Spanish Producers at Hot Docs Tout Opportunities in Their Country’s Booming Documentary Sector

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent 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 (“The Red Squirrel,” “Julia and Sex”) 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.

Emiliano De Pablos Spanish cinema is expanding, opening up attractive film avenues to reach the worldwide market, driven by upscale commercial projects, blending of genres and a new generation of emerging female directors. The country’s filmmakers landed three Oscar nominations: Juan A. Bayona with “Society of the Snow” (inter- national feature and makeup and hair styling); and Pablo Berger with “Robot Dreams” (animated feature).

A Spanish hospitality leader has warned that a popular holiday island is “in a critical situation”. It comes as ‘anti-tourism’ protests are planned in the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Majorca later this month.

A picturesque village in Menorca is calling on tourists to be banned from visiting. The village of Binibeca Vell has been dubbed the ‘Spanish Mykonos’ thanks to its stunning white buildings.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor European Film Promotion is playing host at the Cannes Film Festival to 20 up-and-coming European producers, selected for its Producers on the Move program. Variety invited the producers to share details of their upcoming projects. Katharina Posch, Austria“I’m Not Here to Make Friends”Director: Julia Niemann“I’m Not Here to Make Friends” is a sleek and sunny psycho thriller about a reality TV show set on a remote island.

Following William Levy‘s (Star, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter) success starring in ViX‘s Montecristo last year, the TelevisaUnivision streamer has signed Secuoya Studios and William Levy Entertainment to a production deal. Together, the companies will develop two new projects – the series, Arcadia (w/t) and the film, Bajo Un Volcán (w/t) – both starring Levy, who will also executive produce.

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor When director Dani de la Torre (“La Unidad,” “Gun City”) read a news article detailing how the Spanish coastal town of Marbella became the playing ground for hundreds of international criminal organizations, he knew he had a new show on his hands. His “La Unidad” producing partners agreed and thus became Movistar Plus+ original series “Marbella,” premiering in Spain on May 2, to large media impact.

Elsa Pataky is celebrating Mother’s Day in the way that feels right to her. The Spanish actress shared a post of her family’s celebration, which was hosted in Australia with her mom and her brother, and featured one of her favorite meals. Shakira parties with Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Penelope Cruz, Matt Damon, Luciana Barroso, and more[Pics] Met Gala red carpet debut: Karol G, Chris Hemsworth, and moreA post shared by Elsa Pataky (@elsapataky)Pataky shared a photo on her Instagram, showing her alongside her mother Cristina, her brother Cristian, and sister in law Silvia, with the four smiling for the cameras as they prepared a delicious looking Paella.

EXCLUSIVE: Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is set to star with Tom Hardy in 77 Blackout, a crime thriller set on the night when the city that never sleeps lost power and plunged into chaos and lawlessness. Cary Joji Fukunaga is directing. Fresh from the Oppenheimer Best Picture Oscar, Charles Roven is producing along with Madison Weireter for Atlas Entertainment, and William Green and Aaron Ginsburg for The Cut.

Callum McLennan The seventh edition of the Quirino Awards, an annual event dedicated to promoting animation in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, saw Spain win five of the 10 awards on offer. Housed in the Teatro Leal, in the Canary Island’s Santa Cruz de Tenerife, an eclectic and, at times, musical gala concluded an upbeat Quirino Awards. Pablo Berger‘s first foray into animation, the Oscar-nominated “Robot Dreams,” continued its charge, winning awards for best feature film and sound design.

EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of the Cannes market, Lionsgate has taken North American rights off the table on one of the bigger-budget new packages that’ll be on sale next week: that’s action-thriller Mutiny, which will star action evergreen Jason Statham (Fast & Furious) and be directed by Jean-François Richet (Plane).

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Be For Films has acquired international sales rights to “Mothers Don’t” (“Las madres no”) directed by celebrated Spanish filmmaker Mar Coll. The film marks her third directorial outing following “Three Days with the Family“ and “We All Want What’s Best for Her.” The movie tells the story of María, a young writer who has just become a mother, and becomes obsessed by the highly publicized case of a woman who drowned her 10-month old twins in the bathtub.

A Spanish resort that’s dubbed a ‘superyacht hotspot’ popular with the rich and famous has been named Spain’s worst seaside town in a new survey. Puerto Banus, a suburb of Marbella, ranked bottom of a list published by consumer champion Which?.

Emmerdale fans are accustomed to seeing Rosie Bentham grace their screens as the beloved Gabby Thomas. However, the actress recently decided to take a break from the dramatic twists and turns of the Yorkshire village and jet off to sunny Barcelona.

Katherine Ryan is enjoying a well-deserved holiday with her husband Bobby Kootstra this week, with the couple jetting off to Italy's stunning Lake Como.Taking to Instagram during the trip this week, the comedian showed off her incredible figure in a colourful bikini as she enjoyed some downtime in a hot tub. Donning burgundy bottoms with a floral bikini top, Katherine finished the beachy look with a canvas sunhat sitting over her jaw-length blonde locks.

EXCLUSIVE: Stillking Films, the production services company behind titles like Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things has teamed up with production house Twentyfour Seven to launch the Málaga-based production outfit Ánima Stillking.

Ryan Gosling has shared one of his favorite nicknames from his daughters, Esmeralda and Amada. In a new interview, the actor has opened up a bit about his family life, revealing that his girls, whom he’s raised alongside Eva Mendes, speak some Spanish and have a special nickname for him. Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling wear matching metallic ensembles: ‘Together at last’Ryan Gosling, in awe of Eva Mendes’ beauty, influence, and support, shares his feelings at ‘The Fall Guy’ premiereIn an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gosling revealed that his daughters have been learning Spanish, which has resulted in them calling him “Papi” with a slight accent.

Addie Morfoot Contributor The Hot Docs Forum, the festival’s industry centerpiece, wrapped Wednesday with its most lively awards announcements in recent memory—complete with flamenco guitar, song and dance courtesy of Spain, this year’s country in focus—as hundreds of industry delegates assembled under the sun in the courtyard of Toronto’s Hart House. Elaine Epstein’s “Arrest the Midwife”—one of 20 projects presented to key funders and decision-makers as well as filmmakers, producers and other observers at the two-day Forum pitch event—won the First Look first prize of Can $20,000 cash.

Holly Jones Buenos Aires-based boutique sales outfit Compañía de Cine has acquired international rights to Mauro Colombo’s contemplative second feature, “Wild Gleaming Space,” (“Luminoso Espacio Salvaje”) ahead of its global bow on Wednesday at Toronto’s Hot Docs, which runs April 25 to May 5. Shot in Panama, Chile, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium, the film weaves together intimate and resounding first-person accounts from its subjects and dynamic natural backdrops in an ambitious attempt to reach out and document the abstract confluence of life and death.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin-based sales agency Picture Tree Intl. has acquired the supernatural crime thriller “The Osha Rule,” and will start seeking distribution partner at the Cannes Film Market. The film will start principal photography in August 2024.