★★★★☆ Once in a while, a thoroughly decent feature will inexplicably slip through the distribution net and find itself unceremoniously dumped onto home video with little promotion or fanfare. Artificial Paradises (not to be confused with the 2011 Mexican feature of the same name) is one of those films. It doesn't help that it's being marketed as a drug-smuggling drama, either. In reality, this element is barely touched upon (the trailer gives the impression it's some kind of sweaty-palmed, downbeat Midnight Express-like effort). There are darker elements inherent in the film, but it's counterbalanced by a sexy and sensual vibe.
With a story that cuts back and forth over the span of several years, we first meet Nando (Luca Bianchi) fresh out of prison and trying to reconnect with his family and younger brother Lipe (Cesar Cardadeiro). The film then switches between the years before Nando's incarceration, where he meets and...
With a story that cuts back and forth over the span of several years, we first meet Nando (Luca Bianchi) fresh out of prison and trying to reconnect with his family and younger brother Lipe (Cesar Cardadeiro). The film then switches between the years before Nando's incarceration, where he meets and...
- 9/3/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Last week we featured some of Mexico’s young filmmakers who have emerged as part of a recent revival in Mexican cinema. These new directors have pushed out the old guard and persevere in difficult situations, using public funding and micro-budgets to create films which take aim at Mexico’s social ills, broach difficult subjects, and take stylistic risks. These original and innovative artists are carving out a space for Mexican films in the international art house market. Here we continue to highlight even more directors from Generation Mex.
Gerardo Naranjo
Probably the most buzzed about Mexican director of late, Naranjo’s fourth feature Miss Bala (Isa:tcf) premiered at Cannes, went on to play festivals in Toronto and Los Angeles and was selected as Mexico’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Loosely inspired by real events it tells the story of Laura, a young woman who aspires to compete in the Miss Baja beauty pageant. Instead she finds herself amidst narcos as an unwilling participant in Mexico’s drug war. Using long takes and very few cuts Naranjo accomplishes the difficult, a melancholy thriller and pensive allegory punctuated by intense moments of violent but often quiet action. 20th Century Fox released the film in limited theaters late last year. In his previous films Voy a explotar (I’m Gonna Explode) (Isa:Elle Driver), Drama/Mex, and Malachance he experimented stylistically but they all reflect his signature, emotionally resonant and sensitive depictions of characters on the edge.
Yulene Olaizola
Having only recently graduated from the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (Ccc), one of the two major film schools in Mexico, she has already directed three feature-length films. Her thesis project, the award-winning documentary Intimidades de Shakespeare y Victor Hugo (Intimacies of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo) (Isa:Interior13 Cine) traces her grandmother Rosa's friendship with Jorge Riosse, her young, troubled tenant. Paraísos Artificiales (Artificial Paradises) (Isa: Interior13 Cine), named after an anthology by the 19th century French poet Baudelaire, was her impressive fiction debut. It’s dreamy, serene, and breathtaking landscapes of the lush seaside hills of Veracruz, Mexico provide the backdrop, as a young woman addicted to heroin tries to free herself from the compulsive need for a fix while staying at a beach resort. Her newest film Fogo is days away from its world premiere at The Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. In a departure from her previous projects, she chose to make a film in English focusing on the deterioration of a small community in Fogo Island, located off the coast Canada.
Pedro González-Rubio
In an effort to create an intimate environment for his second film Alamar (Isa: MK2 Diffusion), he wrote, directed, shot and edited the picture himself. Set in a small house on stilts that sits above the crystal-clear blue waters of the Yucatan Peninsula, it explores the bond between a father and son as they share a fishing trip together. When asked whether Alamar is a documentary or fiction at a festival screening he defiantly answered, “It’s a film.” Having invented parts of the story but documenting real events, he seamlessly blends reality and fiction in a picturesque and introspective cinematic meditation that at times almost becomes a photographic essay. Film Movement acquired the theatrical and DVD rights in North America. His directorial debut, Toro Negro, an unflinching look at an alcoholic bullfighter, won prizes at Havana, San Sebastian and Morelia Film Festivals.
Fernando Eimbcke
He had film festivals, critics and distributors clamoring for his attention after his black-and-white directorial debut, Temporada de Patos (Duck Season) (Isa: Traction Media) premiered at Cannes in 2004. It won prizes at AFI Fest and Guadalajara Film Festival and later several Ariel Awards (the Mexican equivalent of the Oscars.) The comedy-drama about two teenage boys who must entertain themselves after a power outage went on to play more than 70 festivals and was sold in more than 30 countries. He followed up this smashing success with Lake Tahoe, a minimalist quiet film in which teenaged Juan crashes his family's car into a pole and then scours the streets searching for someone to help him fix it. Eimbcke studied film in Mexico City at the Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos (Cuec).
