Recent Spanish Cinema 16 at the Egyptian Theatre October 14 - 17

RECENT SPANISH CINEMA XVI
October 14 – 17, 2010, at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood

Presented in collaboration with the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA) of the Spanish Ministry of Culture and EGEDA - Filmotech.
With the support of Embassy of Spain in Washington, Spain USA Foundation, Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles, Tourist Office of Spain in Los Angeles, Promoción Madrid (Madrid City Council) and E.L.M.A. (European Languages and Movies in America).
Sponsored by Lladró, Codorniú, Bodegas Terras Gauda y Viña Zaco.

One of the Cinematheque's most anticipated foreign film series is finally here. The detailed schedule with dates and times will be posted by October 1st. Below are the names of the films we will present, with an opening night slot reserved for the yet-to-be-announced official Spanish entry for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar! Join us to meet the next generation of Spanish stars and directors. Back in 1994 when the series began, a young unknown Spanish actor named Javier Bardem was our special guest!

Spanish cinema continues to attain a broader international market by embracing slick genre films, emotional dramas and box office winners that win critical acclaim both at home and abroad. This year’s selection of recent Spanish cinema focuses on a new generation of filmmakers, while highlighting performances by both seasoned veterans and talented newcomers in roles that demonstrate their strength and versatility. Don’t miss one of Spain’s most vibrant actors, Luis Tosar, as the delectable Bad Mother in Daniel Monzón’s box office hit CELDA 211. Lola Dueñas in Alvaro Pastor’s and Antonio Naharro’s YO, TAMBIÉN, alongside newcomer Pablo Pineda, garnered the Goya for Best Actress and both won accolades at the 2009 San Sebastian International Film Festival. Alberto Rodriguez’s AFTER showcases the talents of Blanca Romero, who received a nomination for Best New Actress at the 2010 Goyas. Emilio Aragon’s directorial debut, PÁJAROS DE PAPEL, pairs Imanol Arias and Lluís Homar as a comedy duo in a vaudeville troupe in post-civil war Spain. Oskar Santos directs EL MAL AJENO, starring Eduardo Noriega in a “snappishly contempo morality tale [that] is satisfyingly breathless and twisty,” raves Jonathan Holland of Variety. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo directs a stellar ensemble cast in GORDOS, a comedy that received seven nominations at the 2010 Goyas, with one win for Raúl Arévalo in the Best Supporting Actor category. Director Laura Maña’s second feature LA VIDA EMPIEZA HOY stars the ever-delightful Rosa Maria Sarda as an unconventional teacher of a senior citizen sex education class. All films in Spanish with English subtitles.

In addition to the lineup, we will screen the winning entries from the Recent Spanish Cinema XVI Student Short Film Contest, a competition for Spanish film students living in Los Angeles.

Join us for our Spanish Cinema opening night event, with Spain’s official selection for the 2011 Foreign-Language Film Oscar (film TBA in early October). Also, a celebratory bash will take place in the Egyptian Courtyard after the screening!

Actors and director will be joining us for the weekend – check our website for update.

Series compiled by Gwen Deglise with the assistance of Soledad González and Elvira Cano. Program notes by Noelia Saenz.

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Thursday, October 14 – 7:30 PM
Join us for our Spanish Cinema opening night event, with Spain’s official selection for the 2011 Foreign-Language Film Oscar (film TBA in early October). Also, a celebratory bash will take place in the Egyptian courtyard after the screening! Please check our website for details.

