Cuba Showbiz Latest News and Updates

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief I.E. Entertainment, the global distribution outfit founded and run by industry veterans Indra and Erlina Suharjono, has come on board to handle worldwide sales for Cathay Film Company’s “Coolie.” The TV miniseries is inspired by the little-known history of enslaved Chinese ‘coolies’ in Cuba in the 1860s.

Ventana Sur’s coveted Paradiso WIP Award, made up of a $10,000 cash prize, went to Brazil’s “The Cuban Doctor.” Its director, Bernard Lessa, reflected on the significance of the award: “It’s a very important initiative and a partner in the cause of Brazilian cinema,” he said, as he expressed his joy at receiving the accolade. Lessa’s story turns on Akin, a Cuban doctor working in Brazil during former President Jair Bolsonaro’s controversial tenure, who faces political headwinds while he’s simply trying to do his job with the respect and kindness his patients deserve.

Callum McLennan There is a moment in Bernard Lessa’s “The Cuban Doctor” where Akin, the doctor, convinces a wary indigenous mother that surgery is needed to restore sight in her daughter’s left eye. He shows kindness, respect and patience, waiting days before she returns to give the go ahead.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Among the Copia Final titles in Ventana Sur, the Dominican Republic’s “Tiger” (“Tiguere”) by lauded filmmaker José María Cabral (“Woodpeckers”) casts a harsh light on the machismo culture of the Caribbean nation and by extension, Latin America. Shot in a lush mountain retreat, “Tiger” is set in a boot camp where families drop off their teenage sons with the hope that they learn to become “real men.” It is led by boot camp head Alberto, who decides that his son Pablo, an aspiring artist, is ready to join the camp.

Mark Cuban is making lots of headlines this week and the latest is all about his surprising new business move.

Ana de Armas is back to work! After some time off following the Hollywood actors’ strike that prevented all guild members from working, de Armas was spotted in Queensland, Australia shooting her new film, “Eden.” Photos captured on set showed her looking regal and being carried by her co-stars, while also laughing with the crew in between takes. Ana de Armas’s fun birthday celebration in Cuba: WatchAna de Armas has fun in a bathing suit in GreeceDe Armas was photographed on the shoulders of two of her co-stars.

EXCLUSIVE: Tyler Thompson‘s Cross Creek Pictures has teamed with Jay Kinra‘s JKIN Films to produce Dig. Black List scribe Cody Brotter has been set to write a geopolitical thriller inspired by the true events of Tunnel 29, the famous escape route built under the Berlin Wall during the height of the Cold War. 

EXCLUSIVE: Cuban star Mario Cimarro and Hong Kong actress Nina Paw Hee-Ching are joining the cast of historical scripted drama series Coolie, produced by Meileen Choo’s Singapore-based Cathay Film Company.

All the Smoke” podcast. “So I got one more year to go.”Talking with hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Cuban stated that “it’s time” for him to move on from the show after joining full-time in 2012. Despite Cuban’s announcement, ABC has yet to confirm the business mogul‘s departure.The Post reached out to Cuban and the network for comment.

We’re getting a major update on the future of Shark Tank.

Mark Cuban is ready to exit Shark Tank.

Anna Marie de la Fuente The Dominican Republic (DR) has been making bold strides in its film industry, reporting dynamic growth and earning kudos both at home and internationally. Ironically, what spurred its growth was a global pandemic. As many countries remained in lockdown, DR opened its borders to more location shoots by June 2020.

Endurance and single-minded determination have been the focus of filmmaking duo Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin with their documentary films Free Solo, Meru and The Rescue, and now, with Nyad, they examine those themes in a narrative feature, with Annette Bening in the starring role of long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, and Jodie Foster as her coach and best friend Bonnie Stoll. Based on Nyad’s memoir, Find a Way, the film follows Nyad’s multiple attempts to make the 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida, dodging sharks and dangerous jellyfish and weathering brutal waves. When Nyad finally succeeds at the age of 64, her message is, “It’s never too late to follow your dream.” Here, Vasarhelyi and Chin look back on how their documentarian skills fed into recreating an epic seafaring experience, and how both their marriage and their working relationship evolved as a result.

