Other recipients include Virginia Woolf romance Vita & Virginia and new Hong Khaou, Carmel Winters films.
Lenny Abrahamson’s forthcoming adaptation of Sarah Waters’ acclaimed wartime ghost story The Little Stranger is among the films being supported by the Irish Film Board in its latest round of funding decisions.
Projects by Mary McGuckian, Carmel Winters and British/Cambodian filmmaker Hong Khaou are also among those given production funding support, as is a drama about Virgina Woolf’s love affair with the poet and novelist Vita Sackville-West.
In a diverse and wide-ranging first quarter, Room director Abrahamson’s [pictured] adaption of The Little Stranger has received production funding of €350,000.
The novel, which centres on the strange goings on in a country house in rural Warwickshire, has been adapted for the big screen by English novelist and screenwriter Lucinda Coxon (The Danish Girl). Domhnall Gleeson is attached to the project, which will be co-produced by Element Pictures.
Float [link=tt...
Lenny Abrahamson’s forthcoming adaptation of Sarah Waters’ acclaimed wartime ghost story The Little Stranger is among the films being supported by the Irish Film Board in its latest round of funding decisions.
Projects by Mary McGuckian, Carmel Winters and British/Cambodian filmmaker Hong Khaou are also among those given production funding support, as is a drama about Virgina Woolf’s love affair with the poet and novelist Vita Sackville-West.
In a diverse and wide-ranging first quarter, Room director Abrahamson’s [pictured] adaption of The Little Stranger has received production funding of €350,000.
The novel, which centres on the strange goings on in a country house in rural Warwickshire, has been adapted for the big screen by English novelist and screenwriter Lucinda Coxon (The Danish Girl). Domhnall Gleeson is attached to the project, which will be co-produced by Element Pictures.
Float [link=tt...
- 4/24/2017
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Cuban-Spanish cosmonaut comedy Sergio & Sergei is directed by Ernesto Daranas.
WestEnd Films has boarded world rights to Sergio & Sergei, the Cuban-Spanish comedy co-starring Ron Perlman.
Cuban director Ernesto Daranas’ (Behavior) 1991-set film, currently in post-production and inspired be real events, follows Sergei, the last Soviet Cosmonaut, who is floating aimlessly above the planet on the space station Mir following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
One night on the radio he makes a connection with Sergio, a Marxism philosophy professor in Havana who is struggling to make ends meet in a now crumbling Cuba.
Tomás Cao (Habana Blues, Viva) stars as Sergio and his daughter Mariana is played by Ailín de la Caridad Rodriguez.
Héctor Noas plays Sergei and Ron Perlman rounds out the cast.
Jaume Roures and Javier Méndez from Mediapro are respectively producing and executive producing, alongside producers Ramón Samada, Joel Ortega and executive producers Adriana Moyá and Danilo León.
The screenplay...
WestEnd Films has boarded world rights to Sergio & Sergei, the Cuban-Spanish comedy co-starring Ron Perlman.
Cuban director Ernesto Daranas’ (Behavior) 1991-set film, currently in post-production and inspired be real events, follows Sergei, the last Soviet Cosmonaut, who is floating aimlessly above the planet on the space station Mir following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
One night on the radio he makes a connection with Sergio, a Marxism philosophy professor in Havana who is struggling to make ends meet in a now crumbling Cuba.
Tomás Cao (Habana Blues, Viva) stars as Sergio and his daughter Mariana is played by Ailín de la Caridad Rodriguez.
Héctor Noas plays Sergei and Ron Perlman rounds out the cast.
Jaume Roures and Javier Méndez from Mediapro are respectively producing and executive producing, alongside producers Ramón Samada, Joel Ortega and executive producers Adriana Moyá and Danilo León.
The screenplay...
- 2/10/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Contrary to the alarmist accounts that cinema as an art form is agonizing and nearing the end of its relevance, 2016 sent a clear message stating that sequels, rehashed ideas, and spinoffs, deserved to be axed and replaced with new concepts — even if that means less billion-dollar tent poles per year. Of course, independent and international films are the heroes that continue to reignite audiences passion for the medium, though most of them struggle to achieve the financial success they deserve.
Cinema is far from dead, and that’s obvious if one is looking away from the star-studded formulaic products and into the land of unknown, subtitled, or thematically challenging content. Latin American films had an enviable year that include an Oscar nomination, presence at all world-class festivals, and success finding distribution in the Us and numerous markets. Animated crafted outside of studio constraints took narrative risks unseen previously and demonstrated...
Cinema is far from dead, and that’s obvious if one is looking away from the star-studded formulaic products and into the land of unknown, subtitled, or thematically challenging content. Latin American films had an enviable year that include an Oscar nomination, presence at all world-class festivals, and success finding distribution in the Us and numerous markets. Animated crafted outside of studio constraints took narrative risks unseen previously and demonstrated...
- 12/30/2016
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Wait a second. Can the U.K. submit a film for consideration for the Best Foreign Language Oscar?
Sure. As long as it’s not in English. Take last year: Ireland, not Cuba, submitted Spanish-language film “Viva.” And France controversially chose the Turkish “Mustang” as its official entry over a list of top French auteurs.
If the submitting country paid for the movie and supplied key personnel, it doesn’t matter what language it’s in. The French produced “Mustang” and its director Deniz Gamze Ergüven, born in Turkey, is based in Paris. (Her next movie is English-language.) And the Irish produced “Viva,” even though director Paddy Breathnach shot with local actors in Havana.
And thus the UK’s selection organization, BAFTA, has submitted writer-director Babak Anvari’s well-reviewed Sundance mother-daughter drama “Under the Shadow” (October 7, Vertical Entertainment and Xyz Films), a 1988 Iran-Iraq War thriller shot in Farsi starring Narges Rashidi,...
Sure. As long as it’s not in English. Take last year: Ireland, not Cuba, submitted Spanish-language film “Viva.” And France controversially chose the Turkish “Mustang” as its official entry over a list of top French auteurs.
If the submitting country paid for the movie and supplied key personnel, it doesn’t matter what language it’s in. The French produced “Mustang” and its director Deniz Gamze Ergüven, born in Turkey, is based in Paris. (Her next movie is English-language.) And the Irish produced “Viva,” even though director Paddy Breathnach shot with local actors in Havana.
And thus the UK’s selection organization, BAFTA, has submitted writer-director Babak Anvari’s well-reviewed Sundance mother-daughter drama “Under the Shadow” (October 7, Vertical Entertainment and Xyz Films), a 1988 Iran-Iraq War thriller shot in Farsi starring Narges Rashidi,...
- 9/22/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Wait a second. Can the U.K. submit a film for consideration for the Best Foreign Language Oscar?
Sure. As long as it’s not in English. Take last year: Ireland, not Cuba, submitted Spanish-language film “Viva.” And France controversially chose the Turkish “Mustang” as its official entry over a list of top French auteurs.
If the submitting country paid for the movie and supplied key personnel, it doesn’t matter what language it’s in. The French produced “Mustang” and its director Deniz Gamze Ergüven, born in Turkey, is based in Paris. (Her next movie is English-language.) And the Irish produced “Viva,” even though director Paddy Breathnach shot with local actors in Havana.
And thus the UK’s selection organization, BAFTA, has submitted writer-director Babak Anvari’s well-reviewed Sundance mother-daughter drama “Under the Shadow” (October 7, Vertigo Entertainment and Xyz Films), a 1988 Iran-Iraq War thriller shot in Farsi starring Narges Rashidi,...
Sure. As long as it’s not in English. Take last year: Ireland, not Cuba, submitted Spanish-language film “Viva.” And France controversially chose the Turkish “Mustang” as its official entry over a list of top French auteurs.
If the submitting country paid for the movie and supplied key personnel, it doesn’t matter what language it’s in. The French produced “Mustang” and its director Deniz Gamze Ergüven, born in Turkey, is based in Paris. (Her next movie is English-language.) And the Irish produced “Viva,” even though director Paddy Breathnach shot with local actors in Havana.
And thus the UK’s selection organization, BAFTA, has submitted writer-director Babak Anvari’s well-reviewed Sundance mother-daughter drama “Under the Shadow” (October 7, Vertigo Entertainment and Xyz Films), a 1988 Iran-Iraq War thriller shot in Farsi starring Narges Rashidi,...
- 9/22/2016
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Brazilian film debuted in Competiton at Cannes.
Director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Brazilian social justice drama Aquarius has won the $47,000 (Au$63,000) Sydney Film Prize, the major award of the Sydney Film Festival (June 8-19).
Mendonca Filho’s story of a strong-willed homeowner’s battle against unscrupulous real estate developers was awarded the top prize at the closing night of the 63rd Sff on Sunday.
Jury president and UK producer Simon Field said Aquarius, which premiered in Competition at Cannes last month, is “a compelling and relevant statement about contemporary Brazil, and the power of an individual standing up for what she believes.”
“Mendonça Filho has created a film that is both political and personal – witty, sexy and playful. A film of effortless verve and intelligence,” he said.
“At the heart of the film is Sonia Braga’s astonishing and brave performance of a fearless character, resisting pressures from her family, and the corporate...
Director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Brazilian social justice drama Aquarius has won the $47,000 (Au$63,000) Sydney Film Prize, the major award of the Sydney Film Festival (June 8-19).
Mendonca Filho’s story of a strong-willed homeowner’s battle against unscrupulous real estate developers was awarded the top prize at the closing night of the 63rd Sff on Sunday.
Jury president and UK producer Simon Field said Aquarius, which premiered in Competition at Cannes last month, is “a compelling and relevant statement about contemporary Brazil, and the power of an individual standing up for what she believes.”
“Mendonça Filho has created a film that is both political and personal – witty, sexy and playful. A film of effortless verve and intelligence,” he said.
“At the heart of the film is Sonia Braga’s astonishing and brave performance of a fearless character, resisting pressures from her family, and the corporate...
- 6/20/2016
- ScreenDaily
Mongrel International has licensed UK rights in Cannes to Viva, last season’s Irish foreign-language Oscar submission.
Studiocanal and Element Pictures Distribution have acquired all UK and Irish rights to the Irish-Cuban film in a joint distribution venture.
Paddy Breathnach’s story centres on a Havana-based youngster who aspires to be a drag queen and gets his dreams crushed when his estranged macho father returns from prison. Mark O’Halloran wrote the screenplay.
Jorge Perugorria stars with Luis Alberto Garcia and Hector Medina. Magnolia released Viva in the Us on April 29.
Robert Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan of Treasure Entertainment produced.
Studiocanal and Element Pictures Distribution have acquired all UK and Irish rights to the Irish-Cuban film in a joint distribution venture.
Paddy Breathnach’s story centres on a Havana-based youngster who aspires to be a drag queen and gets his dreams crushed when his estranged macho father returns from prison. Mark O’Halloran wrote the screenplay.
Jorge Perugorria stars with Luis Alberto Garcia and Hector Medina. Magnolia released Viva in the Us on April 29.
Robert Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan of Treasure Entertainment produced.
- 5/17/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 pairs of advance-screening movie passes up for grabs to the Sundance Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival hit “Viva”! Shot entirely in Havana, the film was directed by an Irish director and was Ireland’s official Oscar entry last year!
“Viva,” which opens in Chicago on May 6, 2016 and is rated “R,” stars Héctor Medina, Jorge Perugorría and Luis Alberto García from director Paddy Breathnach and Mark O’Halloran. Note: You must be 17+ to win and attend this “R”-rated screening.
To win your free passes to “Viva” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That’s it! This screening is on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 7 p.m. in Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds...
“Viva,” which opens in Chicago on May 6, 2016 and is rated “R,” stars Héctor Medina, Jorge Perugorría and Luis Alberto García from director Paddy Breathnach and Mark O’Halloran. Note: You must be 17+ to win and attend this “R”-rated screening.
To win your free passes to “Viva” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our social media widget below. That’s it! This screening is on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 7 p.m. in Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the more points you score and the higher yours odds of winning! Completing these social actions only increases your odds...
- 5/2/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
There are two identities at war with themselves in director Paddy Breathnach’s tender but uneven “Viva,” a queer-positive movie about drag queens, queer communities, and self-expression in the slums of Havana, and a father and son story about estrangement and reconciliation. In truth, these interwoven ideas should be complementary; a homophobic and domineering father, a gay and timid son and the young man’s discovery of a passionate creative outlet in the midst of bleak poverty and few opportunities: the cathartic escapism of drag expressiveness. The foundational elements have all the necessary ingredients for compelling conflict. But despite an expressive visual eye, a strong capacity to communicate empathy and good craft, the promising “Viva” is hampered by a predictable narrative overburdened with one too many cliches that divide the movie’s strengths. Its normcore story meets its unique queer-core sensibilities and both cancel each other out — or at least don't add up as much.
- 4/28/2016
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Viva Magnolia Pictures Reviewed by: Harvey Karten for CompuServe ShowBiz. Databased on Rotten Tomatoes. Grade: A- Director: Paddy Breathnach Written by: Mark O’Halloran Cast: Héctor Medina, Jorge Perugorría, Luis Alberto García, Renata Maikel Machin Blanco, Luis Manuel Alvarez Screened at: Review 1, NYC, 1/26/16 Opens: April 29, 2016 Fathers want what’s best for their sons, but sometimes, while they mean well, they cannot accept what their boys are really like. Such is the case in Paddy Breathnah’s “Viva,” which boasts a sensational performance for Cuban actor Héctor Medina in the title role. If you doubt that his dad, a former boxer who served jail time for killing a man, would [ Read More ]
The post Viva Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Viva Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 4/25/2016
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
Family and identity collide in the upcoming "Viva," a queer-positive story set in the slums of a Havana, where a father and son try to find some level of acceptance for each other. It's a film that debuted to a warm reception at the Telluride Film Festival last fall, and was Ireland's entry at this year's Oscars, and today we have an exclusive clip from the picture. Starring Jorge Perugorría, Luis Alberto García, Héctor Medina, Luis Manuel Álvarez, Renata (Maikel Machín Blanco), and Laura Alemán, directed by Paddy Breathnach, and executive produced by Benicio Del Toro, the story follows a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, who dreams of being a performer himself. Encouraged by his mentor, Mama, Jesus finally gets his chance to take the stage. But when his estranged father Angel abruptly reenters his life, his world is quickly turned upside down. "Viva" opens in.
- 4/19/2016
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Leonardo Dicaprio and Spotlight also pick up prizes from the Irish Film and Television Academy.Scoll down for full list of winners
Lenny Abrahamson’s Room swept the Ifta Awards for Film and Drama at a ceremony in Dublin last night, winning seven trophies.
The film, about a mother and son kept captive in a bunker, won best film, best director, best screenplay, best score and best editing. It also picked up awards for best sound and best international actress for Brie Larson, who won the Oscar for best actress in February.
The award means that Room producer Element Pictures has won six best film awards in the 13 years the Ifta’s have been running.
Liam Neeson was in Dublin to receive the Ifta Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award – recognition for his celebrated 30 year career in cinema. Neeson was presented the award by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, with tributes...
Lenny Abrahamson’s Room swept the Ifta Awards for Film and Drama at a ceremony in Dublin last night, winning seven trophies.
The film, about a mother and son kept captive in a bunker, won best film, best director, best screenplay, best score and best editing. It also picked up awards for best sound and best international actress for Brie Larson, who won the Oscar for best actress in February.
The award means that Room producer Element Pictures has won six best film awards in the 13 years the Ifta’s have been running.
Liam Neeson was in Dublin to receive the Ifta Outstanding Contribution to Cinema Award – recognition for his celebrated 30 year career in cinema. Neeson was presented the award by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, with tributes...
- 4/11/2016
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
This Thursday, April 7th, there will be an inaugural press conference at 2:30 p.m. in American Trade Hotel’s Salon Viejo. The interview will be headed by the directors of Iff Panama, the President of Iff Panama Foundation, the Minister of Commerce and Industry (Mici), and the actors Luis Silva -protagonist of the movie "From Afar," winner of the Golden Lion of Venice- and the talented Luis Alberto García, who heads the cast of "Viva," which will open the festival.
Read More: 'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Among the events that the International Film Festival of Panama brings for its fifth anniversary celebration are: educational and industry programs that cover more than twenty different activities between seminars, workshops, chats and panels, 14 red carpets along with three nights of free outdoors screenings and the presence of more than one hundred special guests; not to mention 75 of the best films the world has to offer.
Read More: Panama: The Next Big Country for Latin American Films?
At 1:00 p.m. that same day, world renowned documentary filmmaker Patricio Guzmán will begin a four-day Documentary Seminar that he will conduct for members of the cinematographic industry in the American Trade Hall.
Read More: Iff Panama: 22 Unique Educational Activities
At 6:45 p.m.,the Red Carpet event of the Iff Panama's Opening Gala will start at Teatro Balboa, with international and national special guests attending. The Inaugural Ceremony starts at 8:00 p.m. and at 8:45 the screening of "Viva" will commence.
For more information on the entire festival program and events visit Here.
Read More: 'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Among the events that the International Film Festival of Panama brings for its fifth anniversary celebration are: educational and industry programs that cover more than twenty different activities between seminars, workshops, chats and panels, 14 red carpets along with three nights of free outdoors screenings and the presence of more than one hundred special guests; not to mention 75 of the best films the world has to offer.
Read More: Panama: The Next Big Country for Latin American Films?
At 1:00 p.m. that same day, world renowned documentary filmmaker Patricio Guzmán will begin a four-day Documentary Seminar that he will conduct for members of the cinematographic industry in the American Trade Hall.
Read More: Iff Panama: 22 Unique Educational Activities
At 6:45 p.m.,the Red Carpet event of the Iff Panama's Opening Gala will start at Teatro Balboa, with international and national special guests attending. The Inaugural Ceremony starts at 8:00 p.m. and at 8:45 the screening of "Viva" will commence.
For more information on the entire festival program and events visit Here.
- 4/6/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Lorenzo Vigas’ Venice Golden Lion winner From Afar and César Augusto Acevedo’s Cannes Critics Week France 4 Visionary Award winner Land And Shade will screen at the International Film Festival of Panama.