Friday, October 15 – 7:30 PM
The schedule for the weekend will be posted October 1, as soon as Spain’s official selection for the 2011 Foreign-Language Film Oscar is announced, Please check our website for details. The selection includes the following films (plus a few surprises!):

The selection will include:
L.A. Premiere! EL MAL AJENO, 2010, Mod Producciones, 107 min. Dir. Oskar Santos. After a near fatal shooting, Diego (Eduardo Noriega), an emotionally distant doctor, discovers he mysteriously possesses the ability to heal with a touch of his hands. This ability proves life-affirming, but with unforeseen consequences for Diego and his patients. Screen Daily describes this beautifully executed film as “an intriguing emotional and psychological drama.”
Trailer | Official Website

CELDA 211, 2009, IFC Films, 113 min. Dir. Daniel Monzón. After an on-the-job accident that renders him unconscious, Juan Oliver (Alberto Ammann), a rookie prison guard, finds himself locked inside cell 211 during a prison riot. To ensure his survival, Juan masquerades as a new prisoner and finds himself under the wings of Malamadre, aka Bad Mother (Luis Tosar), the prison riot leader. “The film won eight Goya Awards, the Spanish Oscars, this year. It deserves them.” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Trailer | Official Website

L.A. Premiere! GORDOS, 2009, Cinemien, 110 min. Dir. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo. Stories and lives are intertwined in a group therapy session for fat people, led by thin therapist Abel (Roberto Enriquez). The participants include a now fleshier former spokesman for a weight-loss supplement; a jovial crime investigator; and a woman engaged to a thin and devoutly religious man. Don’t miss what Variety called “a daring, refreshingly fleshy take on society’s obsession with appearances”!
Trailer | Official Website

U.S. Premiere! LA VIDA EMPIEZA HOY, 2010, Ovideo TV, 90 min. Dir. Laura Maña. Olga (the ever-delightful Rosa Maria Sarda) teaches a sex education class to a group of senior citizens. “A lively, sympathetic script brought to bubbling life by fine perfs, agile scripting and a shot of social critique.” – Jonathan Holland, Variety.
Trailer | Official Website

U.S. Premiere! PAJAROS DE PAPEL, 2010, Hispano FoxFilms, 110 min. Dir. Emilio Aragon. A traveling vaudeville troupe struggles to stay afloat despite economic hardships in post-civil war Spain. Jorge del Pino (Imanol Arias), a former member of the resistance, and Enrique Corgo (Lluis Homar), a closeted homosexual, play a comedy duo who take in a feisty but lovable orphan named Miguel (Roger Princep). “A zesty celebration of those who entertain us,” – Variety
Trailer | Official Website

L.A. Premiere! YO, TAMBIEN, 2009, Olive Films, 103 min. Dir. Alvaro Pastor & Antonio Naharro. A recent university graduate with Down syndrome, Daniel (Pablo Pineda), falls in love with coworker Laura (Lola Dueñas, winner of the 2010 Goya for Best Actress), a woman battling her inner demons. This touching tale focuses on Daniel’s quest to develop a romantic relationship with Laura and raises the contentious issue of sexuality and love within the Down syndrome community.
Trailer | Official Website

U.S. Premiere! AFTER, 2009, La Zanfona Producciones, 116 min. Dir. Alberto Rodriguez. Three soon-to-be middle-aged friends reunite for one drug- and alcohol-fueled night of debauchery in Seville. Nominated for three Goyas, including Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. “This is acid noir with a flashy surface.” – Robert Koehler, Variety
Trailer | Official Website

What Skills Do Americans Need in the 21st Century? 'Speaking in Tongues' Tackles This Topic

Sunday afternoon, the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre presents a new documentary on bi-lingual education. Following the film there will be a panel discussion with the following guest speakers:

• Lori Orum, Principal, Edison Elementary School, Santa Monica Malibu School District

• Toby Bornstein, Executive Director, Multicultural Learning Center, Los Angeles Unified School District

• Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, Executive Director, Californians Together

• Marcia Jarmel & Ken Schneider, Filmmakers, Speaking in Tongues
• 
  

Details:

Sunday, September 12 – 3:00 PM at the Aero Theatre

SPEAKING IN TONGUES, 2009, Patchworks Productions, 60 min. Four Kids, Four Languages, One City, One World. Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider's fascinating documentary follows four kids from diverse backgrounds on a bold journey to becoming bilingual despite a troubled school system. At a time when 31 states have passed "English-only" laws, a few pioneering families have put their children in public schools where, from the first day of kindergarten, their teachers speak mostly Chinese or Spanish. This charming story will challenge you to rethink the skills that Americans need in the 21st century.Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

View a trailer on the official Speaking in Tongues website.