Sean “Diddy Combs has been sued for sexual assault for the second time in as many weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

Before diving into the Thanksgiving festivities this year, it’s time to look back on how Perez celebrated turkey day in 2022! The day was spent surrounded by family, delicious food, some presents, and MORE. And of course, everyone shared what they’re thankful for that year. Enjoy and watch this throwback holiday video (below):

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent São Paulo-based activist producer Maria Farinha Films, behind Globoplay hit “Aruanas” and one of the global South’s key impact entertainment companies, has boarded Marcel Beltrán’s mystery drama “Moa,” a big double winner at Locarno’s 2022 Open Doors. Produced by Paula Gastaud at Cuba’s Mediocielo Films, “Moa” is now set up as co-production with Mediocielo Filmes, also in São Paulo, and Maria Farinha Films, and the Dominican Republic’s Stems Group.

Cuba Gooding Jr. is facing two new lawsuits from women who claimed that he groped them in separate incidents at New York restaurants in 2018 and 2019.

Momma Perez grew up listening to and IDOLIZING @frankievallifourseasons! Even Cubans got down with him and The Four Seasons! And thanks to our friends at @WestgateVegas, we are gonna take mom to go see Frankie Valli in Las Vegas! He regularly plays at the Westgate! Excited to hear all those classics! Perez loved the Jersey Boys musical! And this is another excellent birthday present for our queen!!!

Caroline Brew editor SFO Entertainment has slated releases for feature documentaries “Feeding Tomorrow” and “Killing Me Softly With His Songs” with Gravitas Ventures. These releases mark the inception of documentaries, docuseries and scripted projects under the banner of SFO Entertainment, aligned with its mission to create entertainment that inspires passion for social issues. “We believe in shedding light on critical issues that impact our world, and we are committed to making a positive impact through the power of cinema,” SFO Entertainment founder Jon Sheinberg said in a statement, adding that this partnership will “help spread the light far and wide.” Focused on the global issue of food scarcity and sustainable agriculture, “Feeding Tomorrow” explores solutions to feed the growing population and create a more sustainable future.

Novak Djokovic has plenty to celebrate about. The Serbian tennis player concluded his 2023 tennis season in the number one spot in tennis, marking his eight time reaching this milestone. He shared a video of himself dancing and in a good mood, tagging all of his collaborators in recognition.Vanessa Bryant praises Djokovic’s Kobe Bryant tribute after he won his 24th Grand SlamRafa Nadal explains how he ‘disconnected’ from everything this past yearA post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole)The clip shows Djokovic recording himself with the front facing camera as he dances along to “Guantanamera,” a Cuban song that’s been popular for decades, with its first release dating back to 1929.

Thania Garcia A new generation of hitmakers from all over Latin America has been recognized by the Latin Grammys as contenders for the title of best new artists of 2023. With roots in Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, the category is rich and wide-ranging in sound. This year, the Latin Recording Academy selected a total of 10 artists in the best new artist category: Borja, Conexión Divina, Ana Del Castillo, Natascha Falcão, Gale, Paola Guanche, Joaquina, León Leiden, Maréh and Timø.

Adam Driver responded with the words “fuck you” after an audience member asked the actor about the crash scenes in his film Ferrari.The new biopic follows the story of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, with Driver taking on the main role.The actor was appearing at a screening of the film at Poland’s Camerimage Film Festival when an audience member questioned him about the “cheesy” scenes.“What do you think about [the] crash scenes?” they began. “They looked pretty harsh, drastic and, I must say, cheesy for me.