Both selections will play in the Ibero American Showcase under the auspices of Iff Panama 2016, which runs from April 7-13.
Italian actress Lucía Bosé will be guest of honour at the festival’s fifth edition when three of films will screen — Death Of A Cyclist, Story Of A Love Affair, and No Peace Under The Olive Tree. High Heels will screen in special presentation.
Ibero American Showcase entries include Anna Muylaert’s Brazilian foreign language Oscar submission My Second Mother, Álex de la Iglesia’s My Big Night (Spain), 3 Beauties (Venezuela) by Carlos Caridad-Montero, and Spy Time (Spain) by Javier Ruiz Caldera.
Rounding out the section are: The Apostate (Spain-France-Uruguay) by Federico Veiroj; Road To La Paz (Argentina) by Francisco Varone; Semana Santa (Mexico) by [link...
Both selections will play in the Ibero American Showcase under the auspices of Iff Panama 2016, which runs from April 7-13.
Italian actress Lucía Bosé will be guest of honour at the festival’s fifth edition when three of films will screen — Death Of A Cyclist, Story Of A Love Affair, and No Peace Under The Olive Tree. High Heels will screen in special presentation.
Ibero American Showcase entries include Anna Muylaert’s Brazilian foreign language Oscar submission My Second Mother, Álex de la Iglesia’s My Big Night (Spain), 3 Beauties (Venezuela) by Carlos Caridad-Montero, and Spy Time (Spain) by Javier Ruiz Caldera.
Rounding out the section are: The Apostate (Spain-France-Uruguay) by Federico Veiroj; Road To La Paz (Argentina) by Francisco Varone; Semana Santa (Mexico) by [link...
- 3/23/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Dublin-based Roads Entertainment readies Trade and Pat Collins biopic Song Of Granite.
BAFTA-nominated director Hong Khaou (Lilting) is newly attached to direct drama Trade, written by Garage and Adam & Paul screenwriter Mark O’Halloran.
Dublin-based Roads Entertainment (Being AP) is producing Trade, about a young man searching for stability in the wake of his father’s death.
Shoot is due to get underway later this year on the project, adapted from O’Halloran’s play of the same name. Development was supported by the Irish Film Board (Ifb) and Roads’ facility Portico Development Fund.
Khaou’s 2014 debut Lilting, starring Ben Whishaw, debuted at Sundance and played at a number of international festivals before being released in the UK by Artificial Eye.
O’Halloran, who is also an actor and collaborated with Lenny Abrahamson (Room) on Garage and Adam & Paul, most recently scripted Paddy Breathnach’s 2015 drama, Viva.
Song Of Granite
Next up for Roads Entertainment, the company...
BAFTA-nominated director Hong Khaou (Lilting) is newly attached to direct drama Trade, written by Garage and Adam & Paul screenwriter Mark O’Halloran.
Dublin-based Roads Entertainment (Being AP) is producing Trade, about a young man searching for stability in the wake of his father’s death.
Shoot is due to get underway later this year on the project, adapted from O’Halloran’s play of the same name. Development was supported by the Irish Film Board (Ifb) and Roads’ facility Portico Development Fund.
Khaou’s 2014 debut Lilting, starring Ben Whishaw, debuted at Sundance and played at a number of international festivals before being released in the UK by Artificial Eye.
O’Halloran, who is also an actor and collaborated with Lenny Abrahamson (Room) on Garage and Adam & Paul, most recently scripted Paddy Breathnach’s 2015 drama, Viva.
Song Of Granite
Next up for Roads Entertainment, the company...
- 3/8/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
I loved this film, full of deep feeling and offers a new view of 'family'. Paddy Breathnach's "Viva" tells the Havana story of a young teen boy, Jesus, who is trying to find himself, his identity.
His world is that of a gay drag club where the queens dress fantastically to sing on stage the eternally famous songs of passion love and betrayal. Jesus scrapes by on the streets, barely, and sometimes sells his body.
But at the club when he sings there is a special time always and it appears he could have a career there.Suddenly his long gone father returns. A brutal man who deserted Jesus who barely remembers him.
The father is gravely ill, has no money and proceeds to forbid Jesus from performing his stage act. This is truly a family from hell and we wonder how the beautiful sensitive young teen Jesus can ever survive.
A really good film, wonderful acting, great idea.
"Viva" was Ireland's Official Oscar entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category and it made the 9-film shortlist out of 80 submissions for the 88th Academy Awards.
From the Sundance catalog:
Veteran director Paddy Breathnach's Viva first transported audiences to the vibrant world of Havana's drag scene at the Telluride Film Festival. We are thrilled to welcome Breathnach back to the Sundance Film Festival.
Jesus has spent most of his young adult life styling wigs at a drag club in Havana, longing for a purpose other than the pennies he scrapes together in the shadows of his surroundings. When Jesus is offered the chance to perform amongst the other queens, the cruel winds of fate bring his estranged, abusive father back into his life after 15 years. What unfolds is a bittersweet story of pain, regret, and reconciliation. As the two men’s lives violently collide, they are forced to grapple with their conflicting views.
Laced with the raw passion and drama of drag, director Paddy Breathnach and writer Mark O’Halloran bring Viva to life with exquisite tenderness. Actors Jorge Perugoría and Héctor Medina fill this wrenching love story with a raw humanity that runs beyond the confines of the screen. With a resounding case for compassion, Viva illuminates the oft-devastating path of family, neglect, and resolution.
Paddy Breathnach’s first feature, Ailsa, won Best First/Second Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival. His second feature, I Went Down (1998 Sundance Film Festival), won Best New Director prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival, Best Director award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, and Best Film at the Bogota International Film Festival. His comedy, Man About Dog, became one of the most successful independent Irish films. Breathnach directs both documentaries and dramas.
His world is that of a gay drag club where the queens dress fantastically to sing on stage the eternally famous songs of passion love and betrayal. Jesus scrapes by on the streets, barely, and sometimes sells his body.
But at the club when he sings there is a special time always and it appears he could have a career there.Suddenly his long gone father returns. A brutal man who deserted Jesus who barely remembers him.
The father is gravely ill, has no money and proceeds to forbid Jesus from performing his stage act. This is truly a family from hell and we wonder how the beautiful sensitive young teen Jesus can ever survive.
A really good film, wonderful acting, great idea.
"Viva" was Ireland's Official Oscar entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category and it made the 9-film shortlist out of 80 submissions for the 88th Academy Awards.
From the Sundance catalog:
Veteran director Paddy Breathnach's Viva first transported audiences to the vibrant world of Havana's drag scene at the Telluride Film Festival. We are thrilled to welcome Breathnach back to the Sundance Film Festival.
Jesus has spent most of his young adult life styling wigs at a drag club in Havana, longing for a purpose other than the pennies he scrapes together in the shadows of his surroundings. When Jesus is offered the chance to perform amongst the other queens, the cruel winds of fate bring his estranged, abusive father back into his life after 15 years. What unfolds is a bittersweet story of pain, regret, and reconciliation. As the two men’s lives violently collide, they are forced to grapple with their conflicting views.
Laced with the raw passion and drama of drag, director Paddy Breathnach and writer Mark O’Halloran bring Viva to life with exquisite tenderness. Actors Jorge Perugoría and Héctor Medina fill this wrenching love story with a raw humanity that runs beyond the confines of the screen. With a resounding case for compassion, Viva illuminates the oft-devastating path of family, neglect, and resolution.
Paddy Breathnach’s first feature, Ailsa, won Best First/Second Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival. His second feature, I Went Down (1998 Sundance Film Festival), won Best New Director prize at the San Sebastian Film Festival, Best Director award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, and Best Film at the Bogota International Film Festival. His comedy, Man About Dog, became one of the most successful independent Irish films. Breathnach directs both documentaries and dramas.
- 2/5/2016
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
The Audi Dublin International Film Festival launched an impressive 14th programme today, featuring over 80 films from 27 countries, that will welcome over 40 guests to the capital from the 18th - 28th of February. Book ended by highly anticipated Irish films, the Festival will open on Thursday the 18th with the European premiere of Sing Street, attended by director John Carney and cast members Jack Reynor, Ferdia Walsh Peelo and Lucy Boynton, and closes with director Paddy Breathnach’s Viva (below). Screen icon Richard Gere will attend the Arnotts Gala screening of Time Out of Mind, joining a host of stellar guests including legendary acting talents Claudia Cardinale who will attend the Italian Gala with Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Dame Angela Lansbury, alongside acclaimed directors Rebecca Miller with her comedy Maggie’s Plan, Ben Wheatley with his Jg Ballard adaptation High Rise, Joachim Trier with Louder than Bombs and Neil Jordan for the 20th anniversary.
- 1/28/2016
- by noreply@blogger.com (Clare Daly)
- www.themoviebit.com
It is all change for Dublin as the city’s 10-day festival launches a new programme, new sponsors and a new general manager.
The Audi Dublin International Film Festival (Feb 18-28) has announced a solid line-up of local and international titles as well as big-name guests.
But behind the scenes, the festival has been carefully manoeuvring its way through a period of transition as it aims to build for the future.
Car manufacturers Audi have replaced Jameson as title sponsors, while beer brand Peroni and Dublin department store Arnotts have also come aboard.
Dublin also has a new general manager, Sian Cunningham, who worked in the arts for more than 15 years prior to this appointment, most notably as general manager with Dance Ireland for nine years.
An eclectic group of filmmakers and stars were announced at today’s programme launch, joining previously named guests Angela Lansbury and Neil Jordan.
They include British director Ben Wheatley, who is bringing...
The Audi Dublin International Film Festival (Feb 18-28) has announced a solid line-up of local and international titles as well as big-name guests.
But behind the scenes, the festival has been carefully manoeuvring its way through a period of transition as it aims to build for the future.
Car manufacturers Audi have replaced Jameson as title sponsors, while beer brand Peroni and Dublin department store Arnotts have also come aboard.
Dublin also has a new general manager, Sian Cunningham, who worked in the arts for more than 15 years prior to this appointment, most notably as general manager with Dance Ireland for nine years.
An eclectic group of filmmakers and stars were announced at today’s programme launch, joining previously named guests Angela Lansbury and Neil Jordan.
They include British director Ben Wheatley, who is bringing...
- 1/28/2016
- ScreenDaily
Anyone that has attended the Palm Springs International Film Festival has surely noticed the rather specific demographic - both in background and age - that makes up the audiences that night after night fill up the screenings. While audiences of color and from a wide age range live in this small town, which has managed to put together an important regional festival for nearly three decades, they don’t seem to have incorporated into the film festival experience. The assumption that the festival is only for those with a higher income, prominent educational backgrounds, or industry connections, might deter local audiences, to whom the festival should aim, from attending.
Conscious of such this phenomenon, the festival and their Latino team in particular, have doubled their efforts to create visibility for the festival in a Latino context in order to attract those patrons that erroneously could think their festival doesn’t welcome them or that it doesn’t offer any stories that could entice them. People like seasoned programmer Hebe Tabachnick, who ensures the best films to come out of Latin America that year screen in Palm Springs; Program Manager Liliana Rodriguez, who also programs the After Dark section of the festival and who is an outspoken supporter of Latin American cinema; or Film Society Assistant Patricia Garza-Elsperger, whose efforts in making the festival a friendly environment for local Latino audiences go above and beyond her official duties.
Events such as the Cine Latino Party, which brings together filmmakers, press, programmers, staff and the general public, or the Latino Filmmakers Dinner, where the artists discussed their works amongst each other and with selected press in attendance in a casual environment that hopes to create a stronger community of people rallying behind Latin American cinema, U.S. Latino projects, and even honorary-Latino films like Paddy Breathnach Cuba-set “Viva.”
Thanks to Tabachnick and her collaborator’s relentless dedication, an immense amount of Latin American films formed part of this year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival program and an equally impressive number of filmmakers came to the city to present their work. The film selection included "Alias Maria" (Colombia),"The Second Mother" (Brazil),"From Afar" (Venezuela), "Jeremy" (Mexico), "The Club" (Chile), "Liz in September" (Venezuela), "Magallanes" (Peru), "The Memory of Water" (Chile), "Papa" (Cuba), "Neon Bull" (Brazil), "Paulina" (Argentina), "The Clan" (Argentina). Celso R. García director of the Guillermo Del Toro-produced “The Thin Yellow Line” (La delgada linea amarilla), Flavio Florencio director of Mexican trans documentary “Made in Bangkok,” Jayor Bustamante director of "Ixcanul," and Ciro Guerra director of the Academy Award-nominated "Embrace of the Serpent," were among he talented creators in attendance.
One particularly insightful presentation was the double feature program of Michel Franco’s English-language debut “Chronic” and Gabriel Ripstein’s feature debut “600 Miles,” in which both filmmakers interchanged roles as producer and directors respectively. Both hard-hitting and emotionally devastating films star British actor Tim Roth in two very distinct roles. In “Chronic” as a hospice caretaker struggling with his own turbulent past, and in “600 Miles” as an Atf agent that is kidnapped by a young Mexican boy working very dangerous people. Following the screenings Tabachnick moderated a Q&A with Ripstein and Roth about their mutual experience working on these titles.
As part of the festival’s commitment to engage its homegrown audiences in the festival’s mission and to expose them stories from around the world from, Tabachnik also hosted a screening of the Mexican family film “Jeremy” (El Jeremias) at a local high school. Through initiatives like this, Psiff wishes to evolve into a more inclusive event that can cater to cinephiles, casual attendees, and those looking to be surprised – no matter how young they are. Community outreach via the power of cinema is what could truly transform the festival from its apparent elite quality to an accessible and much more multicultural space to enjoy and discuss the art form.
Latin American cinema is consistently present and awarded at countless festival due to the particular voices and topical issues it depicts, not only with an authentic approach, but always layered with universal appeal. It’s time that audiences represented in such films or those connected to them by their heritage become a stronger force not only at the mainstream box-office but also at festival where they can have an interaction with the storytellers behind the camera. On that note, Palm Springs International Film Festival is on the right path into becoming a festival that retains the quality of the films, but sets its eyes on diversifying the eyes set that come through the theater doors.
The 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival took place January 1-11, 2016.
Conscious of such this phenomenon, the festival and their Latino team in particular, have doubled their efforts to create visibility for the festival in a Latino context in order to attract those patrons that erroneously could think their festival doesn’t welcome them or that it doesn’t offer any stories that could entice them. People like seasoned programmer Hebe Tabachnick, who ensures the best films to come out of Latin America that year screen in Palm Springs; Program Manager Liliana Rodriguez, who also programs the After Dark section of the festival and who is an outspoken supporter of Latin American cinema; or Film Society Assistant Patricia Garza-Elsperger, whose efforts in making the festival a friendly environment for local Latino audiences go above and beyond her official duties.
Events such as the Cine Latino Party, which brings together filmmakers, press, programmers, staff and the general public, or the Latino Filmmakers Dinner, where the artists discussed their works amongst each other and with selected press in attendance in a casual environment that hopes to create a stronger community of people rallying behind Latin American cinema, U.S. Latino projects, and even honorary-Latino films like Paddy Breathnach Cuba-set “Viva.”
Thanks to Tabachnick and her collaborator’s relentless dedication, an immense amount of Latin American films formed part of this year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival program and an equally impressive number of filmmakers came to the city to present their work. The film selection included "Alias Maria" (Colombia),"The Second Mother" (Brazil),"From Afar" (Venezuela), "Jeremy" (Mexico), "The Club" (Chile), "Liz in September" (Venezuela), "Magallanes" (Peru), "The Memory of Water" (Chile), "Papa" (Cuba), "Neon Bull" (Brazil), "Paulina" (Argentina), "The Clan" (Argentina). Celso R. García director of the Guillermo Del Toro-produced “The Thin Yellow Line” (La delgada linea amarilla), Flavio Florencio director of Mexican trans documentary “Made in Bangkok,” Jayor Bustamante director of "Ixcanul," and Ciro Guerra director of the Academy Award-nominated "Embrace of the Serpent," were among he talented creators in attendance.
One particularly insightful presentation was the double feature program of Michel Franco’s English-language debut “Chronic” and Gabriel Ripstein’s feature debut “600 Miles,” in which both filmmakers interchanged roles as producer and directors respectively. Both hard-hitting and emotionally devastating films star British actor Tim Roth in two very distinct roles. In “Chronic” as a hospice caretaker struggling with his own turbulent past, and in “600 Miles” as an Atf agent that is kidnapped by a young Mexican boy working very dangerous people. Following the screenings Tabachnick moderated a Q&A with Ripstein and Roth about their mutual experience working on these titles.
As part of the festival’s commitment to engage its homegrown audiences in the festival’s mission and to expose them stories from around the world from, Tabachnik also hosted a screening of the Mexican family film “Jeremy” (El Jeremias) at a local high school. Through initiatives like this, Psiff wishes to evolve into a more inclusive event that can cater to cinephiles, casual attendees, and those looking to be surprised – no matter how young they are. Community outreach via the power of cinema is what could truly transform the festival from its apparent elite quality to an accessible and much more multicultural space to enjoy and discuss the art form.
Latin American cinema is consistently present and awarded at countless festival due to the particular voices and topical issues it depicts, not only with an authentic approach, but always layered with universal appeal. It’s time that audiences represented in such films or those connected to them by their heritage become a stronger force not only at the mainstream box-office but also at festival where they can have an interaction with the storytellers behind the camera. On that note, Palm Springs International Film Festival is on the right path into becoming a festival that retains the quality of the films, but sets its eyes on diversifying the eyes set that come through the theater doors.
The 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival took place January 1-11, 2016.
- 1/23/2016
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Transporting us to a richly detailed Cuba, Viva tells the story of Jesus (Héctor Medina), a meek hairdresser whose clients include drag queens at a local Havana nightclub and elderly women who don’t have enough to pay him. With his mother having passed away and his estranged father in prison, he gets by on his own, yet is struggling to break out of his shell and genuinely express himself. While this story’s structure is certainly one we’ve witnessed before, Irish director Paddy Breathnach brings an emotional authenticity through a compassionate touch.
