News

For the first time since 1988, Spain has two movies in Cannes main competition, neither of whose directors are Pedro Almodóvar: Carla Simón’s “Romería” and Oliver Laxe’s “Sirat.”

That says much about this year’s Cannes Official Selection, packed with emerging talent. The double also marks, however, what might prove a turning point for Spanish film. From 1988, the feeding frenzy died for films by Carlos Saura in particular and at large titles picturing Spain’s dark past from which it had happily just emerged with democracy. Outside Almodóvar, this century, in 15 editions, only one Spanish director had scored a Cannes Competition place since Isabel Coixet in 2009: Albert Serra with “Pacification” in 2022.

Now, however, France – its big festivals, networks, distributors, sale agents, critics and audiences – are embracing Spain with energy, both Spanish film and indeed TV. When it comes to Spain, the change has been long in the making.

The San Sebastian Film Festival, the biggest film event in the Spanish-speaking world, has unveiled a packed lineup of Spanish titles that is strong on women auteurs, led by Iciar Bollaín, Pilar Palomero, Paula Ortiz and Alauda Ruiz de Azua, who are now stepping up in scale or industry backing as big SVOD players – Movistar Plus+, Prime Video – move into the production of Spanish movies aimed at theatrical release or back their original series.

Vying in main competition, Bollaín’s “I Am Nevenka” looks like the first film to see the light of day from six auteur event movies co-produced by Movistar Plus+ and directed by leading cinematographic talent such as Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Alberto Fernández.

Also selected are two leading lights of a younger generation of women directors which have galvanised Spanish arthouse but are now looking for broader audiences.

Goya and San Sebastian winner Pilar Palomero competes in main competition with “Glimmers,...

New Delhi, May 10 (Ians) India U-17 men’s national team suffered a 1-3 defeat against Getafe U-18s at the Otero de Herreros, Segovia, in their fifth training game in Spain. All the goals came in the first half.

Korou Singh had put India ahead in the 12th minute, before Angel Blanco equalised in the 24th. Luis Kawecki put the Spaniards in the lead on the 26th, before an own goal by Pramveer gave them a two goal lead just six minutes before the half-time break.

It was a measured start by both sides, as India goalkeeper Sahil kept the scores level early on, making a fine save from a shot by Eduardo Llorente. India striker Tangvah Lemmet soon came up with his own reply, as he pressed high to intercept a pass by the opposition keeper, but eventually sent his effort wide of the target.

India’s pressing tactic...

This year’s Berlinale Series Market kicks off Monday as Spanish series “The Snow Girl,” a missing girl suspense thriller produced by Spain’s Atípica Films, has attracted huge heat for Netflix, punching 101.7 million hours watched in its first three weeks. Doing so, it ranked as the streamer’s No. 1 non-English show in the world over Jan. 30 – Feb. 5.

In all, Spain has more shows and movies in Netflix’s all time non-English Top 10s than any other country in the world, seven to France’s two, for example.

Spain, it could be argued, has cracked online. But its drama series industry wants to ring more options.

As scripted commissions look to have dropped from second half 2022 in not only the U.S. but also Europe and Latin America, an energetic posse of Spanish producers and stars are rolling into Berlin to present new productions. These look set to explore an...

Buenos Aires, Dec 19 (Ians) Argentine President Alberto Fernandez thanked the national soccer team for winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“Thanks to the players and the technical team. They are the example that we should not give up, that we have great people and a great future,” the President said on Twitter on Sunday.

In a second message, Fernandez wrote: “Always together, always united. We are world champions. There are no other words.”

This post was accompanied by a photograph in which star player Lionel Messi is seen lifting the World Cup in Qatar, surrounded by his teammates.

In the thirlling final against France, Argentina led 2-0 in the first half but conceded two goals in two minutes in the second half. Messi scored in the second half of the extra time, but Kylian Mbappe tied the score with a penalty kick later. Argentina finally beat France 4-2 in the penalty shootout.

“We need to be cheerleaders, not gatekeepers,” said UKTV’s commissioning editor Sarah Asante, during a discussion at Mipcom on diversity and inclusion in the TV industry.

“I have always heard that phrase: ‘gatekeepers.’ Barriers to access is a massive issue in this industry. Everyone trying to get in has a story about ‘having to know someone, having to be the son of a CEO or the daughter of a manager.’ That’s true, but there is a good number of commissioners of my cohort, who have my focus on how to tell the best stories from the biggest range of people.”

“This industry is always saying we need more content, but then they ask: ‘Oh, where are your credits?’ You don’t live up to what you say.”

Talking about putting disability front and center, Asante mentioned “Dave,” featuring three wheelchair-using leads, and “Dead Canny,” a working-class sitcom about a girl with supernatural powers.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. First came Unity… Now meet Webnet! Coming off of the earth-shattering repercussions of their first mission, Ninjak is leading the newly formed Unity team right back into the trenches to face the Valiant Universe’s next colossal threat – the enigmatic Dr. Silk and his high-tech terror cell: Webnet! With the fate of untold millions on the line, can this team of cutthroat heroes uncover Silk’s endgame – and his deadly connection to Ninjak’s shadowed past?

Unity #5 (New Arc – “Trapped By Webnet”)

Story by: Matt Kindt

Art by: Carlos Alberto Fernandez Urbano

Cover by: Clayton Crain

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by: Mico Suayan

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by: Philip Tan

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by: Raul Allen

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by: Diego Bernard

Publisher: Valiant

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: Wed, March 12th, 2014

via [Valiant]...