Viva España! The Spanish Film Festival is back for 2016, bringing a healthy slice of Spanish culture to cinemas across Australia.
The program has plenty to offer this year, with award-winning Spanish director Daniel Guzmán visiting our shores with his first long feature,Nothing In Return. The full schedule also includes films from Argentina, Chile and Mexico, and to help us pick out the finest cuts, we asked Spanish Film Festival director and producer Genevieve Kelly to talk us through her top five. Over to you, Genevieve…
1. EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT
Ciro Guerra’s multi award-winning, Oscar-nominated film is a breathtaking cinematic odyssey through the Amazon, following the quests of two European explorers in search of a rare flower alleged to have healing properties. The spectacular widescreen black-and-white cinematography and evocative sound design combine to depict the landscapes and characters with an hypnotic, mythical sense of wonder. This is an extraordinary film exclusive to the festival on closing night events only.
2.TRUMAN
Ricardo Darín and Javier Cámara star in Cesc Gay’s funny, moving and hugely entertaining reflection on male relationships, which won Best Film, Director and Actor at the recent Goya (Spanish Academy) Awards. Set in the heart of glorious Madrid, this unmissable jewel of a film is a reminder that the best friendships are, indeed, forever.
3.SPANISH AFFAIR 2
If one affair wasn’t enough, the romance of Rafa and Amaia returns – this time with some new friends and fresh laughs, as the Catalans are thrown into the mix! With new elements of playfulness, 2015’s number one Spanish box office hit will leave audiences with a fresh grin as Amaia’s father Koldo and ex-lover Rafa join forces to prevent Amaia from promising herself to Pau, the wealthy hipster. This is the perfect film to enjoy before celebrating opening night with a riotous party the festival is notorious for.
4.INNOCENT KILLERS
A very polished, twisting thriller about a young man whose professor allows him to pass the course on the basis that the boy kills him. And with a standout cast that is easy on the eye!
5.MA MA [above]
In one of Penélope Cruz’s finest-ever performances, the beloved actress powerfully depicts a woman experiencing major life challenges, with an indefatigable dignity, persevering in the only way she knows how. From acclaimed director Julio Medem (A Room In Rome, Sex & Lucia), the festival is proudly presenting the world premiere of Medem’s original cut, which expands the motivations of characters and includes depictions of sexuality that were deleted for the Spanish theatrical release.
TheSpanish Film Festival 2016 runsTuesday April 12 – Sunday May 1 at Palace Norton Street and Palace Verona.