Jesus’ closest friends are the locals that attract tourists and a neighborhood “whore” — as one of his clients calls her — who takes advantage of his local dingy apartment, complete with a tattered mattress. One evening, when she leaves behind her lipstick, Jesus applies it; with a few glances into the mirror, his newfound dreams of participating...
Jesus’ closest friends are the locals that attract tourists and a neighborhood “whore” — as one of his clients calls her — who takes advantage of his local dingy apartment, complete with a tattered mattress. One evening, when she leaves behind her lipstick, Jesus applies it; with a few glances into the mirror, his newfound dreams of participating...
- 1/23/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Read More: Watch: 'Viva' Trailer Exposes the Heart of Ireland's Foreign Language Oscar Contender Paddy Breathnach's acclaimed drama "Viva," which had been scheduled for release on February 4, but distributor Magnolia Pictures has pushed it back in the wake of the film's failure to secure an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. The drama, which will screen at Sundance later this month in the Spotlight section, was shortlisted by the Academy, but it ultimately failed to receive one of the five category nominations. "Viva" follows a young hairstylist for drag performers in Havana, but he really dreams of joining them on stage. His father, a former boxer, has only just appeared back his life, and they soon clash over opposing expectations and struggle to understand each other. The North American release date for "Viva" is now set for April 29. See the trailer above for a sneak peek of the movie.
- 1/15/2016
- by Kristen Santer
- Indiewire
If the Academy Awards are consistently good at one thing, it’s the extent (however limited) to which they can highlight foreign-language films for audiences who’d otherwise never hear of them. Before clips from László Nemes‘ Son of Saul, Naji Abu Nowar‘s Theeb, Deniz Gamze Ergüven‘s Mustang, Ciro Guerra‘s Embrace of the Serpent, and Tobias Lindholm‘s A War are broadcast into homes around the world, take a moment to sit down with their creators — as well as The Brand New Testament‘s Jaco Van Dormael, The Fencer‘s Klaus Haro, and Viva‘s Paddy Breathnach — for a glimpse into the how and why of their films, along with an understanding of what it means to get the nomination.
And while you’re at it, read our reviews of (or comments concerning) each nominee at the above links. This is the rare year where we’ve...
And while you’re at it, read our reviews of (or comments concerning) each nominee at the above links. This is the rare year where we’ve...
- 1/14/2016
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
"Why is everyone on this fucking island addicted to drama?" the all-knowing Mama (a superb Luis Alberto Garcia) moans.
Mama is the owner of a Havana gay bar featuring chintzy drag performers who gesticulate to emotional diva tunes and who, when the show's over, whore a little on the side. That's part of the setting for Viva, Ireland's Spanish-language submission for this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Having strutted its way onto a list of nine finalists -- which will eventually be whittled down to a mere five -- Viva showcases nothing a bit Irish onscreen, not even a high kick filched from Michael Flatley. And although some of the shooting was done on the Emerald shores, possibly interior shots, all the Erin-Go-Bragh action is off screen: Paddy Breathnach, director; Mark O'Halloran, screenwriter, and so forth and so on. (There's also a dash of Mexican for added excitement:...
Mama is the owner of a Havana gay bar featuring chintzy drag performers who gesticulate to emotional diva tunes and who, when the show's over, whore a little on the side. That's part of the setting for Viva, Ireland's Spanish-language submission for this year's Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Having strutted its way onto a list of nine finalists -- which will eventually be whittled down to a mere five -- Viva showcases nothing a bit Irish onscreen, not even a high kick filched from Michael Flatley. And although some of the shooting was done on the Emerald shores, possibly interior shots, all the Erin-Go-Bragh action is off screen: Paddy Breathnach, director; Mark O'Halloran, screenwriter, and so forth and so on. (There's also a dash of Mexican for added excitement:...
- 1/13/2016
- by Brandon Judell
- www.culturecatch.com
Last year Latin American films garnered an impressive haul of awards from some of the most important film festivals around including Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, and Venice. “The Second Mother, “ “The Club,” “From Afar, “ “Land and Shade, “ “600 Miles," and “Ixcanul, “ were some of the works that demonstrated the aesthetic quality and thematic diversity the region’s cinema currently boasts. But while critics and festival juries clearly appreciate the risk-taking stance of Latin American filmmakers, Hollywood awards groups rarely follow suit. The industry is willing to honor Latino talent - like the Academy Awards did last year - but not so much Latino stories.
Argentina is the only Latin American country to have ever won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Nicaragua, and Cuba have been nominated but have failed to take the coveted statuette home. Success in other categories has been even more unusual with films like the Spanish animated feature set in Cuba “Chico & Rita” or last year’s Oscar nominated documentary short “The Reaper” being two of the very few examples.
For the 88th edition of the prestigious ceremony, seven films, which are either by Latin American directors or that tell stories centered in Latin America, are in the running to represent the cultural heritage, political concerns, and the everyday lives of its people in unconventional ways that range from animation to heart-racing documentaries. Whatever the final results may be, the caliber of Latin American achievements in film to grace the screen in the past 12 months is undeniable.
Best Foreign Language Film
"Embrace of the Serpent" (Colombia)
Dir. Ciro Guerra
Strikingly beautiful and laced with poetic mysticism, Ciro Guerra’s most accomplished work to date follows the journey of two European explores at particular times in history as they are guided through the Amazon by Karamakate, an imposing local shaman man who is wary of their intentions.
"Viva" (Ireland)
Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Jesus, a young gay man in Havana, only finds relief from his daily struggles when he transforms into a drag performer in front of an eager audience, but when his macho father returns after decades away his dreams are jeopardized. This Irish production set in Cuba is a delightful work that thrives on authenticity and emotionally layered performances. Although the film is represented the European country, the passionate narrative is authentically Cuban and captures the essence of the isolated island with admirable sincerity.
Read More: 'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Best Animated Feature
"Boy and the World" (Brazil)
Dir. Alê Abreu
The most awarded animated feature to open in U.S. theaters this year is a Brazilian wonder that ditches dialogue entirely for a storytelling approach that’s purely visual, whimsical, and even heartbreaking. Through the eyes of a playful young boy searching for his father, Alê Abreu’s musical odyssey conveys sophisticated notions about social justice, the voracious appetite of capitalism, and the yoke of oppression. Abreu’s animated masterpiece could become the first Latin American animated feature to be nominated in the category.
Read More: How "Boy and the World" Director Alê Abreu Handcrafted His Heartfelt & Dazzling Animated Masterpiece
Best Documentary Feature
Cartel Land" (U.S./ Mexico)
Dir. Matthew Heineman
Matthew Heineman's film is indeed a gruesome and riveting account of how the narco violence has kept entire towns in the Mexican state of Michoacán hostage, and how a group of civilians, the "Autodefensas," took matters into their own hands and became a reactive rogue institution that had, initially, no ties to the federal government. "Cartel Land" bravely tackles this overwhelming matter with compassion for the victims and as much objectivity as possible towards the political questions it raises. Though it can’t possibly give us definitive answers, it’s a great vehicle to raise awareness and demand action.
Best Live Action Short Film
"Contrapelo" (Mexico)
Dir. Gareth Dunnet Alcocer
A respected Mexican barber with strong views about the atrocities committed by organized crime finds himself in a difficult position when is forced to decide whether to eliminate part of the problem or stick to his profession. Intimate in scope, yet decisive in its moral questioning of the situation, Gareth Dunnet Alcocer ‘s short offers two memorable performances and a brutally honest conclusion.
Best Animated Short Film
"Bear Story" (Chile)
Dir. Gabriel Osorio Vargas
Using the touching story of a bear who is ripped away from his family to forcefully work at a circus as a metaphor to revisit one of Chilean history’s darkest chapters, this gorgeous 3D animated short showcases incredible textural detail and visual storytelling of the most powerful and universal kind.
Best Documentary Short Film
"Minerita" (Spain/Bolivia)
Dir. Raúl de la Fuente
A group of Bolivian women working in the Potosi mines share the harrowing struggles they must endure to make a living and survive under incredibly harsh conditions. Constantly being sexually harassed by the male miners, living perpetually scared of being raped or killed, and dealing with the demanding physical labor, make their accounts both heroic and tragic.
Argentina is the only Latin American country to have ever won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Nicaragua, and Cuba have been nominated but have failed to take the coveted statuette home. Success in other categories has been even more unusual with films like the Spanish animated feature set in Cuba “Chico & Rita” or last year’s Oscar nominated documentary short “The Reaper” being two of the very few examples.
For the 88th edition of the prestigious ceremony, seven films, which are either by Latin American directors or that tell stories centered in Latin America, are in the running to represent the cultural heritage, political concerns, and the everyday lives of its people in unconventional ways that range from animation to heart-racing documentaries. Whatever the final results may be, the caliber of Latin American achievements in film to grace the screen in the past 12 months is undeniable.
Best Foreign Language Film
"Embrace of the Serpent" (Colombia)
Dir. Ciro Guerra
Strikingly beautiful and laced with poetic mysticism, Ciro Guerra’s most accomplished work to date follows the journey of two European explores at particular times in history as they are guided through the Amazon by Karamakate, an imposing local shaman man who is wary of their intentions.
"Viva" (Ireland)
Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Jesus, a young gay man in Havana, only finds relief from his daily struggles when he transforms into a drag performer in front of an eager audience, but when his macho father returns after decades away his dreams are jeopardized. This Irish production set in Cuba is a delightful work that thrives on authenticity and emotionally layered performances. Although the film is represented the European country, the passionate narrative is authentically Cuban and captures the essence of the isolated island with admirable sincerity.
Read More: 'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Best Animated Feature
"Boy and the World" (Brazil)
Dir. Alê Abreu
The most awarded animated feature to open in U.S. theaters this year is a Brazilian wonder that ditches dialogue entirely for a storytelling approach that’s purely visual, whimsical, and even heartbreaking. Through the eyes of a playful young boy searching for his father, Alê Abreu’s musical odyssey conveys sophisticated notions about social justice, the voracious appetite of capitalism, and the yoke of oppression. Abreu’s animated masterpiece could become the first Latin American animated feature to be nominated in the category.
Read More: How "Boy and the World" Director Alê Abreu Handcrafted His Heartfelt & Dazzling Animated Masterpiece
Best Documentary Feature
Cartel Land" (U.S./ Mexico)
Dir. Matthew Heineman
Matthew Heineman's film is indeed a gruesome and riveting account of how the narco violence has kept entire towns in the Mexican state of Michoacán hostage, and how a group of civilians, the "Autodefensas," took matters into their own hands and became a reactive rogue institution that had, initially, no ties to the federal government. "Cartel Land" bravely tackles this overwhelming matter with compassion for the victims and as much objectivity as possible towards the political questions it raises. Though it can’t possibly give us definitive answers, it’s a great vehicle to raise awareness and demand action.
Best Live Action Short Film
"Contrapelo" (Mexico)
Dir. Gareth Dunnet Alcocer
A respected Mexican barber with strong views about the atrocities committed by organized crime finds himself in a difficult position when is forced to decide whether to eliminate part of the problem or stick to his profession. Intimate in scope, yet decisive in its moral questioning of the situation, Gareth Dunnet Alcocer ‘s short offers two memorable performances and a brutally honest conclusion.
Best Animated Short Film
"Bear Story" (Chile)
Dir. Gabriel Osorio Vargas
Using the touching story of a bear who is ripped away from his family to forcefully work at a circus as a metaphor to revisit one of Chilean history’s darkest chapters, this gorgeous 3D animated short showcases incredible textural detail and visual storytelling of the most powerful and universal kind.
Best Documentary Short Film
"Minerita" (Spain/Bolivia)
Dir. Raúl de la Fuente
A group of Bolivian women working in the Potosi mines share the harrowing struggles they must endure to make a living and survive under incredibly harsh conditions. Constantly being sexually harassed by the male miners, living perpetually scared of being raped or killed, and dealing with the demanding physical labor, make their accounts both heroic and tragic.
- 1/13/2016
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
With over 80 films in contention, Ireland was one of the few countries to make the initial shortlist Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars. While it’s usually up in the air when one will actually get a chance to see some of these films in the United States, Paddy Breathnach‘s Viva will get a release in less than a month and today we have a new trailer.
Also set to screen at the Sundance Film Festival towards the end of the month, the story follows a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, who dreams of being a performer himself. Starring Jorge Perugorría, Luis Alberto García, Héctor Medina, Luis Manuel Álvarez, Renata (Maikel Machín Blanco), and Laura Alemán, check out the beautiful trailer and poster.
Viva stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers,...
Also set to screen at the Sundance Film Festival towards the end of the month, the story follows a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, who dreams of being a performer himself. Starring Jorge Perugorría, Luis Alberto García, Héctor Medina, Luis Manuel Álvarez, Renata (Maikel Machín Blanco), and Laura Alemán, check out the beautiful trailer and poster.
Viva stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers,...
- 1/7/2016
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"Why is everyone on this island addicted to drama?" Magnolia Pictures has debuted a trailer for the Cuban drag queen drama Viva, starring actor Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young hairdresser who dreams of being a drag performer. The film played to some solid reviews at the Telluride Film Festival last year, and looks like an upbeat, energetic film about finding your true self. One review from The Playlist notes "how the director captures the rhythm of Jesus' life in the city, chronicling his poverty, and conveying his dignity" and says it features "strong performances by its three leads". Not everyone is going to be into this, but it's worth giving a shot, as this trailer really sells it well. There's more to this story, including the electric vibe of Cuba. Here's the official Us trailer (+ poster) for Paddy Breathnach's Viva, in high def from Apple: Viva stars Héctor Medina as Jesus,...
- 1/5/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Read: Telluride Review: 'Viva' Finds a Familiar Queer Dilemma in Cuba Following an overwhelmingly positive critical reception at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival, Paddy Breathnach's "Viva" finally has a breathtaking tailer that takes viewers down a dark, tumultuous, and inspiring tale of perseverance, tenacity and love. Starring Héctor Medina and Luis Alberto García, the film follows the tale of Jesus, a cross-dressing hair stylist chasing his dream of breaking free of his strained existence and gaining a chance of becoming what he has always wanted: a famous cabaret drag queen. The film is one of the first ventures by Breathnach into the world of serious drama. He has up until now been primarily known for his work in comedies and horrors, such as "Blow Dry" and "Shrooms," respectively. Academy Award-winning actor Benicio Del Toro serves as an executive producer, and the film has been selected as...
- 1/5/2016
- by Riyad Mammadyarov
- Indiewire
The entire Academy Awards endeavour seems to expand every year, as more and more often, shortlists are announced during the behind-the-scenes nominations process, ahead of the final nominations announcement. While that tends to make the awards season feel even longer, it does much to raise the profile of films that might otherwise be little noticed by general audiences – including those submitted to the Academy for consideration as Best Foreign Film.
The Academy accepts one submission from each country, and the deadline for those submissions was October 1st this year. The selection process then has two phases. In the first phase, the Foreign Language Film Award Committee screens each submission, and selects six for shortlisting, with an additional three selected by the Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee. This set of nine films is then announced as the shortlist, and this is the announcement we have seen today.
The shortlisted films...
The Academy accepts one submission from each country, and the deadline for those submissions was October 1st this year. The selection process then has two phases. In the first phase, the Foreign Language Film Award Committee screens each submission, and selects six for shortlisting, with an additional three selected by the Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee. This set of nine films is then announced as the shortlist, and this is the announcement we have seen today.
The shortlisted films...
- 12/22/2015
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
Often including the best films across the entire ceremony, The Academy announced their Oscar shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film category today. Pared down from 81 selected films, we now have nine features, which will eventually be cut down to five nominations, followed by the winner on Oscar night.
The shortlist includes personal favorites such as Son of Saul, Mustang, Theeb, A War, and The Brand New Testament. Disappointingly left off the list is Hou Hsiao-hsien‘s The Assassin, Roy Andersson’s A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, Miguel Gomes‘ Arabian Nights – Volume 2, The Desolate One, and Pablo Larraín‘s The Club, but what’s left is certainly a fine batch of films. Check it out below.
Belgium, The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael
Colombia, Embrace of the Serpent, Ciro Guerra
Denmark, A War, Tobias Lindholm
Finland, The Fencer, Klaus Härö
France, Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Germany,...
The shortlist includes personal favorites such as Son of Saul, Mustang, Theeb, A War, and The Brand New Testament. Disappointingly left off the list is Hou Hsiao-hsien‘s The Assassin, Roy Andersson’s A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, Miguel Gomes‘ Arabian Nights – Volume 2, The Desolate One, and Pablo Larraín‘s The Club, but what’s left is certainly a fine batch of films. Check it out below.
Belgium, The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael
Colombia, Embrace of the Serpent, Ciro Guerra
Denmark, A War, Tobias Lindholm
Finland, The Fencer, Klaus Härö
France, Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Germany,...
- 12/18/2015
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Labyrinth of Lies director Giulio Ricciarelli Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
The shortlist for this year's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar was revealed today.
From Belgium, The Brand New Testament directed by Jaco Van Dormael; Colombia, Embrace Of The Serpent, Ciro Guerra, director; Denmark, A War, Tobias Lindholm, director; Finland, The Fencer, Klaus Härö, director; France, Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director; Germany, Labyrinth Of Lies, Giulio Ricciarelli, director; Hungary, Son Of Saul, László Nemes, director; Ireland, Viva, Paddy Breathnach, director; Jordan, Theeb, Naji Abu Nowar, director.
80 foreign language features were submitted to the Academy for consideration. The five films to receive nominations will be announced on January 14, 2016, along with all the other Oscar nominations.
The Oscars will be handed out on February 28....
The shortlist for this year's Best Foreign Language Film Oscar was revealed today.
From Belgium, The Brand New Testament directed by Jaco Van Dormael; Colombia, Embrace Of The Serpent, Ciro Guerra, director; Denmark, A War, Tobias Lindholm, director; Finland, The Fencer, Klaus Härö, director; France, Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director; Germany, Labyrinth Of Lies, Giulio Ricciarelli, director; Hungary, Son Of Saul, László Nemes, director; Ireland, Viva, Paddy Breathnach, director; Jordan, Theeb, Naji Abu Nowar, director.