Lauren Sanchez, the 53-year-old American news anchor and media personality, made a stunning appearance at the Glamour Women of the Year 2023 Awards. Her red strapless gown featured a lace trim and a thigh-high split, which elegantly showcased her curves.

What To Watch. Today we recommend a mix of new releases and newly available titles, from movies and shows, all available to stream on the most popular platforms.5 Latin horror movies to watch this HalloweenWhat to watch: 7 movies and shows to stream this week — Oct 27The new Netflix mini-series is a curious blend of things. Directed by Shawn Levy, known for his upbeat and nostalgic work in “Stranger Things,” “Free Guy,” and “The Adam Project,” “All The Light We Cannot See” is a tone shift.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi have made a name for themselves in the documentary world as the filmmakers behind “The Rescue” and the Oscar-winning “Free Solo.” So it makes sense that their narrative feature directing debut, “Nyad,” would focus on a true story — that of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad’s attempts to swim the 110 miles from Cuba to Florida in her 60s. Considering the pair’s history, it’s not surprising that “Nyad” is visually impressive and nails the rousing storytelling. But the directors also draw excellent performances out of their actors, particularly the trio of Annette Bening as the prickly Nyad, Jodie Foster as her friend and coach Bonnie Stoll and Rhys Ifans as navigator John Bartlett.

EXCLUSIVE: Rob Reiner, who directed LBJ starring Woody Harrelson, and journalist Soledad O’Brien have teamed up to find out the truth about JFK’s murder.

With Halloween out the way and the festive season around the corner, there's plenty to keep you entertained on Netflix this November.

Strictly star Layton Williams said he was ‘grateful for every second’ as he prepared to take to the dancefloor for this evening’s Halloween-themed show.

BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin have spoken about 'making a difference' and proving 'unfair' criticism wrong. Last Saturday night, the Bury-born actor and his dance partner delivered a stunning samba to Cuban anthem Quimbara, earning them a whopping 39 out of 40 points from the judges.This is a feat that hasn't been achieved in week five of the competition in 13 years.

Taking to the Strictly dance floor in front of millions last Saturday night, Bury-born actor Layton Williams and his dance partner Nikita Kuzmin delivered a mesmerising samba which received huge praise from the judges.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director “Kingsman” director Matthew Vaughn knows a thing or two about bringing comic books to life on the big screen as the filmmaker behind acclaimed outings such as “Kick-Ass” and “X-Men: First Class.” In a recent interview with ScreenRant, the director shared his thoughts on the current era of comic book movies. He said poor visual effects are negatively impacting superhero movies, while also sharing his belief that Marvel needs to take a “less is more” approach. “I genuinely don’t know what’s happening with the superhero [genre] in the sense that, I do think, maybe we all need a little bit of time off from it,” Vaughn said.

EXCLUSIVE: Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) and Jonnie “Dumbfoundead” Park (Raya and the Last Dragon) have joined the cast of K-Pops!, the film marking the directorial debut of eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak, which we were first to report on. Also now aboard the project from Stampede Ventures, which has secured an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA, is new strategic partner Live Nation Productions, which has made an equity investment into the production alongside the former company. It’s been set to enter production in Los Angeles October 30, with additional filming to be done in Korea and AlUla, an ancient Saudi Arabia market city which was scouted through Film AlUla, the film agency of The Royal Commission.

EXCLUSIVE: Netflix debuts the first track of Nyad score ahead of the film’s theatrical release. The film is scored by two-time Oscar-winning composer Alexandre Desplat (The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Shape of Water).

Kim Jong-un is alleged to have executed a general by 'throwing him into fish tank full of deadly piranhas' - in an act reminiscent of a James Bond film. The unnamed general was accused of planning a coup against Mr Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, but ended up as the latest victim of the newly-developed execution method.

Nyad is not your average sports biopic. It centers around a lesbian in her 60s who accomplishes something incredible that no one has before. She faces age discrimination, homophobia, and even sharks as she proves what she can do in open water, and makes history in the process.