Press release from CG Publicity
Winner of the 1993 Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award® for Belle Epoque, starring a young Penelope Cruz, Spanish Film Director Fernando Trueba is confirmed to tour to Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra 4 – 9 May 2010 to present screenings of his films at the 13th Spanish Film Festival. The festival in 2010 celebrates the masterful work of this internationally acclaimed director with a SPOTLIGHT ON FERNANDO TRUEBA, a special programme of his diverse and celebrated films from Spain and Latin America.
One of Spain’s leading film directors for the past three decades, Fernando Trueba has directed 14 feature films which have won accolades internationally including an Oscar, a Silver Berlin Bear, a BAFTA and no less than a staggering 28 Goya (Spanish Academy) Awards. Formerly the film critic for Spain’s leading daily newspaper El Pais, Fernando Trueba is a director, screenwriter and producer who has worked both in Spain and in Hollywood. He has just completed work on his 15th film, an innovative feature animation Chico and Rita (Chico y Rita), in collaboration with acclaimed designer Javier Mariscal.
Headlining the SPOTLIGHT ON FERNANDO TRUEBA programme is his most recently released film, The Dancer and the Thief (El Baile de la Victoria). Spain’s entry to the 2010 Academy Awards®, nominated for 10 Goya (Spanish Academy) Awards and based on the celebrated novel by Antonio Skármeta (‘Il Postino’), The Dancer and the Thief is gripping heist film involving an ex-safe cracker (Ricardo Darin, Nine Queens) and an enthusiastic young thief. Together they plot to recover the millions taken by Pinochet under the regime in Chile, while the thief falls in love with a mesmerising, mysterious dancer who has her own terrible memories of the dictatorship.
Also screening is his delightful, sensual romp, the wildly successful and Oscar® winning Belle Epoque (1993) starring a young Penelope Cruz alongside Maribel Verdú in this sundrenched tale of a carefree young army deserter who takes refuge with a painter and his four desirable daughters at a farmhouse in the Spanish countryside, a film Trueba called ‘the story of Paradise: too good to last’. Also starring Penelope Cruz, comedy drama The Girl of Your Dreams (La niña de tus ojos, 1998) – was the winner of 7 Goya’s and was nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear. Long before Nine, Penelope Cruz stars as the sexy, golden-hearted Macarena, an actress in Nazi Berlin shooting an Andalusian musical. And on a very personal and musical note for Trueba is Calle 54 (2000) – an intimate and innovative exploration of Latin Jazz and its musical greats including Tito Puente, Chano Dominguez, Bebo Valdes and more. A journey of the senses that crosses four continents in search of the heart and soul of Latino culture, The New York Times called it ‘a pure expression of the director's love for the music, a love so infectious it should leave you elated’.
Honoured by the Spanish Government in 2009 as the most important Spanish cultural event in Australia, the festival is back in 2010 with exceptional programme of over 40 of the best contemporary Spanish language films from Spain and Latin America.
The 13th Spanish Film Festival produced with the support of the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs in Spain, The Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), the Spanish Consulate in Sydney and Melbourne, The Spanish Embassy, the Argentinean Government through INCAA (Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts Argentina), The Embassies and Consulates of Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina, The Instituto Cervantes, The Australian National University and many prestigious Spanish and Australian companies.
Q&A SCREENINGS WITH FERNANDO TRUEBA
MEL: 6.30pm Tuesday 4 May at Kino Cinemas – THE DANCER AND THE THIEF (18+)
SYD: 6.30pm Thursday 6 May at Palace Academy Twin – THE DANCER AND THE THIEF (18+)
CAN: 6.30pm Friday 7 May at Greater Union Manuka – THE DANCER AND THE THIEF (18+)
SYD: 6.30pm Saturday 8 May at Palace Norton St – THE GIRL OF YOUR DREAMS (18+)
Full festival programme and ticketing information: www.spanishfilmfestival.com
Sydney: Wed 5 – Sun 16 May at Palace Norton Street and Academy Twin Cinemas
Melbourne: Wed 12 – Sun 23 May at Palace Cinema Como & Kino Cinemas
Brisbane: Thu 20 – Sun 30 May at Palace Centro Cinemas
Adelaide: Thu 13 – Sun 16 May at Palace Nova Eastend
Canberra: Thu 6 – Sun 16 May at GU Manuka