80 foreign language features were submitted to the Academy for consideration. The five films to receive nominations will be announced on January 14, 2016, along with all the other Oscar nominations.
The Oscars will be handed out on February 28....
- 12/18/2015
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Congratulations to the nine films that proceed to the final stage towards an Oscar nomination. Six of these nine films were the top vote-winners from Academy's foreign film committee in Los Angeles (who screened these 80 films) after which the executive committee added three titles to the list (though which titles are which are never revealed to the public). A final committee will now screen these nine films and determine the five nominees to be announced on January 14th. It's an elaborate process that we love to follow each year. Catch up on all our coverage and see the charts!
The Finalists
Links go to past articles on the films if we've written any
Viva has been keeping a low profile but those who've seen it have raved.
Belgium (7 nominations) The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael Colombia (never nominated) Embrace of the Serpent, Ciro Guerra (opens 2/17) Denmark (13 noms | 3 wins) A War,...
The Finalists
Links go to past articles on the films if we've written any
Viva has been keeping a low profile but those who've seen it have raved.
Belgium (7 nominations) The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael Colombia (never nominated) Embrace of the Serpent, Ciro Guerra (opens 2/17) Denmark (13 noms | 3 wins) A War,...
- 12/18/2015
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The Academy unveiled on Thursday evening the nine films that advance in the foreign-language Oscar contest.
Hungary’s Son Of Saul, regarded as the frontrunner, made the cut while Colombia’s Embrace Of The Serpent is the only Latin American flag-bearer in the absence of Brazil’s The Second Mother, Chile’s The Club and Argentina’s El Clan.
There was also a no-show for Asian titles, which will raise eyebrows after Taiwan’s The Assassin drew wide acclaim.
The films in alphabetical order by country are:
Belgium, The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Colombia, Embrace Of The Serpent, Ciro Guerra, director;
Denmark, A War, Tobias Lindholm, director;
Finland, The Fencer, Klaus Härö, director;
France, Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director
Germany, Labyrinth Of Lies, Giulio Ricciarelli, director;
Hungary, Son Of Saul (pictured), László Nemes, director;
Ireland, Viva, Paddy Breathnach, director; and
Jordan, Theeb, Naji Abu Nowar, director.
The Phase I committee comprising several hundred Los Angeles-based...
Hungary’s Son Of Saul, regarded as the frontrunner, made the cut while Colombia’s Embrace Of The Serpent is the only Latin American flag-bearer in the absence of Brazil’s The Second Mother, Chile’s The Club and Argentina’s El Clan.
There was also a no-show for Asian titles, which will raise eyebrows after Taiwan’s The Assassin drew wide acclaim.
The films in alphabetical order by country are:
Belgium, The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Colombia, Embrace Of The Serpent, Ciro Guerra, director;
Denmark, A War, Tobias Lindholm, director;
Finland, The Fencer, Klaus Härö, director;
France, Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director
Germany, Labyrinth Of Lies, Giulio Ricciarelli, director;
Hungary, Son Of Saul (pictured), László Nemes, director;
Ireland, Viva, Paddy Breathnach, director; and
Jordan, Theeb, Naji Abu Nowar, director.
The Phase I committee comprising several hundred Los Angeles-based...
- 12/18/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Out of 80 accepted Oscar submissions (one, from Afghanistan, was disqualified for containing what was considered more English-language dialogue that is permitted to be eligible in the category), nine features have been shortlisted to advance to the next round of voting in which 30 Academy members, chosen at random from multiple branches of the organization, will watch the films over a a period of three days to select the finalists.
The five nominees will be announced on January 14, 2016 alongside all other categories.
As expected Hungary's "Son of Saul" and France's Turkish-language "Mustang" made the cut following their Golden Globe nominations in the same category. Two other Golden Globe nominees, "The Fencer" and "The Brand New Testament," also made the cut.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Belgium, "The Brand New Testament," Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Colombia, "Embrace of the Serpent," Ciro Guerra, director;
Denmark, "A War," Tobias Lindholm, director;
Finland, "The Fencer," Klaus Härö, director;
France, "Mustang," Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director;
Germany, "Labyrinth of Lies," Giulio Ricciarelli, director;
Hungary, "Son of Saul," László Nemes, director;
Ireland, "Viva," Paddy Breathnach, director;
Jordan, "Theeb," Naji Abu Nowar, director.
The five nominees will be announced on January 14, 2016 alongside all other categories.
As expected Hungary's "Son of Saul" and France's Turkish-language "Mustang" made the cut following their Golden Globe nominations in the same category. Two other Golden Globe nominees, "The Fencer" and "The Brand New Testament," also made the cut.
The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
Belgium, "The Brand New Testament," Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Colombia, "Embrace of the Serpent," Ciro Guerra, director;
Denmark, "A War," Tobias Lindholm, director;
Finland, "The Fencer," Klaus Härö, director;
France, "Mustang," Deniz Gamze Ergüven, director;
Germany, "Labyrinth of Lies," Giulio Ricciarelli, director;
Hungary, "Son of Saul," László Nemes, director;
Ireland, "Viva," Paddy Breathnach, director;
Jordan, "Theeb," Naji Abu Nowar, director.
- 12/18/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Fascinating is the best way to describe the process by which the final five nominated for the Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film are selected. Each year dozens of countries send their Oscar hopeful to Hollywood for AMPAS to consider. This work should, at least in theory, be the best representation of the national cinematic achievements of that year. This usually makes for a crowded field of storytelling marvels.
Since each country, via its national film academy or a special cultural committee, can only submit one candidate, there are always “snubs” even at the selections stage. These often happens because a film doesn’t meet the requirements or simply because the selecting body didn’t regard them as highly. While there are numerous detractors regarding AMPAS rule of only one entry per country, in a sense this helps level the playfield given that smaller territories might have very choices in comparison to European powerhouses. The other perspective argues that because of this process sometimes the real standouts don’t get a chance to compete.
Once a film becomes the official entry the next, and most arduous step, is to get into the 9-film shortlist. Six of them are chosen by popular within the AMPAS’ Foreign Language Film committee and the other three by an executed committee. These nine finalists are then watched by 30 randomly selected members from different Academy branches over one weekend. This is where the five nominees are chosen. This year 80 accepted submissions (noting that Afghanistan’s entry was disqualified) are vying for the trophy, and that means that 75 of the world’s best films will have to cherish the exposure given by process.
Nevertheless, making the shortlist is more than a commendable feat itself. This list will be revealed next week, and though there are always unexpected surprises, there are of course a few favorites and films that have garnered lots of positive attention throughout the season. After watching over three quarters out of the colossal list of entries in contention I’d like to share my observations on the 25 films that seem like the strongest bets to make the coveted shortlist and eventually become Academy Award nominees. Granted, other films could easily sneak in if they manage to impress the right people, but I feel confident that most of those that will advance will come from the least below.
Argentina
"The Clan" (El Clan)
Dir. Pablo Trapero
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Fox International
Trapero’s sordid crime drama based on the real life story of the Puccio family, which became national news when authorities discovered they were behind a series of kidnapping and murders, is a compelling work that uses Argentina’s historical context as backdrop. . Almodovar’s El Deseo, the company behind the Oscar-nominated “Wild Tales”, produced the film.
Read More: 'The Clan Wins' Audience Award At Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival’s Gems
Austria
"Goodnight Mommy" (Ich seh, ich seh)
Dirs. Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Radius-twc
One of the most daring selections is also one the most acclaimed horror films of the year. This art house chiller confronts a pair of mischievous twin boys with their convalescent mother who recently underwent a facial surgery. The thematic and aesthetic elegance that co-directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz employed elevates “Goodnight Mommy” beyond the usual gruesome fare.
Belgium
"The Brand New Testament" (Le tout nouveau testament)
Dir. Jaco Van Dormael
Isa: Le Pacte
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This fantastical take on religion is yet another unique vision from director Jaco Van Dormael, the filmmaker behind such films as “Mr. Nobody.” With a humorous tone, “The Brand New Testament” explores what would happen if God himself lived in a regular apartment in Brussels pretending to be a mortal and finding pleasure in the little things that annoy human life - all of which are orchestrated by him.
Brazil
"The Second Mother" (Que Horas Ela Volta?)
Dir. Anna Muylaert
Isa: The Match Factory
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Pictures
Anna Muylaert’s crowd-pleasing, yet thematically complex gem delves into the intricacies of class in Brazilian society through the eyes of an endearing live-in maid. Regina Casé, in an Oscar-worthy performance, becomes Val, a diligent and humble housekeeper that has worked with the same wealthy family in Sao Paulo for many years and who only questions her role within this environment when her strange daughter comes to visit.
Read More: Anna Muylaert on Why the Protagonist of 'The Second Mother' is a Super Hero
Canada
"Felix & Meira"
Dir. Maxime Giroux
Isa: Urban Distribution International
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
A clandestine romance and the yoke of religion are at the center of Maxime Giroux’s delicate debut feature. Meira (Hadas Yaron is a Hasidic woman who feels trapped by the expectations and limitations imposed her, but when she meets Felix (Martin Dubreuil), a secular man who is equally lost, her vision of the world widens.
Rea More: 'Felix and Meira' Director Maxime Giroux on Understanding Hasidim and Quebecois Isolation
Chile
"The Club" (El Club)
Dir. Pablo Larraín
Isa: Funny Balloons
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
Larrain's latest work follows a group of priests and nuns who live in an isolated beachside town after committing a score of heinous crimes. Though they have the church's protection, there are people out there who are not willing to let impunity prevail. Magnificently written and acted, this dark and piercing drama ranks up there with the director’s best work
Colombia
"Embrace of the Serpent" (El Abrazo de la Serpiente)
Dir. Ciro Guerra
Isa: Films Boutique
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Strikingly beautiful and laced with poetic mysticism, Ciro Guerra’s most accomplished work to date follows the journey of two European explores at particular times in history as they are guided through the Amazon by Karamakate, an imposing local shaman man who is wary of their intentions.
Czech Republic
"Home Care" (Domácí péce)
Dir. Slávek Horák
Isa: M-Appeal
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This very low-key dramedy from first-time director Slávek Horák about a a middle-aged home care nurse, who not only has to look after her patients but also her own family, hasn’t had as much exposure as other films on this list; however, the quality of the performances and the nuanced screenplay have resonated with those who have seen it.
Denmark
"A War" (Krigen)
Dir. Tobias Lindholm
Isa: Studiocanal
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Director Tobias Lindholm follow up to “A Hijacking,” blends gritty action with a courtroom drama in a searing study on guilt and the collateral damage of armed conflicts from the point of view of conflicted family man and company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk). Subtle observations and intricate moral complexity are once again Lindholm's greatest strengths.
Estonia
"1944"
Dir. Elmo Nüganen
Isa: Eyewell Ab
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
After earning its first-ever Academy Award nomination earlier this year, the Eastern European country returns to the race with an impressive historical epic about Estonian soldiers fighting on different sides against their own. The film was directed, who starred in the Oscar-nominated “Tangerines.”
Finland
"The Fencer" (Miekkailija)
Dir. Klaus Härö
Isa: The Little Film Company
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
Finnish filmmaker Klaus Härö takes on an Estonian story about a professional fencer who becomes a physical education teacher in his homeland after leaving Russia to escape the Kgb. This classically executed and elegant period drama offers uplifting moments, romance, and exquisite cinematography.
France
"Mustang"
Dir. Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Isa: Kinology
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Through traditional gender roles and expectations in Turkish society, adults attempt to tame the blossoming womanhood in Deniz Gamze Ergüven's five teenage protagonists. Delicately shot and cast to perfection, this peculiar coming-of-ager is an empowering breath of fresh air that honors freedom and femininity in equal measures.
Read More: 'Mustang' Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven on Femininity in Cinema and French Multiculturalism
Germany
"Labyrinth of Lies" (Im Labyrinth des Schweigens)
Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
In the aftermath of WWII German authorities and the majority of the population refused to acknowledge the magnitude of their involvement in the Holocaust until a driven young prosecutor begins uncovering the truth. Ricciarelli film is a compelling historical drama with a fantastic lead performance by Alexander Fehling at its core.
Read More: Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli and Star Alexander Fehling on the Historical Relevance of 'Labyrinth of Lies' and Germany's Open Wound
Guatemala
"Ixcanul"
Dir. Jayro Bustamante
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Kino Lorber
Bustamante’s Silver Bear-winning ethereal masterpiece in indigenous language is an intimate look at the lives of the country’s Mayan population. Told through the eyes of a teenage girl destined to an arranged marriage, this marvelously photographed film speaks of tradition, modernity, mysticism, male chauvinism, and cultural isolation.
Read More: 'Ixcanul' Director Jayro Bustamante on the Strength of Mayan Women and Guatemala's Indigenous Majority
Hungary
"Son of Saul" (Saul fia)
Dir. László Nemes
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
By far the most incredible debut of the year and one of the best films about the Holocaust ever made, this year’s Grand Prix winner takes the viewer inside the Nazi killing machine from the perspective of the Sonderkommando, a group of Jewish men chosen to carry out all horrific manual labor within the gas chambers. Immersive and devastating, Nemes' stunner is a powerful cinematic statement.
Iceland
"Rams" (Hrútar)
Dir. Grímur Hákonarson
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
A humorous look at brotherhood and pastoral life, this Un Certain Regard-winning dark comedy pays homage to the importance of sheep in the Icelandic cultural identity. When a disease wipes out the entire town’s flock, two estrange siblings, who haven’t spoken to each other in decades, are forced to collaborate in order to save their livelihood.
Ireland
"Viva"
Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Isa: Mongrel International
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Jesus, a young gay man in Havana, only finds relief from his daily struggles when he transforms into a drag performer in front of an eager audience, but when his macho father returns after decades away his dreams are jeopardized. This Irish production set in Cuba is a delightful work that thrives on authenticity and emotionally layered performances.
Read More:'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Jordan
"Theeb" (ذيب)
Dir. Naji Abu Nowar
Isa: Fortissimo Films
U.S. Distribution: Film Movement
Adapting the sensibilities of classic Westerns into a uniquely Middle Eastern setting, this period piece touches on the complicated relationship between the region and the colonial powers via the experiences of a young Bedouin boy who embarks on a mission across the desert. Top-notch filmmaking that twists conventions to depict a singular worldview.
Mexico
"600 Miles" (600 Millas)
Dir. Gabriel Ripstein
Isa: Ndm
U.S. Distribution: Pantelion Films
By focusing on two characters from opposite sides of the border, Gabriel Ripstein’s debut Starring Tim Roth delves into the U.S/Mexico conflictive, yet unavoidable codependency and share responsibility in the fight against organized crime. Guns are at the center of this realist tale in which everyone’s morality is tinged with shades of grey.
The Netherlands
"The Paradise Suite"
Dir. Joost van Ginkel
Isa: Media Luna New Films
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
In this profound multi-narrative film the tumultuous stories of characters from diverse latitudes collide in Amsterdam in unexpected and heartbreaking ways. An Eastern European girl dragged into prostitution, an African man desperate to stay afloat, a war criminal in disguise, a woman seeking revenge, and famous musician and his son struggling to connect, all, in their own way, looking fro redemption.
Norway
"The Wave" (Bølgen)
Dir. Roar Uthaug
Isa: TrustNordisk
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Besides its spectacular, Hollywood-worthy visual effects, what sets this Scandinavian disaster movie apart from less sophisticated American efforts is its interesting character development. While the chaos and destruction on screen is an exhilarating feast, the human aspect is never forgotten and it’s crucial to the Norwegian specificity of the plot.
Romania
"Aferim!"
Dir. Radu Jude
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Big World Pictures
Thematically fascinating and visually impeccable, this black-and-white historical adventure set in the early 19th century solidifies Romanian cinema as one of the most exciting and innovative currents in Europe. Radu Jude’s film centers on the mostly unknown history of Gypsy slavery and how this shaped Romanian society by using a tragicomic tone and timeless aesthetics.
Spain
"Flowers" (Loreak)
Dirs. Jon Garaño & Jose Mari Goenaga
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
The country’s firs Basque-language entry is a soft-spoken drama that juxtaposes the grieving processes of three women after the tragic death of man that touched their lives directly and indirectly. Unpretentious in its concept, yet unexpectedly philosophical, the power of the narrative lies on the actresses that flourish and decay in varying degrees throughout the film.
Sweden
"A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" (En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron)
Dir. Roy Andersson
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
As brilliant as anything Andersson has ever created, the final chapter in his trilogy about the absurdity of what it means to be human is one of the most unconventional cinematic experiences in recent memory. Without the constraints of la traditional plot, this nonlinear treasure uses clever vignettes to talk about death, humor, and the mundane things that define our existence.
Read More: 7 Reasons Why Roy Andersson's Latest Film is a Must-See Philosophical Wonder
Taiwan
"The Assassin" (聶隱娘)
Dir. Hsiao-hsien Hou
Isa: Wild Bunch
U.S. Distribution: Well Go USA Entertainment
Armed with breathtaking cinematography, lavish costumes and production design, and an ancient legend about betrayal and retribution, master Hsiao-hsien Hou obliterates our expectations and delivers a one-of-a-kind martial arts epic that’s more concerned with sensory transcendence than narrative clarity, but is no less of an enthralling experience because of it.
Since each country, via its national film academy or a special cultural committee, can only submit one candidate, there are always “snubs” even at the selections stage. These often happens because a film doesn’t meet the requirements or simply because the selecting body didn’t regard them as highly. While there are numerous detractors regarding AMPAS rule of only one entry per country, in a sense this helps level the playfield given that smaller territories might have very choices in comparison to European powerhouses. The other perspective argues that because of this process sometimes the real standouts don’t get a chance to compete.
Once a film becomes the official entry the next, and most arduous step, is to get into the 9-film shortlist. Six of them are chosen by popular within the AMPAS’ Foreign Language Film committee and the other three by an executed committee. These nine finalists are then watched by 30 randomly selected members from different Academy branches over one weekend. This is where the five nominees are chosen. This year 80 accepted submissions (noting that Afghanistan’s entry was disqualified) are vying for the trophy, and that means that 75 of the world’s best films will have to cherish the exposure given by process.