Gerardo Naranjo
Probably the most buzzed about Mexican director of late, Naranjo’s fourth feature Miss Bala (Isa:tcf) premiered at Cannes, went on to play festivals in Toronto and Los Angeles and was selected as Mexico’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Loosely inspired by real events it tells the story of Laura, a young woman who aspires to compete in the Miss Baja beauty pageant. Instead she finds herself amidst narcos as an unwilling participant in Mexico’s drug war. Using long takes and very few cuts Naranjo accomplishes the difficult, a melancholy thriller and pensive allegory punctuated by intense moments of violent but often quiet action. 20th Century Fox released the film in limited theaters late last year. In his previous films Voy a explotar (I’m Gonna Explode) (Isa:Elle Driver), Drama/Mex, and Malachance he experimented stylistically but they all reflect his signature, emotionally resonant and sensitive depictions of characters on the edge.
Yulene Olaizola
Having only recently graduated from the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (Ccc), one of the two major film schools in Mexico, she has already directed three feature-length films. Her thesis project, the award-winning documentary Intimidades de Shakespeare y Victor Hugo (Intimacies of Shakespeare and Victor Hugo) (Isa:Interior13 Cine) traces her grandmother Rosa's friendship with Jorge Riosse, her young, troubled tenant. Paraísos Artificiales (Artificial Paradises) (Isa: Interior13 Cine), named after an anthology by the 19th century French poet Baudelaire, was her impressive fiction debut. It’s dreamy, serene, and breathtaking landscapes of the lush seaside hills of Veracruz, Mexico provide the backdrop, as a young woman addicted to heroin tries to free herself from the compulsive need for a fix while staying at a beach resort. Her newest film Fogo is days away from its world premiere at The Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. In a departure from her previous projects, she chose to make a film in English focusing on the deterioration of a small community in Fogo Island, located off the coast Canada.
Pedro González-Rubio
In an effort to create an intimate environment for his second film Alamar (Isa: MK2 Diffusion), he wrote, directed, shot and edited the picture himself. Set in a small house on stilts that sits above the crystal-clear blue waters of the Yucatan Peninsula, it explores the bond between a father and son as they share a fishing trip together. When asked whether Alamar is a documentary or fiction at a festival screening he defiantly answered, “It’s a film.” Having invented parts of the story but documenting real events, he seamlessly blends reality and fiction in a picturesque and introspective cinematic meditation that at times almost becomes a photographic essay. Film Movement acquired the theatrical and DVD rights in North America. His directorial debut, Toro Negro, an unflinching look at an alcoholic bullfighter, won prizes at Havana, San Sebastian and Morelia Film Festivals.
Fernando Eimbcke
He had film festivals, critics and distributors clamoring for his attention after his black-and-white directorial debut, Temporada de Patos (Duck Season) (Isa: Traction Media) premiered at Cannes in 2004. It won prizes at AFI Fest and Guadalajara Film Festival and later several Ariel Awards (the Mexican equivalent of the Oscars.) The comedy-drama about two teenage boys who must entertain themselves after a power outage went on to play more than 70 festivals and was sold in more than 30 countries. He followed up this smashing success with Lake Tahoe, a minimalist quiet film in which teenaged Juan crashes his family's car into a pole and then scours the streets searching for someone to help him fix it. Eimbcke studied film in Mexico City at the Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos (Cuec).
- 5/16/2012
- by Vanessa Erazo
- Sydney's Buzz
Fogo – Yulene Olaizola
Buzz: Here’s a look at an under-30 filmmaker quietly working her way up in the world. Yulene Olaizola was born in Mexico who just last year produced and directed Paraísos artificiales, a fiction feature that premiered in Rotterdam and went on to win a Best Cinematography award at the Tribeca Film Festival. Having recently finished an Artist in Residency program at the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, it’s clear that she was inspired by this place enough to use it as the subject for her next feature.
The Gist: The deterioration of a small community in Fogo Island is forcing its inhabitants to leave and resettle. Places once occupied by humans are now becoming part of the tundra landscape. In spite of a condemn future, there are some residents who decide to remain, holding on to their memories and grieving for the past, when life in Fogo was different.
Buzz: Here’s a look at an under-30 filmmaker quietly working her way up in the world. Yulene Olaizola was born in Mexico who just last year produced and directed Paraísos artificiales, a fiction feature that premiered in Rotterdam and went on to win a Best Cinematography award at the Tribeca Film Festival. Having recently finished an Artist in Residency program at the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, it’s clear that she was inspired by this place enough to use it as the subject for her next feature.
The Gist: The deterioration of a small community in Fogo Island is forcing its inhabitants to leave and resettle. Places once occupied by humans are now becoming part of the tundra landscape. In spite of a condemn future, there are some residents who decide to remain, holding on to their memories and grieving for the past, when life in Fogo was different.
