Spain, in the Marché´s spotlight at Cannes
Close Your Eyes © Manolo Pavón
From May 16 to 24, the most important global film market is held, the Marché du Film. This time, the organization has named Spain the Country of Honour, which means that Spain has a bigger presence in events, pitchings and panels. In addition, at the festival, Spain has three feature films to screen in the different sections, as well as several selected shorts.
T
he return of Víctor Erice is big news this year, although the film has not been selected in the Official Competition Section. His new feature film, Close Your Eyes, is part of Cannes Première, the section where The Beasts began his successful path last year. Produced by Tandem Films and Pecado Films, in co-production with Nautilus Films and Argentina’s Pampa Films, it will be released in Spain on September 29 by Avalon, while the sales company is Film Factory. With a cast headed by Manolo Solo and José Coronado, Cannes will witness the premiere of the director’s fourth feature film, after The Spirit of the Beehive, The South and Dream of Light. With a script written by Michel Gaztambide and Erice, the film narrates how a famous actor disappears during the filming of a film. The police conclude that he has suffered an accident at the edge of the sea. Many years later, a TV program shows the last scenes in which he participated. Robot Dreams, the first animated film directed by Pablo Berger
(Blancanieves, Torremolinos 73), will be in the Special Screenings section. It is produced by Arcadia Motion Pictures and the Navarran production company Lokiz Films, in co-production with Noodles and Les Films du Worso (France). The film will be distributed in Spain by BTeam Pictures. International sales are handled by Elle Driver. The plot revolves around Dog, a lonely dog who lives in Manhattan. One day he decides to build a robot, a friend. Their friendship grows but one summer night Dog with great sorrow, is forced to abandon Robot. Will they ever meet again? The other Spanish feature film is Creatura by Elena Martín Gimeno, which is participating in the Directors’ Fortnight. Produced by Vilaüt Films, Lastor Media, Avalon P.C. and Elastica Films, in association with Suris/Bishop Film, will hit spanish theaters thanks to Avalon while international sales are handled by Luxbox. The new film from the author of Júlia ist follows Mila and her partner, who move to a town on the Costa Brava. After an argument, Mila begins to CINEINFORME - ABRIL / MAYO 2023
feel a loss of desire. She relives some of the experiences of her childhood and adolescence that will help her understand the origin of her trauma. In this edition there is a good Spanish presence as far as short films are concerned. Of course, the spotlight is on Pedro Almodóvar, who returns to Cannes to present his new short, Strange Way of Life, at Special Screenings (The Human Voice was screened in Venice). This western of El Deseo was shot in English in the Tabernas desert in Almeria and has Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as leading actors. The story follows a man who rides a horse and visits a sheriff. Twentyfive years ago they worked together as hitmen. In the Official Short Film Selection we can find Aunque es de noche by Guillermo García López (Delicate Balance), who is showing his first fiction short. Shot in 16mm and produced by Sintagma Films, Salon Indien Films and Les Valseurs, it is set in the Cañada Real slum in Madrid. In this competition there is another short, Nada de todo esto, directed by the
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