Nevertheless, making the shortlist is more than a commendable feat itself. This list will be revealed next week, and though there are always unexpected surprises, there are of course a few favorites and films that have garnered lots of positive attention throughout the season. After watching over three quarters out of the colossal list of entries in contention I’d like to share my observations on the 25 films that seem like the strongest bets to make the coveted shortlist and eventually become Academy Award nominees. Granted, other films could easily sneak in if they manage to impress the right people, but I feel confident that most of those that will advance will come from the least below.
Argentina
"The Clan" (El Clan)
Dir. Pablo Trapero
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Fox International
Trapero’s sordid crime drama based on the real life story of the Puccio family, which became national news when authorities discovered they were behind a series of kidnapping and murders, is a compelling work that uses Argentina’s historical context as backdrop. . Almodovar’s El Deseo, the company behind the Oscar-nominated “Wild Tales”, produced the film.
Read More: 'The Clan Wins' Audience Award At Miami Dade College’s Miami International Film Festival’s Gems
Austria
"Goodnight Mommy" (Ich seh, ich seh)
Dirs. Severin Fiala & Veronika Franz
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Radius-twc
One of the most daring selections is also one the most acclaimed horror films of the year. This art house chiller confronts a pair of mischievous twin boys with their convalescent mother who recently underwent a facial surgery. The thematic and aesthetic elegance that co-directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz employed elevates “Goodnight Mommy” beyond the usual gruesome fare.
Belgium
"The Brand New Testament" (Le tout nouveau testament)
Dir. Jaco Van Dormael
Isa: Le Pacte
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This fantastical take on religion is yet another unique vision from director Jaco Van Dormael, the filmmaker behind such films as “Mr. Nobody.” With a humorous tone, “The Brand New Testament” explores what would happen if God himself lived in a regular apartment in Brussels pretending to be a mortal and finding pleasure in the little things that annoy human life - all of which are orchestrated by him.
Brazil
"The Second Mother" (Que Horas Ela Volta?)
Dir. Anna Muylaert
Isa: The Match Factory
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Pictures
Anna Muylaert’s crowd-pleasing, yet thematically complex gem delves into the intricacies of class in Brazilian society through the eyes of an endearing live-in maid. Regina Casé, in an Oscar-worthy performance, becomes Val, a diligent and humble housekeeper that has worked with the same wealthy family in Sao Paulo for many years and who only questions her role within this environment when her strange daughter comes to visit.
Read More: Anna Muylaert on Why the Protagonist of 'The Second Mother' is a Super Hero
Canada
"Felix & Meira"
Dir. Maxime Giroux
Isa: Urban Distribution International
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
A clandestine romance and the yoke of religion are at the center of Maxime Giroux’s delicate debut feature. Meira (Hadas Yaron is a Hasidic woman who feels trapped by the expectations and limitations imposed her, but when she meets Felix (Martin Dubreuil), a secular man who is equally lost, her vision of the world widens.
Rea More: 'Felix and Meira' Director Maxime Giroux on Understanding Hasidim and Quebecois Isolation
Chile
"The Club" (El Club)
Dir. Pablo Larraín
Isa: Funny Balloons
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
Larrain's latest work follows a group of priests and nuns who live in an isolated beachside town after committing a score of heinous crimes. Though they have the church's protection, there are people out there who are not willing to let impunity prevail. Magnificently written and acted, this dark and piercing drama ranks up there with the director’s best work
Colombia
"Embrace of the Serpent" (El Abrazo de la Serpiente)
Dir. Ciro Guerra
Isa: Films Boutique
U.S. Distribution: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Strikingly beautiful and laced with poetic mysticism, Ciro Guerra’s most accomplished work to date follows the journey of two European explores at particular times in history as they are guided through the Amazon by Karamakate, an imposing local shaman man who is wary of their intentions.
Czech Republic
"Home Care" (Domácí péce)
Dir. Slávek Horák
Isa: M-Appeal
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
This very low-key dramedy from first-time director Slávek Horák about a a middle-aged home care nurse, who not only has to look after her patients but also her own family, hasn’t had as much exposure as other films on this list; however, the quality of the performances and the nuanced screenplay have resonated with those who have seen it.
Denmark
"A War" (Krigen)
Dir. Tobias Lindholm
Isa: Studiocanal
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Director Tobias Lindholm follow up to “A Hijacking,” blends gritty action with a courtroom drama in a searing study on guilt and the collateral damage of armed conflicts from the point of view of conflicted family man and company commander Claus M. Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk). Subtle observations and intricate moral complexity are once again Lindholm's greatest strengths.
Estonia
"1944"
Dir. Elmo Nüganen
Isa: Eyewell Ab
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
After earning its first-ever Academy Award nomination earlier this year, the Eastern European country returns to the race with an impressive historical epic about Estonian soldiers fighting on different sides against their own. The film was directed, who starred in the Oscar-nominated “Tangerines.”
Finland
"The Fencer" (Miekkailija)
Dir. Klaus Härö
Isa: The Little Film Company
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
Finnish filmmaker Klaus Härö takes on an Estonian story about a professional fencer who becomes a physical education teacher in his homeland after leaving Russia to escape the Kgb. This classically executed and elegant period drama offers uplifting moments, romance, and exquisite cinematography.
France
"Mustang"
Dir. Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Isa: Kinology
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
Through traditional gender roles and expectations in Turkish society, adults attempt to tame the blossoming womanhood in Deniz Gamze Ergüven's five teenage protagonists. Delicately shot and cast to perfection, this peculiar coming-of-ager is an empowering breath of fresh air that honors freedom and femininity in equal measures.
Read More: 'Mustang' Director Deniz Gamze Ergüven on Femininity in Cinema and French Multiculturalism
Germany
"Labyrinth of Lies" (Im Labyrinth des Schweigens)
Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
In the aftermath of WWII German authorities and the majority of the population refused to acknowledge the magnitude of their involvement in the Holocaust until a driven young prosecutor begins uncovering the truth. Ricciarelli film is a compelling historical drama with a fantastic lead performance by Alexander Fehling at its core.
Read More: Dir. Giulio Ricciarelli and Star Alexander Fehling on the Historical Relevance of 'Labyrinth of Lies' and Germany's Open Wound
Guatemala
"Ixcanul"
Dir. Jayro Bustamante
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Kino Lorber
Bustamante’s Silver Bear-winning ethereal masterpiece in indigenous language is an intimate look at the lives of the country’s Mayan population. Told through the eyes of a teenage girl destined to an arranged marriage, this marvelously photographed film speaks of tradition, modernity, mysticism, male chauvinism, and cultural isolation.
Read More: 'Ixcanul' Director Jayro Bustamante on the Strength of Mayan Women and Guatemala's Indigenous Majority
Hungary
"Son of Saul" (Saul fia)
Dir. László Nemes
Isa: Films Distribution
U.S. Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
By far the most incredible debut of the year and one of the best films about the Holocaust ever made, this year’s Grand Prix winner takes the viewer inside the Nazi killing machine from the perspective of the Sonderkommando, a group of Jewish men chosen to carry out all horrific manual labor within the gas chambers. Immersive and devastating, Nemes' stunner is a powerful cinematic statement.
Iceland
"Rams" (Hrútar)
Dir. Grímur Hákonarson
Isa: New Europe Film Sales
U.S. Distribution: Cohen Media Group
A humorous look at brotherhood and pastoral life, this Un Certain Regard-winning dark comedy pays homage to the importance of sheep in the Icelandic cultural identity. When a disease wipes out the entire town’s flock, two estrange siblings, who haven’t spoken to each other in decades, are forced to collaborate in order to save their livelihood.
Ireland
"Viva"
Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Isa: Mongrel International
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Jesus, a young gay man in Havana, only finds relief from his daily struggles when he transforms into a drag performer in front of an eager audience, but when his macho father returns after decades away his dreams are jeopardized. This Irish production set in Cuba is a delightful work that thrives on authenticity and emotionally layered performances.
Read More:'Viva' Director Paddy Breathnach on Making an Irish Film in Cuba and Visceral Transformation
Jordan
"Theeb" (ذيب)
Dir. Naji Abu Nowar
Isa: Fortissimo Films
U.S. Distribution: Film Movement
Adapting the sensibilities of classic Westerns into a uniquely Middle Eastern setting, this period piece touches on the complicated relationship between the region and the colonial powers via the experiences of a young Bedouin boy who embarks on a mission across the desert. Top-notch filmmaking that twists conventions to depict a singular worldview.
Mexico
"600 Miles" (600 Millas)
Dir. Gabriel Ripstein
Isa: Ndm
U.S. Distribution: Pantelion Films
By focusing on two characters from opposite sides of the border, Gabriel Ripstein’s debut Starring Tim Roth delves into the U.S/Mexico conflictive, yet unavoidable codependency and share responsibility in the fight against organized crime. Guns are at the center of this realist tale in which everyone’s morality is tinged with shades of grey.
The Netherlands
"The Paradise Suite"
Dir. Joost van Ginkel
Isa: Media Luna New Films
U.S. Distribution: None Yet
In this profound multi-narrative film the tumultuous stories of characters from diverse latitudes collide in Amsterdam in unexpected and heartbreaking ways. An Eastern European girl dragged into prostitution, an African man desperate to stay afloat, a war criminal in disguise, a woman seeking revenge, and famous musician and his son struggling to connect, all, in their own way, looking fro redemption.
Norway
"The Wave" (Bølgen)
Dir. Roar Uthaug
Isa: TrustNordisk
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
Besides its spectacular, Hollywood-worthy visual effects, what sets this Scandinavian disaster movie apart from less sophisticated American efforts is its interesting character development. While the chaos and destruction on screen is an exhilarating feast, the human aspect is never forgotten and it’s crucial to the Norwegian specificity of the plot.
Romania
"Aferim!"
Dir. Radu Jude
Isa: Beta Cinema
U.S. Distribution: Big World Pictures
Thematically fascinating and visually impeccable, this black-and-white historical adventure set in the early 19th century solidifies Romanian cinema as one of the most exciting and innovative currents in Europe. Radu Jude’s film centers on the mostly unknown history of Gypsy slavery and how this shaped Romanian society by using a tragicomic tone and timeless aesthetics.
Spain
"Flowers" (Loreak)
Dirs. Jon Garaño & Jose Mari Goenaga
Isa: Film Factory Entertainment
U.S. Distribution: Music Box Films
The country’s firs Basque-language entry is a soft-spoken drama that juxtaposes the grieving processes of three women after the tragic death of man that touched their lives directly and indirectly. Unpretentious in its concept, yet unexpectedly philosophical, the power of the narrative lies on the actresses that flourish and decay in varying degrees throughout the film.
Sweden
"A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence" (En duva satt på en gren och funderade på tillvaron)
Dir. Roy Andersson
Isa: Coproduction Office (Paris)
U.S. Distribution: Magnolia Pictures
As brilliant as anything Andersson has ever created, the final chapter in his trilogy about the absurdity of what it means to be human is one of the most unconventional cinematic experiences in recent memory. Without the constraints of la traditional plot, this nonlinear treasure uses clever vignettes to talk about death, humor, and the mundane things that define our existence.
Read More: 7 Reasons Why Roy Andersson's Latest Film is a Must-See Philosophical Wonder
Taiwan
"The Assassin" (聶隱娘)
Dir. Hsiao-hsien Hou
Isa: Wild Bunch
U.S. Distribution: Well Go USA Entertainment
Armed with breathtaking cinematography, lavish costumes and production design, and an ancient legend about betrayal and retribution, master Hsiao-hsien Hou obliterates our expectations and delivers a one-of-a-kind martial arts epic that’s more concerned with sensory transcendence than narrative clarity, but is no less of an enthralling experience because of it.
- 12/14/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Sundance 2016 is fast approaching. Last week we posted the movie lineup of Midnight and Competition film selections. We now have the complete lineup for the premieres in both the feature film and documentary categories. We also have their selections for the Spotlight and Kid films. I've also included a list of special events.
There are a lot of great films on this list that I'm excited about seeing because of the incredible talent involved. Viggo Mortensen and Frank Langella star in Captain Fantastic; Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams star in Certain Women; Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates and Danny Glover star in Complete Unknown; Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez star in The Fundamentals of Caring; John Krasinski directed a film called The Hollars which he stars in with Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, Richard Jenkins, Sharlto Copley, and Charlie Day; Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi has made a new...
There are a lot of great films on this list that I'm excited about seeing because of the incredible talent involved. Viggo Mortensen and Frank Langella star in Captain Fantastic; Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams star in Certain Women; Rachel Weisz, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates and Danny Glover star in Complete Unknown; Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez star in The Fundamentals of Caring; John Krasinski directed a film called The Hollars which he stars in with Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, Richard Jenkins, Sharlto Copley, and Charlie Day; Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi has made a new...
- 12/13/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Read More: Telluride Review: 'Viva' Finds a Familiar Queer Dilemma in Cuba Magnolia Pictures won't be releasing Paddy Breathnach's "Viva" until February 2016, but Indiewire is excited to tease the upcoming film with a new exclusive poster. The film played at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this year and was selected as the Irish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. Set in Cuba, the drama stars Hector Madina as Jesus, a hairdresser for a troupe of drag performers in Havana who dreams of being a performer himself. When he finally gets his chance to be on stage, a stranger emerges from the crowd and punches him in the face. The stranger is his father Angel (Jorge Perugorría), a former boxer who has been absent from his life for 15 years. As father and son clash over their opposing expectations of each other, "Viva...
- 12/8/2015
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Top brass at the Park City festival have rounded out the feature line-up with a dazzling selection on paper that includes new work from Asif Kapadia and other returning alumni such as Todd Solondz, Taika Waititi and Joshua Marston.Scroll Down For Full List
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
- 12/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Top brass at the Park City festival have rounded out the feature line-up with a dazzling selection on paper that includes new work from Asif Kapadia and other returning alumni such as Todd Solondz, Taika Waititi and Joshua Marston.Scroll Down For Full List
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
Road movie The Fundamentals Of Caring by Rob Burnett starring Paul Rudd will close the festival, while Maggie Greenwald’s Sophie And The Rising Sun is the Salt Lake City Gala Film. Heid Ewing and Rachel Grady’s Norman Lear: Just Another Version Of You is a Day One Film.
The Premieres line-up introduces Indignation, the feature directorial debut from former Focus Features CEO and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon screenwriter James Schamus, and the latest world premieres from John Carney, Kenneth Lonergan, Ira Sachs and Diego Luna.
The Documentary Premieres section encompass latest films from Werner Herzog, Spike Lee, Liz Garbus and Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.
The Spotlight...
- 12/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
"Viva" is Ireland's Official Submission in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 88th Academy Awards. Isa: Mongrel International. U.S. Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Authenticity is what filmmakers strive for when their characters are grounded on real life hardships and situations. To be able to capture a cinematic version of truth and put it up on the screen is an accomplishment not many can claim. The search for this dramatic honesty becomes immeasurably more elusive when dealing with experiences that are foreign to us, those that take place in places far away from our comfort zone, and where people face daily life in ways that could seem unfathomable for outsiders. It’s due to fact that he successfully created a truly authentic film under those circumstances that Paddy Breathnach’s “Viva,” an Irish production set in Havana, Cuba, has been met with acclaim and admiration since its debut in Telluride this fall.
The idea of an Irish director making a film about Cuban drag performers could make many suspicious or dubious about his intentions or raise concerns about Cuban representation, but all these should be put to rest because in “Viva” Cuba shines with its own light in a vibrant manner that never hints at the fact that the film was crafted by foreign hands. It’s impeccably genuine.
The film’s protagonist, Jesus (Héctor Medina), a young gay man, discovers that the only time he is free from life’s pressures and struggles is when he is on stage transformed into Viva, his beautiful alter ego that bares her soul on stage lip-syncing to classics songs of unattainable love and raw pain. His dream, however, clashes with his alcoholic father’s standards of masculinity. Angel (Jorge Perugorría), a macho ex-boxer who spent several years in prison and who was never part of Jesus’ life, returns to impose restrictions on how his son can live his life. Their mutual need for affection, their financial instability, and their opposing views create constant confrontations as they seek to reach common ground.
“Viva” is a striking blow of emotion that disarms you with the unflinching heartbreak of the musical performances, the tragic humor of its world, and the passionately nuanced acting on display. Here is our conversation with the Breathnach on the peculiarities of making an Irish film in Cuba, his love for visceral transformation, and finding one’s identity both individually and within those who we accept as family.
"Viva" will open in theaters in U.S. through Magnolia Pictures by on February 5th, 2016
Carlos Aguilar: What sparked your interest to make a film about this particular type of performers in a country like Cuba ? One of your producers, Robert Walpole, has mentioned the idea came from a show you attended while visiting the island.
Paddy Breathnach: The film had a couple starts. What Rob talked about was the genesis of our desire to make a film in that world. There was a moment that evening when a performer got up on stage and was singing this incredible and emotional song. We had been talking to two women sitting beside us. One of them started crying and I turned to her and said, “Why are you crying?” She said, “That’s my brother, and this is the only time he is happy, when he is on stage.” I thought, “That’s a world that’s interesting. There is something about that world that I have to explore more. “ The visceral power of that performer miming to these wonderful songs, the effect that it has on family, and what’s behind the performance, that’s what was very interesting.
That was the genesis of my interest in doing something in that world, and then we went and got Mark O'Halloran, the writer. Mark writes in a very authentic and realistic way, his research would be meticulous, and he has very fine intuitive senses. He had a sense of responsibility towards portraying this culture in the right way. He wouldn’t take it lightly and he has the instincts to know when he is not doing that or when he is stepping right on the mark. I went over to Cuba with him quite a few times to do research. Then he’d write, and then we’d go back to do more research on that world. We talked to a lot of the performers. I filmed a lot of those performances and the songs being performed. I built up a library that included the type of music that I wanted, the nuances those performances had, why they were powerful, and why I liked them. There was a lot of research done in advance.
