean Carter, the thriller focuses on a family imprisoned in their own home by intruders who play a life-and-death game in which the mysterious rules become clear as the night unfolds.

Martinez will join Bella Thorne, portraying the Disney starlet’s strong-willed stepmother, who is determined to keep her new family intact as the night’s horrific events unfold.

Home Invasion is gearing up for production later this fall.

This is the latest high-profile casting for Martinez…

She recently nabbed the female lead opposite Ryan Reynolds in Selfless, and she booked a role in Warner Bros.’s Run All Night, starring Liam Neeson and Joel Kinnaman.

Martinez to Star Opposite Ryan Reynolds in “Selfless”

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Natalie Martinez is about to show how selfless she can be…

The 29-year-old Cuban American actress has been cast as the female lead in Selfless, a film from FilmDistrict and Endgame Entertainment.

Martinez, who most recently starred on CBS’ Under the Dome, will portray the wife of Ryan Reynolds’ character in the sci-fi thriller.

Reynolds stars in the tale of a terminally ill billionaire who undergoes an experimental procedure to transfer his consciousness into the body of a younger man, only to be hunted by the killers who murdered his host.

Ben Kingsley and Matthew Goode also star in the film.

It’s the latest film project for Martinez, who recently landed a role in Warner Bros.’s Run All Night.

DreamWorks Animation Releases Trailer for Peña’s “Turbo”

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Peña is getting quite animated in his next motion picture…

The 37-year-old Mexican American, who recently landed a starring role in Fox’s drama pilot The List, voices the character of Tito in DreamWorks Animation’s feature film Turbo.

DreamWorks just released the first full-length trailer for the film, which features Ryan Reynolds as an ambitious garden snail who, after a freak accident, gains super speed and gets the chance to pursue his dream of racing in the Indy 500.

In addition to Reynolds and Peña, Turbo stars Luis Guzman as Tito’s brother, as well as Michelle Rodriguez, Maya Rudolph, Samuel L. Jackson and Snoop Dogg.

Turbo will hit theaters on July 17.

Espinosa to Direct Tom Hardy in “Child 44”

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

He’s directed Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds… And, now Daniel Espinosa could be working with English actor Tom Hardy.

The 35-year-old half-Chilean, half-Swedish filmmaker, who helmed the action thriller Safe House, will be directing the film adaptation of Tom Rob Smith’s novel Child 44. And, Hardy is in negations with Espinosa and the film’s producers to star in the film.

Hardy will reportedly star in Child 44 after completing shooting on Animal Rescue with another Swede with Latin roots, Noomi Rapace. He’ll shoot Animal Rescue in March, and then move on to work on Espinosa’s film.

Child 44 takes place in Stalin’s Soviet Union, and Hardy will portray a security officer and war hero who believes in the Soviet system and the law. That’s until he uncovers the existence of a mass murderer, and he’s thwarted by the same system he’s sworn to serve because they have no interest in acknowledging that murders are taking place in a country perpetuating the myth of a crime-free utopia. The book is part of a trilogy.

Dawson to Star in “Queen of the Night”

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Rosario Dawson will be racing against time in her next project…

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican/Cuban American actress will star opposite Ryan Reynolds in the thriller Queen of the Night.

The film centers on the father of an abducted daughter who uncovers a series of disturbing clues eight years later that suggest she’s still alive.

Dawson, one of the best dressed Latinas at this year’s Golden Globes, will play the detective in charge of the investigation, and they race against the clock to rescue the imprisoned girl before the trail goes cold.

Dawson joins Scott Speedman and Mireille Enos in the David Fraser-directed film.

Dawson will soon be appearing in the Sin City sequel, Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. And she just wrapped Parts Per Billion with Josh Hartnett, Penn Badgley and Frank Langella.

Her upcoming films include Diego Luna’s biopic Chavez and Danny Boyle’s Trance.

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