- 5/15/2012
- by Blake Williams
- IONCINEMA.com
Tribeca Film Festival has announced the line up of this years competition categories, including World Narrative Feature, World Documentary Feature, and the brand new Viewpoints which highlights eleven independent features and nine documentaries.
Tribeca Film Festival is one of leading film festivals located in New York City, showcasing many films not screened in any other U.S. film festival along with forty three world premieres and fifty four directorial debuts. Cameron Crowe’s premier of his concert documentary, The Union, will start the festival followed by a performance by Elton John. The rest of the lineup will be announced March 14th, and look out for coverage of the festival in April. Below you can find the complete press release on the lineup.
10th Tribeca Film Festival Announces World Narrative
And Documentary Competition Selections, And New Viewpoints Section
Tribeca Expands Awards Scope
2011 Festival to Present 88 Feature-Length and 61 Short Films April 20 – May...
Tribeca Film Festival is one of leading film festivals located in New York City, showcasing many films not screened in any other U.S. film festival along with forty three world premieres and fifty four directorial debuts. Cameron Crowe’s premier of his concert documentary, The Union, will start the festival followed by a performance by Elton John. The rest of the lineup will be announced March 14th, and look out for coverage of the festival in April. Below you can find the complete press release on the lineup.
10th Tribeca Film Festival Announces World Narrative
And Documentary Competition Selections, And New Viewpoints Section
Tribeca Expands Awards Scope
2011 Festival to Present 88 Feature-Length and 61 Short Films April 20 – May...
- 3/9/2011
- by Christopher Clemente
- SoundOnSight
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival revealed the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections for the 10th annual Tff, which will be held April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan.
In addition, Tff organizers unveiled the first edition of the new section — Viewpoints.
Forty-four of the 88 feature-length films that will screen during the fest have been announced. Much more information on each title can be found below.
“It’s our tenth Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “The Festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
So what will screen at Tribeca this year? In part, the following:
World Narrative Feature Competition
· Angels Crest, directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) – World Premiere.
Hollywoodnews.com: The 2011 Tribeca Film Festival revealed the World Narrative and Documentary Competition film selections for the 10th annual Tff, which will be held April 20 to May 1 in lower Manhattan.
In addition, Tff organizers unveiled the first edition of the new section — Viewpoints.
Forty-four of the 88 feature-length films that will screen during the fest have been announced. Much more information on each title can be found below.
“It’s our tenth Tribeca Film Festival, and in our relatively brief existence we have evolved dramatically,” said Nancy Schafer, Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. “The Festival has become an integral part of the cultural landscape of New York City as well as a globally recognized platform for storytelling.”
So what will screen at Tribeca this year? In part, the following:
World Narrative Feature Competition
· Angels Crest, directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) – World Premiere.
- 3/7/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Tribeca Film Festival today announced their 2011 world narrative and documentary lineup as well as introducing a new out-of- competition sidebar, Viewpoints, which highlights international cinema.
A total of 45 features were unveiled for the 10th edition, taking place April 20-May 1, from a record number of over 5,600 submissions. The fest also introduced at a press conference today, according to indieWIRE, new awards that will be handed out this year from the competition slate: achievements in cinematography, screenwriting, editing and Best New Director awards for narrative and doc sections.
The remaining features will be announced next week. Last week Tribeca announced its opening film will be a free outdoor screening of the Elton John documentary, The Union, directed by Cameron Crowe.
Competition and Viewpoints lineup below.
World Narrative Feature Competition-
“Angels Crest,” directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) World Premiere.
In the working-class Rocky Mountain town of Angels Crest,...
A total of 45 features were unveiled for the 10th edition, taking place April 20-May 1, from a record number of over 5,600 submissions. The fest also introduced at a press conference today, according to indieWIRE, new awards that will be handed out this year from the competition slate: achievements in cinematography, screenwriting, editing and Best New Director awards for narrative and doc sections.
The remaining features will be announced next week. Last week Tribeca announced its opening film will be a free outdoor screening of the Elton John documentary, The Union, directed by Cameron Crowe.
Competition and Viewpoints lineup below.
World Narrative Feature Competition-
“Angels Crest,” directed by Gaby Dellal, written by Catherine Trieschmann. (UK, Canada) World Premiere.
In the working-class Rocky Mountain town of Angels Crest,...
- 3/7/2011
- by Jason Guerrasio
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Tribeca Film Festival announced selections for its World Narrative, World Documentary, and Viewpoints competitions at its 10th annual event, running from April 20 to May 1 in New York. Eighty-eight features (such as Angels Crest, with Jeremy Piven) and 61 short films from 32 different countries were selected from more than 5,600 submissions to screen at the festival. “In programming the Festival this year we had to make some incredibly difficult decisions, but we are excited about the quality, ingenuity, risk-taking and diversity of this year’s program,” David Kwok, Director of Programming, said in a statement. “We are particularly proud that we have...
- 3/7/2011
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
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