The story, the dialogue, and the performances feel incredibly authentic. Did you have any fears or hesitation about the challenges of crafting a film in a foreign language and in a foreign country?
Paddy Breathnach: There is still trepidation about going into something like this. Once it was done we delivered the script to Cuban talent for the translation process - it was written in English. We wanted to make sure that we hadn’t stepped on any landmines or that we weren’t inauthentic in some ways. They couldn’t believe that a Cuban hadn’t written this script. I was involved in the translation process as I’d spent some time learning Spanish and I knew the script backwards both in English and in Spanish. I knew the language of the film, and I could communicate that in Spanish. It felt I had a basis, but until I started working with the actors I was very conscious that I could have missed nuances and that there were certain things I could be blind to. I had to very careful about that.
Once the audition process started it became clear to me that 90% of it was instinct and intuition. My choices and judgments were always the same as the casting directors. We chimed on that and I knew that I was able to make certain judgments in the right way. I felt confident about my judgments. There were some areas, particularly with humor, where they might be some difficulty in the translation. If you know there is something that isn't working about the scene - even if you don't know what it is - or if there is an element missing, you dig into the line, you dig into what it's supposed to be, and you discover what that was. I ironed must of that out through the rehearsal and the audition process.
What was your approach while on set in terms of working with the actors? Did the language barrier influenced the way you interacted with them and in turn their performances?
Paddy Breathnach: I worked on a lot of the dialogue with the actors in terms of just conversations about what it was, what I felt it meant, and what the characters were. When it came to shooting I had done my work. I didn't know what to expect, but I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to construct the performances. Luckily I had very good actors and because of that it worked out well. I think it's difficult when you are directing in a language that isn't your first language when you have actors that aren’t good because then you need your language to construct that performance. With good actors you can say something to them in whatever language you have, engage with them, and instinctively they’ll understand what you are talking about. Good actors get up to speed on that very quickly and I found that to be the case here.
I found that I was able to just take a nuance and say something, like an optional choice, and it would come back to m. I understood that it had come back to me in the way that I wanted it to. Also I had a very good translator. The first Ad was also an interpreter, and sometimes I called on him. Equally, I discovered that actually my own body language and my own energy was as important as my definite in language. If I used an interpreter they missed my inflections and my feeling. As I said, with good actors, they read that and they know what you want. In any case, my Spanish was reasonably good at the time. I could work in it. I was nervous, but I began to learn that I didn’t need to be that nervous because I had a lot of tools that I could draw upon and the most important ones I had. I began to realize this in the audition process. I knew that it wasn’t going to be a disaster [Laughs].
The political and economic situation of the country is present and unavoidable. We are aware of it but it never becomes the focus of the film, which is what might happen when you make a film about such a politically charged place as Cuba. How did you work around this in order to make a humanistic film rather than a political one?
Paddy Breathnach: Domestic films have a voice in one way and then there are films that are made by people that come from outside and those are another type of cinema. Cuba has a romance about it and a certain atmosphere, and a lot of the times the films made by people who come from outside romanticize the country in a way that contains a lot of clichés. We very quickly said, “Ok, we are going to be careful about anything that possibly resembles a cliché.” Mark again, as a writer, would be very good at that. He has a strong intuition on that. We sort of avoided those moments.
I’m not a political filmmaker with a capital “P.” I came form a philosophy background in college and university and I was very interested in a particular philosopher called Herbert Marcuse, who was a political philosopher in many ways. However, his view was that the power of art is in the beautiful. It’s not in its overt ideas of what is political. It’s in its substance, in its sensuality of what characters desire to be. That’s more important than the political ideas around that. I don’t know if I completely hold to that, because of course certain films need to be political, but I wouldn’t be a political filmmaker with a capital “P.” I don’t have the ability to be that. My own tone would be to avoid that overt political calling and try and bury and charge those ideas into something that’s a little bit more in the substance of the story or the texture of the story.
At some point we thought we should call the film it “Transformista,” because that’s the name for Cuban drag artists. They are known as Cuban “transformistas.” This is a film about transformation. There is transformation in lots of different ways. It’s a film about a country that is changing and needs to change at a particular time. It very much needs to change in the context of generosity. If it’s a very rapid change and it’s a change that isn’t grounded in it’s own culture, it could end up being a very savage and dangerous change. Equally, if it doesn’t move forward through the generosity of the older generation, that younger generation, who may have been repressed in terms of their talents, won’t have the energy or the ability to push that through in a coherent way. It has to be a marrying of the past and the future for that change to develop. These were some of the ideas that I had in the background so they didn’t need to be in the foreground. It’s not a political film.
Tell me about your decision to not subtitle the lyrics of the songs in the performances. These verses are very profound and heartbreaking, but in a sense the performances speak for themselves emotionally. Did you feel subtitles would take the audiences away from the scene?
Paddy Breathnach: That’s a question that’s come up at festivals. It splits the audience. My answer, I think, wins over the audience generally, but there are still people who don’t agree and I might be wrong. The songs and the performances have a real visceral power and I felt that if they were subtitled you would be in the process of reading and not watching. You wouldn’t be completely present to the power of those performances and in a way the power of those performances is what drew me to make a film in the first place. I made the decision not to do that. Spanish speakers get a little bit of an extra element to it, and maybe in the future on whatever platforms the film is available you might be able to have the option to subtitle that part. Maybe a distributor will twist my arm, who knows. I wanted, particularly in the two final performances, to have that strong, visceral, physical, energy dominate and I didn’t want an interface between that and us. Even though you might think, “I want to know what he is singing about,” I think you feel it. It’s a very emotional film, so the feeling has to be unbridled.
What did you want to convey with such a stunning character like Viva, who is essentially Jesus’ alter ego? Viva is freer and happier version of himself. Viva also means alive in Spanish, which seems like a fitting description for how Jesus feels once he has transformed.
Paddy Breathnach: For me he is a character that has to find his voice in life. It’s not enough for him just to choose that voice. He has to find it in a way where he is both the master of this own individual identity but also of his group identity. He needs to know he has a place within the group because those two aspects of our identity are very powerful to us. He needed to have a sense of family and community and also a sense of his won distinctive individual voice. That’s what his journey is about, to try and reconcile those two things. In the end when he performs there is a sort of triumphalism about it even though there is a little bit of grief in the performance as well. Still, there is a sense of triumph that he’s married those two things. At that moment, in the very last couple frames, you see him and say, “He is Viva now.” At that point he is completely Viva. He’s become Jesus a little bit before that in a fuller way as well, but Viva exist as its own character at the end. This other character is now there. I talked a lot to Hector about it and the need for a progression. We had to arrive at that moment at end. He couldn’t be good too early. He had to still maintain some of Jesus in those performances early on, but by the end we had to release the full power of Viva. Luckily I had a very good actor who was able to make that journey.
Watching Héctor Medina's performance one could think that he comes from that world because it seems so natural and real, but I've heard his personal experience is nothing like Jesus'.
Paddy Breathnach: He is a straight guy who likes women a lot and who is very gregarious. He is the center of fun and likes to go out and party, but there is a part of him that’s like Jesus in the sense that he is a very good person. He is a good man. He is a very kind and descent person, I know that because of how he treated me and the other cast members. Generally he is just a descent person.
How difficult was that transformation for him as an actor? It's an emotionally demanding role that has two distinct sides to it.
Paddy Breathnach: For him initially there was a huge sense of fun about it because it meant it was a challenge and he had to go there. By the end of the shoot I think it was hard for him. There were a couple moments in particular. One was when we shot the finale. I had to reshoot a little bit of that because he peaked and spent himself emotionally too soon. He gave me the anger and grief the first time and the second time I got the contentment, the sort of sense of completion, and the triumph about it. I marry the two sequences. I pushed him and then he pushed himself more. He pushed himself so far emotionally that I think by the end of the last two or three days of the shoot he’d given everything to us. He is the sort of actor that wouldn’t talk too much about it. He goes deep into a place to get there. He’d go to a dark deep place.
There seems to be a recurring theme or concern regarding Jesus. It seems like he doesn't think he is a good person despite the fact that everyone reminds him how kind he is. He forgives his father, which is a great personal feat.
Paddy Breathnach: I don’t think he thinks he is bad, but there is a lack of confidence in himself. He doesn’t value his own voice and he doesn’t value his won pain. Maybe the goodness, or being a good boy, is mixed with being used. The other side of the coin is being used. He is willing to help people, he is willing to give, but he is used. It’s a double edge sword in that regard. But then as he develops that confidence his sense of himself is given worth and value and that encompasses his goodness. It gives him conviction and confidence. It’s important for him to treat his father with love, and because he does he enables the father to express his own emotional life to Jesus in a way that he wants to but is too inarticulate to do so. He frees his father and in doing so in the end allows himself to be freed because of that goodness. This lets him become the master of those two worlds: his group and his own identity.
Jorge Perugorría, who plays Jesus’ father Angel, was in an Academy Award-nominated Cuban film called “Strawberry and Chocolate” back in 1993. It's interesting to see him in this hypermasculine role here, which is the opposite of the character he played then.
Paddy Breathnach: Yes, he played the gay character in that film. I’d seen “Strawberry and Chocolate” and I looked at him and said, “I don’t know if he’ll ever do this,” because his name came up as a person of interest. I researched a few other films and I saw a film called “Guantanamera” that he made, which is by the same director Gutierrez Alea. He is like a Cuban George Clooney, this is like 20 years ago, and he is so handsome, but masculine as well. Suddenly I said, “Ok, I’ve seen him in this other film where he plays a gay character, and I’ve seen him in this now, so he is obviously a good actor and he can do it.” He also had that charm that you need when you are playing a character that is so horrible in many ways and who treats his son so badly. His language is rough, he is trough, and even brutish. You need that charm to be there because that way the audience hates him but they hope he’ll turn. That charm is what let that hope live and Jorge had that. He’s been working for a long time in Cuba and he is a successful actor, but it’s lovely to have this as a marker to his career that includes “Strawberry and Chocolate” and now this film. I think there is a nice journey between these two films. For the world audience to see him again I think it’s kind of a nice journey.
In terms of the cinematography, was the visual approach shaped by the limitations or constraints of shooting in Cuba regarding equipment or production facilities? There is definitely film production there, but tools are probably not as available as in countries where there is a larger industry.
Paddy Breathnach: We limited ourselves partially because we had a tight budget, so that was a restriction. We didn't want to load the cranes, dollies, tracks and all that. I said, "Ok, we don't need them." Luckily it makes it an easier type of shoot. It suited the aesthetics and the practicalities. I think when you are making a low budget movie the aesthetic has to honor the practicalities, because if you try to fight them it just doesn't work. You have to marry the two and choose a style that works. We tended to light 360. We used very fast lenses so we could shoot in most locations we were going to be and shoot in every direction, which allowed the actors great freedom. This allowed me to respond to the actors’ performance. My Dp, Cathal Watters, is also a very good handheld-cameraman in terms of reading actors as well and capturing little movements and nuances. He brought in a lot of those moments.
What about the locations? Did you use spaces and items that were already there or did you have to construct the character's world from scratch with your art department?
Paddy Breathnach: We didn't have a huge amount of money for the art department, but I also didn't want to spend money on the art department because I wanted to choose real locations. I wanted to shoot in real locations as much as possible and use the relationship between one apartment and another apartment. Where Cecilia lives and where Jesus lives they are just around the corner and you can make that journey. We do it in the film when he walks around. What we tended to do was clean things out a little bit in terms of de-propping spaces and be very specific about where we chose to put the props. I had a very good production designer who is excellent at set dressing as well. It was more about control. It wasn’t about big spends or getting lots of things. Also, in Cuba you could walk to somebody's house next door and they’d have like 20 table lamps that go from the 1930s to the 1950s. If those were here they'd be fetching thousands of dollars as collector’s items, but there they are available for people to use. There were a lot of resources on the ground that were available to us. It was about saying, "What style and what technique do we want that maximizes the value out of the place that we are in. “ It was an organic style.
All things considered, what would you say was the most difficult challenge, logistical or otherwise, about making the film on location in Cuba? Did the limitations helped your creative process in any way?
Paddy Breathnach: The biggest challenge for me was that going into it I didn't know how good the actors were going to be. Until I started auditioning I thought I was going to shoot it in a naturalistic style, and I might have gone even more naturalistic than I did if I hadn’t discovered how great the actors were. Once I discovered how good they were, I allowed the style to be a little bit more beyond complete naturalism because I just knew they would bring something special to that. I knew it was a challenge, but it also became a big opportunity. As soon as I realized that was there, it expanded the horizons of the film for me a lot.
There were definitely production problems in terms of transferring money from A to B. Also, in Cuba you can’t just walk down to a shop and buy costumes, but I really didn’t want to do that. I wanted costumes that somebody else had already worn. It suited the film. Small things we had to get in advance. One of the characters has tattoos and you can’t just walk down and buy tattoo transfer, so we had to make sure that came over from Ireland. Another thing were wigs. The things we found difficult to find there are the same things artists find difficult to get. Getting shoes, getting wigs, getting make up, those sort of things had to come from outside. We already knew that from our research because we’d go back and forth between Ireland and Cuba and bring stuff back as present for some of the drag performers because we understood they needed them. We knew they had value there. We already knew those sorts of things and factored that it.
I would say that there were more opportunities than challenges. The limitations completely worked for us. I was aware of them going into it and I knew we had to honor and find the opportunity within them. A lot of films I’ve seen made by people from outside tend to light Cuba in way that tries to double up on its colorfulness. They use color gels and all of sorts of lights that bring all these mucky colors in and that’s not what Havana is. It doesn’t look that way. They tend to over-light things. It’s over-lighting without a lot of big lighting equipment. It’s a weird thing. Trying to light too much with limited resources is an awful thing to do. We’d seen that problem and we tried not to make that mistake.
Would you say "Viva" is an Irish film, a Cuban film, a Cuban film seen through and Irish lens, or an Irish film about a Cuban story? What's your take on this relationship between the story and the talent behind the scenes?
Paddy Breathnach: I think every film becomes itself. It has its own journey. You make it and then the rest of the world will see what happens with it. It’s a very Irish film to the extend that it has an Irish director, an Irish writer, it was an Irish idea, and it’s Irish financed. It was conceived in Ireland and a couple of other key creators are Irish as well. But we are sort of vagabonds in the sense that people from small countries always travel. You use up your curiosity fairly quickly in a small country. You need to travel and go. It’s in the history of our country. We’ve gone to all sorts of places as a nation to find something interesting for ourselves. Even that in itself is quite an Irish thing, but I think the story is an important story in Cuban terms at the moment.
The Cuban cast and the Cuban crew completely embrace it as theirs, see it as theirs, and celebrate it as theirs, so I would like to think that it’s a sort of marriage between the two. I’d like to think that’s what it is. Now, I know that ‘s true of the crew and the cast, whether it’s true of the public we don’t know because they haven’t seen it. I’ll be very excited and nervous when they see it. It’s not important that they like it, but it’s important that it’s true. It’s important that they feel there is truth in it. They don’t have to agree with it, but I hope they feel that it doesn’t misrepresent them. I don’t want to steal their voice. It’s very important that we don’t rob their voice.
Ireland is a country that was colonized, so we understand that. We have an intuitive sense, and I think Cubans recognize that about us. We are both island countries and have both have a history of colonization. We just have an awareness of the importance of that. I think we’ve done Ok by doing that but I can’t know yet. Somebody else would have to say that, but I think there was a very fruitful relationship and genuine engagement between us both. We needed to get that and I think they were very generous to offer that to us.
Drag performers are often associated with satire, comedy or exaggerated personas, but the ones depicted in your film embrace a much more dramatic type of performance. They are really heartbreaking and raw. Is this what you think makes them different from similar acts in other countries?
Paddy Breathnach: They do have comedy there, but what really stroke me were two specific things. One was the emotional power of the performances and the particular type of songs, which aren’t all Cuban songs. Some of them are Puerto Rican, Argentine or Mexican songs. It was that raw emotional power that drew me. It’s something you see in the drag world there. We really liked that.
The other thing that I think is very interesting and unique I witnessed in one of my visits. I’d just got off the plane and went to a show, because I was hungry to see as many shows as I could. You don’t always know whether there were going to be any shows or not. I went to one that was sort of in a blue-collar suburb and blue-collar crowd, it was a small backward. They put up a red curtain and one spotlight and that was a theater. I thought the alchemy of transforming this ordinary backyard into a place of dreams, theater and magic by just putting one curtain and one spotlight, cut to the heart of transformation. It says something about how the human spirit can become something else and how it pushes on to become something else. It tell us about what is it about art that allows us to imagine beyond our here and now into something really special. That was something that I think their situation and circumstances brings to that world of drag that another country doesn’t have.
Their economic deprivation and the history of it needing to be clandestine, it doesn’t need to be clandestine anymore but when I started making the project it was clandestine, bring a certain power to that world. Singers like Lucecita Benitez, whose songs we wanted to use but we couldn’t clear them in the end, were the type of singers that I wanted to use. Maggie Carles was another one, and we actually used some her songs. These are many of the songs that Luis Alberto García's character, Mama, sings in the film. They are raw and powerful songs by women in their 40s talking about loss and plaintively asking questions, “Why did you do this to me?” and all those raw emotions. I love that about that world.
There are many Vivas in the world, people trying to discover who they are and a way to show to the world. Do you hope the film connects with people at a crossroads in this discovery?
Paddy Breathnach: I think so. I think there is part of that world that's about finding your own sexual identity, but I think that in a broader sense it’s about finding your place and being both yourself and also being able to be part of your family. Increasingly I think individual identity is important. We’ve gone through a period where the need to discover our own individual identities was so important, but I think we have to reconcile that with our community as well because it’s part of our identity. We are ourselves as individuals but we are also members of group whether that is nations, genders, or political groups. We belong to things in groups and that’s a really important instinct that we have. I think the film can appeal to people in that universal way.