Fox Celebrates 75th Anniversary with 'Valley of the Dolls' Double Feature

Fox Studios celebrates its 75th anniversary with 'HOMETOWN HOLLYWOOD,' a nationwide celebration. The Los Angeles event is a double feature of Jacqueline Susann's "VALLEY OF THE DOLLS" & Russ Meyer's BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS at the Egyptian Theatre tonight!

Discussion and meet-and-greet with actors Dolly Read, John Lazar and Harrison Page between films! Hosted by Jackie Beat!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 7:30 PM
Fox 75th Anniversary Double Feature:
New Digitally Restored 35mm Print!
VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, 1967, 20th Century Fox, 123 min. Dir. Mark Robson. "You know it's bad to take liquor with those pills," warns small town girl-turned-supermodel Anne (Barbara Parkins) to Broadway diva/train wreck Neely (Patty Duke). Neely's answer: "They work faster." If you want to see the great, bitchy, booze-angst-sex-drugs-fueled godmother to the "Real Housewives" franchise, you've come to the right place! Based on Jacqueline Susann's runaway bestseller - which practically created a cottage industry in glossy, sex-drenched soap operas on page and screen - VALLEY also co-stars the tragically beautiful Sharon Tate as B-movie queen Jennifer. Enormous thanks to our friends at 20th Century Fox for striking a new print of this 1960s classic!

The Carrie Nations in Russ Meyer's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

Pristine 35mm Archive Print! BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS,1970, 20th Century Fox/Criterion, 109 min. Dir. Russ Meyer. Girl-group madness from the director of FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL! Dolly Reed, Marcia McBroom and Cynthia Myers journey from hicksville to Hollywood, hoping to make it with their rock trio, The Carrie Nations. They fall prey to the "business" as well as their own inflated ambitions, in what is arguably Meyer's most purely entertaining, pop-culture sex-fest (co-written by film critic Roger Ebert). With additional tunes by The Strawberry Alarm Clock. This is not a sequel the trailer assures, "You've never seen anything like it." Check out this studio trailer prepping the audience for the genius of Russ Meyer! Trailer | Clip. Discussion and meet-and-greet with actors Dolly Read, John Lazar and Harrison Page between films.

This event is part of the 75th Anniversary celebration of 20th Century Fox. As part of this nationwide celebration, Fox is presenting "Hometown Hollywood" events in 15 cities, featuring films being shown in the cities in which they were shot and by which they were inspired.

Portrait of Jackie Beat by Peter Pallandino.

The evening will be emceed by the incomparable Jackie Beat who played Helen Lawson in the off Broadway NYC production.

You are encouraged to glam up when you come out to this fabulous celebration of bouffant hair, gold culottes, booze and pills in an assortment of pretty colors and every girl's desire to be a buxom rock starlet.

View this event on the Cinematheque's website.

The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre is proud to celebrate Twentieth Century Fox’s 75th anniversary by bringing two of its most beloved films back to the big screen, Valley of the Dolls and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.

Tonight’s screening is just one aspect of a year-long celebration to commemorate and promote Fox’s library and legacy.

The Egyptian Theatre has been chosen as a historic “Hometown Hollywood” location for its contribution to the revitalization of the City of Hollywood. The Egyptian held the first-ever Hollywood premiere when it opened in 1922, and twelve years ago this major Hollywood landmark was renovated by American Cinematheque.

Tonight’s seat dedication at the Egyptian on behalf of Fox’s 75th anniversary pays tribute to the movies of yesterday that continue to inspire people today.