There are several instances in which Jesus' clothing or even his umbrella resemble the colors of the Irish flag. Was this a small way to pay homage to your homeland or was it subconscious?
Paddy Breathnach: It isn’t actually [Laughs]. It wasn’t deliberate. It was about what colors would work in those places. If you look at the very beginning of the film there is a strange moment, which was the very first shot we took. Jesus is with Cecilia and she asks him to go out because she wants the apartment. Jesus is walking across a square just before he meets Don. As he walks, there is somebody, who isn’t an extra, coming towards the camera as we are panning with Jesus. This Cuban man was wearing a t-shirt that says "Ireland" on it. I didn’t do it! I thought to myself, “People are going to think I did this!” It was just weird.
The sequence that plays during the credits where Don, the male prostitute, reappears, tells us a lot about what a family could be and also about the lives this characters will continue to live. Was that an important final message you wanted to get across? I've also heard your daughter appears in the film.
Paddy Breathnach: She is in the film, at the very end of the film. She is the little baby. At the time she was eight months and she became like a mascot for the crew. At lunchtime everyday they hand her around. She knew them all. We scripted that scene, but I think we scripted it during the shot actually. Don, the character, is in the film s few times and I said “Wouldn’t it be great if he comes back and the next time around with a cast on his leg?” Then we thought, if we do it a second time then we had to finish with the guy,” so we gave him a neck brace. I always feel that when you finish a movie it’s always great to finish it with a bit of energy at the end, so that it gives people something to talk about. If you conclude the film too much in the film itself, it’s all answered. You want the audience to finish the film on their own. I wanted to say that there is life for these characters after the film, that there are different types of families, and that this world is changing. Although it’s a positive moment, partially we are also saying this character is still selling sexual favors. We are not saying that there are magic wands being waved and everybody can stop doing that. The truth is those necessities and the reasons they do it run deep. We wanted to end it on something positive and have that happy feeling about it, but at the same time you are also saying, “Well, some things have changed, but other things haven’t.”
The final performance is such a riveting moment. It's a triumphant scene, but it's also devastating. Viva wins her battle in a sense.
Paddy Breathnach: I’m very happy with that scene. That song is great.We did a take where he finishes defiant and I didn’t want it to be defiant. I wanted one that said, “I’ve arrived. I’m here.” I wanted that openness, because that’s what the triumph. Not that he wins, but that he wins by being himself and being open and truth to his emotional spirit. That’s the real triumph, that you can win by being truth to yourself.
"Viva" will open in theaters on February 5th, 2016...
Authenticity is what filmmakers strive for when their characters are grounded on real life hardships and situations. To be able to capture a cinematic version of truth and put it up on the screen is an accomplishment not many can claim. The search for this dramatic honesty becomes immeasurably more elusive when dealing with experiences that are foreign to us, those that take place in places far away from our comfort zone, and where people face daily life in ways that could seem unfathomable for outsiders. It’s due to fact that he successfully created a truly authentic film under those circumstances that Paddy Breathnach’s “Viva,” an Irish production set in Havana, Cuba, has been met with acclaim and admiration since its debut in Telluride this fall.
The idea of an Irish director making a film about Cuban drag performers could make many suspicious or dubious about his intentions or raise concerns about Cuban representation, but all these should be put to rest because in “Viva” Cuba shines with its own light in a vibrant manner that never hints at the fact that the film was crafted by foreign hands. It’s impeccably genuine.
The film’s protagonist, Jesus (Héctor Medina), a young gay man, discovers that the only time he is free from life’s pressures and struggles is when he is on stage transformed into Viva, his beautiful alter ego that bares her soul on stage lip-syncing to classics songs of unattainable love and raw pain. His dream, however, clashes with his alcoholic father’s standards of masculinity. Angel (Jorge Perugorría), a macho ex-boxer who spent several years in prison and who was never part of Jesus’ life, returns to impose restrictions on how his son can live his life. Their mutual need for affection, their financial instability, and their opposing views create constant confrontations as they seek to reach common ground.
“Viva” is a striking blow of emotion that disarms you with the unflinching heartbreak of the musical performances, the tragic humor of its world, and the passionately nuanced acting on display. Here is our conversation with the Breathnach on the peculiarities of making an Irish film in Cuba, his love for visceral transformation, and finding one’s identity both individually and within those who we accept as family.
"Viva" will open in theaters in U.S. through Magnolia Pictures by on February 5th, 2016
Carlos Aguilar: What sparked your interest to make a film about this particular type of performers in a country like Cuba ? One of your producers, Robert Walpole, has mentioned the idea came from a show you attended while visiting the island.
Paddy Breathnach: The film had a couple starts. What Rob talked about was the genesis of our desire to make a film in that world. There was a moment that evening when a performer got up on stage and was singing this incredible and emotional song. We had been talking to two women sitting beside us. One of them started crying and I turned to her and said, “Why are you crying?” She said, “That’s my brother, and this is the only time he is happy, when he is on stage.” I thought, “That’s a world that’s interesting. There is something about that world that I have to explore more. “ The visceral power of that performer miming to these wonderful songs, the effect that it has on family, and what’s behind the performance, that’s what was very interesting.
That was the genesis of my interest in doing something in that world, and then we went and got Mark O'Halloran, the writer. Mark writes in a very authentic and realistic way, his research would be meticulous, and he has very fine intuitive senses. He had a sense of responsibility towards portraying this culture in the right way. He wouldn’t take it lightly and he has the instincts to know when he is not doing that or when he is stepping right on the mark. I went over to Cuba with him quite a few times to do research. Then he’d write, and then we’d go back to do more research on that world. We talked to a lot of the performers. I filmed a lot of those performances and the songs being performed. I built up a library that included the type of music that I wanted, the nuances those performances had, why they were powerful, and why I liked them. There was a lot of research done in advance.
The story, the dialogue, and the performances feel incredibly authentic. Did you have any fears or hesitation about the challenges of crafting a film in a foreign language and in a foreign country?
Paddy Breathnach: There is still trepidation about going into something like this. Once it was done we delivered the script to Cuban talent for the translation process - it was written in English. We wanted to make sure that we hadn’t stepped on any landmines or that we weren’t inauthentic in some ways. They couldn’t believe that a Cuban hadn’t written this script. I was involved in the translation process as I’d spent some time learning Spanish and I knew the script backwards both in English and in Spanish. I knew the language of the film, and I could communicate that in Spanish. It felt I had a basis, but until I started working with the actors I was very conscious that I could have missed nuances and that there were certain things I could be blind to. I had to very careful about that.
Once the audition process started it became clear to me that 90% of it was instinct and intuition. My choices and judgments were always the same as the casting directors. We chimed on that and I knew that I was able to make certain judgments in the right way. I felt confident about my judgments. There were some areas, particularly with humor, where they might be some difficulty in the translation. If you know there is something that isn't working about the scene - even if you don't know what it is - or if there is an element missing, you dig into the line, you dig into what it's supposed to be, and you discover what that was. I ironed must of that out through the rehearsal and the audition process.
What was your approach while on set in terms of working with the actors? Did the language barrier influenced the way you interacted with them and in turn their performances?
Paddy Breathnach: I worked on a lot of the dialogue with the actors in terms of just conversations about what it was, what I felt it meant, and what the characters were. When it came to shooting I had done my work. I didn't know what to expect, but I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to construct the performances. Luckily I had very good actors and because of that it worked out well. I think it's difficult when you are directing in a language that isn't your first language when you have actors that aren’t good because then you need your language to construct that performance. With good actors you can say something to them in whatever language you have, engage with them, and instinctively they’ll understand what you are talking about. Good actors get up to speed on that very quickly and I found that to be the case here.
I found that I was able to just take a nuance and say something, like an optional choice, and it would come back to m. I understood that it had come back to me in the way that I wanted it to. Also I had a very good translator. The first Ad was also an interpreter, and sometimes I called on him. Equally, I discovered that actually my own body language and my own energy was as important as my definite in language. If I used an interpreter they missed my inflections and my feeling. As I said, with good actors, they read that and they know what you want. In any case, my Spanish was reasonably good at the time. I could work in it. I was nervous, but I began to learn that I didn’t need to be that nervous because I had a lot of tools that I could draw upon and the most important ones I had. I began to realize this in the audition process. I knew that it wasn’t going to be a disaster [Laughs].
The political and economic situation of the country is present and unavoidable. We are aware of it but it never becomes the focus of the film, which is what might happen when you make a film about such a politically charged place as Cuba. How did you work around this in order to make a humanistic film rather than a political one?
Paddy Breathnach: Domestic films have a voice in one way and then there are films that are made by people that come from outside and those are another type of cinema. Cuba has a romance about it and a certain atmosphere, and a lot of the times the films made by people who come from outside romanticize the country in a way that contains a lot of clichés. We very quickly said, “Ok, we are going to be careful about anything that possibly resembles a cliché.” Mark again, as a writer, would be very good at that. He has a strong intuition on that. We sort of avoided those moments.
I’m not a political filmmaker with a capital “P.” I came form a philosophy background in college and university and I was very interested in a particular philosopher called Herbert Marcuse, who was a political philosopher in many ways. However, his view was that the power of art is in the beautiful. It’s not in its overt ideas of what is political. It’s in its substance, in its sensuality of what characters desire to be. That’s more important than the political ideas around that. I don’t know if I completely hold to that, because of course certain films need to be political, but I wouldn’t be a political filmmaker with a capital “P.” I don’t have the ability to be that. My own tone would be to avoid that overt political calling and try and bury and charge those ideas into something that’s a little bit more in the substance of the story or the texture of the story.
At some point we thought we should call the film it “Transformista,” because that’s the name for Cuban drag artists. They are known as Cuban “transformistas.” This is a film about transformation. There is transformation in lots of different ways. It’s a film about a country that is changing and needs to change at a particular time. It very much needs to change in the context of generosity. If it’s a very rapid change and it’s a change that isn’t grounded in it’s own culture, it could end up being a very savage and dangerous change. Equally, if it doesn’t move forward through the generosity of the older generation, that younger generation, who may have been repressed in terms of their talents, won’t have the energy or the ability to push that through in a coherent way. It has to be a marrying of the past and the future for that change to develop. These were some of the ideas that I had in the background so they didn’t need to be in the foreground. It’s not a political film.
Tell me about your decision to not subtitle the lyrics of the songs in the performances. These verses are very profound and heartbreaking, but in a sense the performances speak for themselves emotionally. Did you feel subtitles would take the audiences away from the scene?
Paddy Breathnach: That’s a question that’s come up at festivals. It splits the audience. My answer, I think, wins over the audience generally, but there are still people who don’t agree and I might be wrong. The songs and the performances have a real visceral power and I felt that if they were subtitled you would be in the process of reading and not watching. You wouldn’t be completely present to the power of those performances and in a way the power of those performances is what drew me to make a film in the first place. I made the decision not to do that. Spanish speakers get a little bit of an extra element to it, and maybe in the future on whatever platforms the film is available you might be able to have the option to subtitle that part. Maybe a distributor will twist my arm, who knows. I wanted, particularly in the two final performances, to have that strong, visceral, physical, energy dominate and I didn’t want an interface between that and us. Even though you might think, “I want to know what he is singing about,” I think you feel it. It’s a very emotional film, so the feeling has to be unbridled.
What did you want to convey with such a stunning character like Viva, who is essentially Jesus’ alter ego? Viva is freer and happier version of himself. Viva also means alive in Spanish, which seems like a fitting description for how Jesus feels once he has transformed.
Paddy Breathnach: For me he is a character that has to find his voice in life. It’s not enough for him just to choose that voice. He has to find it in a way where he is both the master of this own individual identity but also of his group identity. He needs to know he has a place within the group because those two aspects of our identity are very powerful to us. He needed to have a sense of family and community and also a sense of his won distinctive individual voice. That’s what his journey is about, to try and reconcile those two things. In the end when he performs there is a sort of triumphalism about it even though there is a little bit of grief in the performance as well. Still, there is a sense of triumph that he’s married those two things. At that moment, in the very last couple frames, you see him and say, “He is Viva now.” At that point he is completely Viva. He’s become Jesus a little bit before that in a fuller way as well, but Viva exist as its own character at the end. This other character is now there. I talked a lot to Hector about it and the need for a progression. We had to arrive at that moment at end. He couldn’t be good too early. He had to still maintain some of Jesus in those performances early on, but by the end we had to release the full power of Viva. Luckily I had a very good actor who was able to make that journey.
Watching Héctor Medina's performance one could think that he comes from that world because it seems so natural and real, but I've heard his personal experience is nothing like Jesus'.
Paddy Breathnach: He is a straight guy who likes women a lot and who is very gregarious. He is the center of fun and likes to go out and party, but there is a part of him that’s like Jesus in the sense that he is a very good person. He is a good man. He is a very kind and descent person, I know that because of how he treated me and the other cast members. Generally he is just a descent person.
How difficult was that transformation for him as an actor? It's an emotionally demanding role that has two distinct sides to it.
Paddy Breathnach: For him initially there was a huge sense of fun about it because it meant it was a challenge and he had to go there. By the end of the shoot I think it was hard for him. There were a couple moments in particular. One was when we shot the finale. I had to reshoot a little bit of that because he peaked and spent himself emotionally too soon. He gave me the anger and grief the first time and the second time I got the contentment, the sort of sense of completion, and the triumph about it. I marry the two sequences. I pushed him and then he pushed himself more. He pushed himself so far emotionally that I think by the end of the last two or three days of the shoot he’d given everything to us. He is the sort of actor that wouldn’t talk too much about it. He goes deep into a place to get there. He’d go to a dark deep place.
There seems to be a recurring theme or concern regarding Jesus. It seems like he doesn't think he is a good person despite the fact that everyone reminds him how kind he is. He forgives his father, which is a great personal feat.
Paddy Breathnach: I don’t think he thinks he is bad, but there is a lack of confidence in himself. He doesn’t value his own voice and he doesn’t value his won pain. Maybe the goodness, or being a good boy, is mixed with being used. The other side of the coin is being used. He is willing to help people, he is willing to give, but he is used. It’s a double edge sword in that regard. But then as he develops that confidence his sense of himself is given worth and value and that encompasses his goodness. It gives him conviction and confidence. It’s important for him to treat his father with love, and because he does he enables the father to express his own emotional life to Jesus in a way that he wants to but is too inarticulate to do so. He frees his father and in doing so in the end allows himself to be freed because of that goodness. This lets him become the master of those two worlds: his group and his own identity.
Jorge Perugorría, who plays Jesus’ father Angel, was in an Academy Award-nominated Cuban film called “Strawberry and Chocolate” back in 1993. It's interesting to see him in this hypermasculine role here, which is the opposite of the character he played then.
Paddy Breathnach: Yes, he played the gay character in that film. I’d seen “Strawberry and Chocolate” and I looked at him and said, “I don’t know if he’ll ever do this,” because his name came up as a person of interest. I researched a few other films and I saw a film called “Guantanamera” that he made, which is by the same director Gutierrez Alea. He is like a Cuban George Clooney, this is like 20 years ago, and he is so handsome, but masculine as well. Suddenly I said, “Ok, I’ve seen him in this other film where he plays a gay character, and I’ve seen him in this now, so he is obviously a good actor and he can do it.” He also had that charm that you need when you are playing a character that is so horrible in many ways and who treats his son so badly. His language is rough, he is trough, and even brutish. You need that charm to be there because that way the audience hates him but they hope he’ll turn. That charm is what let that hope live and Jorge had that. He’s been working for a long time in Cuba and he is a successful actor, but it’s lovely to have this as a marker to his career that includes “Strawberry and Chocolate” and now this film. I think there is a nice journey between these two films. For the world audience to see him again I think it’s kind of a nice journey.
In terms of the cinematography, was the visual approach shaped by the limitations or constraints of shooting in Cuba regarding equipment or production facilities? There is definitely film production there, but tools are probably not as available as in countries where there is a larger industry.
Paddy Breathnach: We limited ourselves partially because we had a tight budget, so that was a restriction. We didn't want to load the cranes, dollies, tracks and all that. I said, "Ok, we don't need them." Luckily it makes it an easier type of shoot. It suited the aesthetics and the practicalities. I think when you are making a low budget movie the aesthetic has to honor the practicalities, because if you try to fight them it just doesn't work. You have to marry the two and choose a style that works. We tended to light 360. We used very fast lenses so we could shoot in most locations we were going to be and shoot in every direction, which allowed the actors great freedom. This allowed me to respond to the actors’ performance. My Dp, Cathal Watters, is also a very good handheld-cameraman in terms of reading actors as well and capturing little movements and nuances. He brought in a lot of those moments.
What about the locations? Did you use spaces and items that were already there or did you have to construct the character's world from scratch with your art department?
Paddy Breathnach: We didn't have a huge amount of money for the art department, but I also didn't want to spend money on the art department because I wanted to choose real locations. I wanted to shoot in real locations as much as possible and use the relationship between one apartment and another apartment. Where Cecilia lives and where Jesus lives they are just around the corner and you can make that journey. We do it in the film when he walks around. What we tended to do was clean things out a little bit in terms of de-propping spaces and be very specific about where we chose to put the props. I had a very good production designer who is excellent at set dressing as well. It was more about control. It wasn’t about big spends or getting lots of things. Also, in Cuba you could walk to somebody's house next door and they’d have like 20 table lamps that go from the 1930s to the 1950s. If those were here they'd be fetching thousands of dollars as collector’s items, but there they are available for people to use. There were a lot of resources on the ground that were available to us. It was about saying, "What style and what technique do we want that maximizes the value out of the place that we are in. “ It was an organic style.
All things considered, what would you say was the most difficult challenge, logistical or otherwise, about making the film on location in Cuba? Did the limitations helped your creative process in any way?
Paddy Breathnach: The biggest challenge for me was that going into it I didn't know how good the actors were going to be. Until I started auditioning I thought I was going to shoot it in a naturalistic style, and I might have gone even more naturalistic than I did if I hadn’t discovered how great the actors were. Once I discovered how good they were, I allowed the style to be a little bit more beyond complete naturalism because I just knew they would bring something special to that. I knew it was a challenge, but it also became a big opportunity. As soon as I realized that was there, it expanded the horizons of the film for me a lot.
There were definitely production problems in terms of transferring money from A to B. Also, in Cuba you can’t just walk down to a shop and buy costumes, but I really didn’t want to do that. I wanted costumes that somebody else had already worn. It suited the film. Small things we had to get in advance. One of the characters has tattoos and you can’t just walk down and buy tattoo transfer, so we had to make sure that came over from Ireland. Another thing were wigs. The things we found difficult to find there are the same things artists find difficult to get. Getting shoes, getting wigs, getting make up, those sort of things had to come from outside. We already knew that from our research because we’d go back and forth between Ireland and Cuba and bring stuff back as present for some of the drag performers because we understood they needed them. We knew they had value there. We already knew those sorts of things and factored that it.
I would say that there were more opportunities than challenges. The limitations completely worked for us. I was aware of them going into it and I knew we had to honor and find the opportunity within them. A lot of films I’ve seen made by people from outside tend to light Cuba in way that tries to double up on its colorfulness. They use color gels and all of sorts of lights that bring all these mucky colors in and that’s not what Havana is. It doesn’t look that way. They tend to over-light things. It’s over-lighting without a lot of big lighting equipment. It’s a weird thing. Trying to light too much with limited resources is an awful thing to do. We’d seen that problem and we tried not to make that mistake.
Would you say "Viva" is an Irish film, a Cuban film, a Cuban film seen through and Irish lens, or an Irish film about a Cuban story? What's your take on this relationship between the story and the talent behind the scenes?
Paddy Breathnach: I think every film becomes itself. It has its own journey. You make it and then the rest of the world will see what happens with it. It’s a very Irish film to the extend that it has an Irish director, an Irish writer, it was an Irish idea, and it’s Irish financed. It was conceived in Ireland and a couple of other key creators are Irish as well. But we are sort of vagabonds in the sense that people from small countries always travel. You use up your curiosity fairly quickly in a small country. You need to travel and go. It’s in the history of our country. We’ve gone to all sorts of places as a nation to find something interesting for ourselves. Even that in itself is quite an Irish thing, but I think the story is an important story in Cuban terms at the moment.
The Cuban cast and the Cuban crew completely embrace it as theirs, see it as theirs, and celebrate it as theirs, so I would like to think that it’s a sort of marriage between the two. I’d like to think that’s what it is. Now, I know that ‘s true of the crew and the cast, whether it’s true of the public we don’t know because they haven’t seen it. I’ll be very excited and nervous when they see it. It’s not important that they like it, but it’s important that it’s true. It’s important that they feel there is truth in it. They don’t have to agree with it, but I hope they feel that it doesn’t misrepresent them. I don’t want to steal their voice. It’s very important that we don’t rob their voice.
Ireland is a country that was colonized, so we understand that. We have an intuitive sense, and I think Cubans recognize that about us. We are both island countries and have both have a history of colonization. We just have an awareness of the importance of that. I think we’ve done Ok by doing that but I can’t know yet. Somebody else would have to say that, but I think there was a very fruitful relationship and genuine engagement between us both. We needed to get that and I think they were very generous to offer that to us.
Drag performers are often associated with satire, comedy or exaggerated personas, but the ones depicted in your film embrace a much more dramatic type of performance. They are really heartbreaking and raw. Is this what you think makes them different from similar acts in other countries?
Paddy Breathnach: They do have comedy there, but what really stroke me were two specific things. One was the emotional power of the performances and the particular type of songs, which aren’t all Cuban songs. Some of them are Puerto Rican, Argentine or Mexican songs. It was that raw emotional power that drew me. It’s something you see in the drag world there. We really liked that.
The other thing that I think is very interesting and unique I witnessed in one of my visits. I’d just got off the plane and went to a show, because I was hungry to see as many shows as I could. You don’t always know whether there were going to be any shows or not. I went to one that was sort of in a blue-collar suburb and blue-collar crowd, it was a small backward. They put up a red curtain and one spotlight and that was a theater. I thought the alchemy of transforming this ordinary backyard into a place of dreams, theater and magic by just putting one curtain and one spotlight, cut to the heart of transformation. It says something about how the human spirit can become something else and how it pushes on to become something else. It tell us about what is it about art that allows us to imagine beyond our here and now into something really special. That was something that I think their situation and circumstances brings to that world of drag that another country doesn’t have.
Their economic deprivation and the history of it needing to be clandestine, it doesn’t need to be clandestine anymore but when I started making the project it was clandestine, bring a certain power to that world. Singers like Lucecita Benitez, whose songs we wanted to use but we couldn’t clear them in the end, were the type of singers that I wanted to use. Maggie Carles was another one, and we actually used some her songs. These are many of the songs that Luis Alberto García's character, Mama, sings in the film. They are raw and powerful songs by women in their 40s talking about loss and plaintively asking questions, “Why did you do this to me?” and all those raw emotions. I love that about that world.
There are many Vivas in the world, people trying to discover who they are and a way to show to the world. Do you hope the film connects with people at a crossroads in this discovery?
Paddy Breathnach: I think so. I think there is part of that world that's about finding your own sexual identity, but I think that in a broader sense it’s about finding your place and being both yourself and also being able to be part of your family. Increasingly I think individual identity is important. We’ve gone through a period where the need to discover our own individual identities was so important, but I think we have to reconcile that with our community as well because it’s part of our identity. We are ourselves as individuals but we are also members of group whether that is nations, genders, or political groups. We belong to things in groups and that’s a really important instinct that we have. I think the film can appeal to people in that universal way.
There are several instances in which Jesus' clothing or even his umbrella resemble the colors of the Irish flag. Was this a small way to pay homage to your homeland or was it subconscious?
Paddy Breathnach: It isn’t actually [Laughs]. It wasn’t deliberate. It was about what colors would work in those places. If you look at the very beginning of the film there is a strange moment, which was the very first shot we took. Jesus is with Cecilia and she asks him to go out because she wants the apartment. Jesus is walking across a square just before he meets Don. As he walks, there is somebody, who isn’t an extra, coming towards the camera as we are panning with Jesus. This Cuban man was wearing a t-shirt that says "Ireland" on it. I didn’t do it! I thought to myself, “People are going to think I did this!” It was just weird.
The sequence that plays during the credits where Don, the male prostitute, reappears, tells us a lot about what a family could be and also about the lives this characters will continue to live. Was that an important final message you wanted to get across? I've also heard your daughter appears in the film.
Paddy Breathnach: She is in the film, at the very end of the film. She is the little baby. At the time she was eight months and she became like a mascot for the crew. At lunchtime everyday they hand her around. She knew them all. We scripted that scene, but I think we scripted it during the shot actually. Don, the character, is in the film s few times and I said “Wouldn’t it be great if he comes back and the next time around with a cast on his leg?” Then we thought, if we do it a second time then we had to finish with the guy,” so we gave him a neck brace. I always feel that when you finish a movie it’s always great to finish it with a bit of energy at the end, so that it gives people something to talk about. If you conclude the film too much in the film itself, it’s all answered. You want the audience to finish the film on their own. I wanted to say that there is life for these characters after the film, that there are different types of families, and that this world is changing. Although it’s a positive moment, partially we are also saying this character is still selling sexual favors. We are not saying that there are magic wands being waved and everybody can stop doing that. The truth is those necessities and the reasons they do it run deep. We wanted to end it on something positive and have that happy feeling about it, but at the same time you are also saying, “Well, some things have changed, but other things haven’t.”
The final performance is such a riveting moment. It's a triumphant scene, but it's also devastating. Viva wins her battle in a sense.
Paddy Breathnach: I’m very happy with that scene. That song is great.We did a take where he finishes defiant and I didn’t want it to be defiant. I wanted one that said, “I’ve arrived. I’m here.” I wanted that openness, because that’s what the triumph. Not that he wins, but that he wins by being himself and being open and truth to his emotional spirit. That’s the real triumph, that you can win by being truth to yourself.
"Viva" will open in theaters on February 5th, 2016...
- 11/30/2015
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
The distributor has swooped on North American rights to Paddy Breathnach’s Irish foreign-language Oscar submission and plans a 2016 theatrical release.
Benicio Del Toro serves as executive producer on Viva, which premiered at Telluride at the start of the season. As previously announced Mongrel International handles sales outside North America and Arp Selection will distribute in France.
Mark O’Halloran wrote the script about a young gay man’s reconciliation with his disapproving father in contemporary Cuba. Héctor Medina, Luis Alberto García and Jorge Perugorría star.
Viva was co-produced by Nelson Navarro from Island Films in Cuba and was financed by the Irish Film Board, Treasure Entertainment and Windmill Lane Pictures.
Magnolia scp of acquisitions Dori Begley and vp of acquisitions John Von Thaden brokered the deal with Josh Braun of Submarine and Nate Bolotin of Xyz Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
“Paddy Breathnach has delivered a gem with Viva,” said Magnolia...
Benicio Del Toro serves as executive producer on Viva, which premiered at Telluride at the start of the season. As previously announced Mongrel International handles sales outside North America and Arp Selection will distribute in France.
Mark O’Halloran wrote the script about a young gay man’s reconciliation with his disapproving father in contemporary Cuba. Héctor Medina, Luis Alberto García and Jorge Perugorría star.
Viva was co-produced by Nelson Navarro from Island Films in Cuba and was financed by the Irish Film Board, Treasure Entertainment and Windmill Lane Pictures.
Magnolia scp of acquisitions Dori Begley and vp of acquisitions John Von Thaden brokered the deal with Josh Braun of Submarine and Nate Bolotin of Xyz Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
“Paddy Breathnach has delivered a gem with Viva,” said Magnolia...
- 10/26/2015
- ScreenDaily
Adding to its Scandinavian awards slate of Oscar entries from Norway (disaster movie "The Wave"), Sweden ("A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence") and Denmark's "A War," Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to "Viva," a crowd-pleaser directed by Irish filmmaker Paddy Breathnach ("Man About Dog"). Set in colorful contemporary Havana, "Viva" follows a young hairdresser (Héctor Medina) who reluctantly takes back his alcoholic, ailing father (Jorge Perugorría) to live with him in the apartment he abandoned long ago. Not only does his father disapprove of his gay son, but he forbids him to perform in drag at a Havana nightclub run by his son's mentor, Mama (Luis Alberto García), unknowingly forcing him to hustle instead. This heart-tugger should play well for art-house audiences and Academy foreign voters. Produced by Treasure...
- 10/26/2015
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Read More: Telluride Review: 'Viva' Finds a Familiar Queer Dilemma in Cuba Magnolia Pictures has picked up Paddy Brethnach's "Viva" with plans for a theatrical release. The film is Ireland's official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and it received generally positive reviews following its premiere at Telluride this year. "Viva" is a family drama about a queer Cuban youth and his relationship with his father. Here is the official synopsis: "'Viva' stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, who dreams of being a performer himself. Encouraged by his mentor, Mama (Luis Alberto García), Jesus finally gets his chance to take the stage. But when his estranged father Angel (Jorge Perugorría) abruptly reenters his life, his world is quickly turned upside down. As father and son clash over their opposing expectations of each other,...
- 10/26/2015
- by Wil Barlow
- Indiewire
Magnolia Pictures has acquired the North American rights to “Viva,” a film directed by Irish filmmaker Paddy Breathnach, the distribution company announced Monday. “Viva” is a coming-of-age tale set in contemporary Cuba, and tells the story of a gay young man’s reconciliation with this estranged, disapproving father. Directed by Breathnach, who has helmed films like “Man About Dog” and “Blow Dry,” the film is executive-produced by Benicio del Toro and written by Mark O’Halloran. Also Read: Magnolia Pictures Promotes International Sales Execs Scott Veltri, Robert Maylor The film, which received a positive response when it premiered at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival in September,...
- 10/26/2015
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to Viva, the coming-of-age pic about a young gay man’s reconciliation with his estranged and disapproving father. The movie is from Irish director Paddy Breathnach and is set in Cuba; Ireland made it their submission into the foreign-language Oscar race. A 2016 theatrical release is being eyed. Viva stars Héctor Medina as Jesus, a young hairdresser working at a Havana nightclub that showcases drag performers, who dreams…...
- 10/26/2015
- Deadline
Films from 81 countries have been subitted for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.
The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film.
Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.
The figure is down on last year, when a record 83 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Polish feature Ida, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 14, 2016.
The 88th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb 28, 2016, televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan Utopia, Hassan Nazer
Albania Bota, Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci
Algeria Twilight of Shadows, Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina
Argentina The Clan, Pablo Trapero
Australia Arrows of the Thunder, Dragon Greg Sneddon
Austria Goodnight Mommy, Veronika Franz, [link...
The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film.
Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.
The figure is down on last year, when a record 83 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Polish feature Ida, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 14, 2016.
The 88th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb 28, 2016, televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan Utopia, Hassan Nazer
Albania Bota, Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci
Algeria Twilight of Shadows, Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina
Argentina The Clan, Pablo Trapero
Australia Arrows of the Thunder, Dragon Greg Sneddon
Austria Goodnight Mommy, Veronika Franz, [link...
- 10/8/2015
- ScreenDaily
Films from 81 countries have been subitted for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar, among them Felix and Meira, Under Milk Wood, Labyrinth of Lies and Sunstroke (click through for full list).
The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director.
Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors.
Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director.
Argentina: “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director.
Australia: “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director.
Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;
Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;
Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;
Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;
Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;
Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho...
The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director.
Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors.
Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director.
Argentina: “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director.
Australia: “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director.
Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;
Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;
Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;
Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;
Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;
Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho...
- 10/8/2015
- ScreenDaily
Films from 81 countries have been subitted for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar, among them Felix and Meira, Under Milk Wood, Labyrinth of Lies and Sunstroke (click through for full list).
The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director.
Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors.
Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director.
Argentina: “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director.
Australia: “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director.
Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;
Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;
Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;
Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;
Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;
Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho...
The Us Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that 81 countries have submitted films for consideration for this year’s Foreign Language Film Oscar.
Paraguay is the only first-time entrant.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director.
Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors.
Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director.
Argentina: “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director.
Australia: “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director.
Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;
Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;
Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;
Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;
Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;
Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho...
- 10/8/2015
- ScreenDaily
Son Of Saul
The Academy has announced that eighty-one countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 88th Oscars.
The Holocaust drama, Son Of Saul, won the Grand Prix at Cannes in May.
Paraguay is a first-time entrant.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director;
Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors;
Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director;
Argentina, “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director;
Australia, “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director;
Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;
Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;
Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;
Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;
Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;
Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho Kulikar, director;
Canada, “Félix and Meira,” Maxime Giroux, director;
Chile, “The Club,” Pablo Larraín, director;
China,...
The Academy has announced that eighty-one countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 88th Oscars.
The Holocaust drama, Son Of Saul, won the Grand Prix at Cannes in May.
Paraguay is a first-time entrant.
The 2015 submissions are:
Afghanistan, “Utopia,” Hassan Nazer, director;
Albania, “Bota,” Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci, directors;
Algeria, “Twilight of Shadows,” Mohamed Lakhdar Hamina, director;
Argentina, “The Clan,” Pablo Trapero, director;
Australia, “Arrows of the Thunder Dragon,” Greg Sneddon, director;
Austria, “Goodnight Mommy,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala, directors;
Bangladesh, “Jalal’s Story,” Abu Shahed Emon, director;
Belgium, “The Brand New Testament,” Jaco Van Dormael, director;
Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Our Everyday Story,” Ines Tanović, director;
Brazil, “The Second Mother,” Anna Muylaert, director;
Bulgaria, “The Judgment,” Stephan Komandarev, director;
Cambodia, “The Last Reel,” Sotho Kulikar, director;
Canada, “Félix and Meira,” Maxime Giroux, director;
Chile, “The Club,” Pablo Larraín, director;
China,...
- 10/8/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Entries for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 83 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Polish feature Ida, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski.
This year’s nominations must be submitted by Oct 1.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 14, 2016.
The 88th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb 28, 2016.
Afghanistan: Utopia, Hassan Nazer
Albania: Bota, Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci
Austria: Goodnight Mommy, Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
Bangladesh: Jalal’s Story, Abu Shahed Emon
Belgium: The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Our Everyday Life, Ines Tanović
Brazil: The Second Mother, Anna Muylaert
Bulgaria: The Judgement, Stephan Komandarev
Cambodia:...
Submissions for the Best Foreign-Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards are coming in and will continue until October, when the full list of eligible submissions will be revealed.
Last year, a record 83 countries submitted features and the eventual winner was Polish feature Ida, directed by Pawel Pawlikowski.
This year’s nominations must be submitted by Oct 1.
Nine finalists will be shortlisted, which will be whittled down to five nominees that will be announced on Jan 14, 2016.
The 88th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Feb 28, 2016.
Afghanistan: Utopia, Hassan Nazer
Albania: Bota, Iris Elezi, Thomas Logoreci
Austria: Goodnight Mommy, Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz
Bangladesh: Jalal’s Story, Abu Shahed Emon
Belgium: The Brand New Testament, Jaco Van Dormael
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Our Everyday Life, Ines Tanović
Brazil: The Second Mother, Anna Muylaert
Bulgaria: The Judgement, Stephan Komandarev
Cambodia:...
- 9/25/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2016: 'Viva' with Héctor Medina. Multicultural Best Foreign Language Film Oscar 2016 submissions Nearly ten years ago, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences changed a key rule regarding entries for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar;* since then, things have gotten quite colorful. Just yesterday, Sept. 16, '15, Ireland submitted Paddy Breathnach's Viva – a Cuban-set drama spoken in Spanish. And why not? To name a couple more “multicultural and multinational” entries this year alone: China's submission, with dialogue in Mandarin and Mongolian, is Wolf Totem, directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud – a Frenchman. And Germany's entry, Labyrinth of Lies, was directed by Giulio Ricciarelli, who happens to be a German-based, Italian-born stage and TV actor. 'Viva': Sexual identity in 21st-century Cuba Executive produced by Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro (Traffic), Viva tells the story of an 18-year-old Havana drag-club worker,...
- 9/17/2015
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
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