Movistar Plus Ramps up TV Production

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaShowtime Documentary Films will debut Alexandra Pelosi’s “American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself” just before the presidential election.The company is also planning a major Oscar campaign for the documentary — which looks at one of the most chaotic and transformative years in American history, one marked by a once-in-a-generation pandemic, as well as a financial collapse and a galvanizing social justice movement.

Sony has announced October’s free PlayStation Plus titles that members will be eligible to download for the course of the month.From high-octane racing in Need For Speed: Payback to the atmospheric gothic horror of Vampyr, both titles will be free to download on PS4 for PlayStation Plus members from October 6 through to November 2.Need For Speed: Payback aims to deliver a summer blockbuster experience through exhilarating set pieces, nail-biting heists and visceral vehicle takedowns.

Eli Countryman The American Film Institute announced an annual scholarship to producers from communities that are underrepresented in the entertainment industry.On Friday, AFI established the Thomas P. Pollock Endowed Scholarship Fund, named after and in memory of the institute’s chair emeritus Thomas Pollock, who died in August.

Patrick Hipes Executive Managing EditorThe American Film Institute said Friday that it has established the Thomas P. Pollock Endowed Scholarship Fund in memory of Tom Pollock, the famed Hollywood attorney, Universal Pictures chairman and producer who died last month at age 77.

Variety as Warner Bros. Spain unveiled its 2020-21 slate at Spain’s San Sebastian Festival, the bigger push into Spanish production will also see the Hollywood studio continuing to partner on a joint development fund with Atresmedia Cine – a title-by-title non-exclusive alliance which is emerging as a key production axis on the Spanish movie scene.

 Penélope Cruz  and actor  Antonio Banderas  were both filming a comedy titled, “Official Competition.” This film is considered to be one of “the year’s highest-profile international Spanish productions,” according to Variety. @lancomeofficial new

Mark David “The Vampire Diaries” co-creator Julie Plec, who also co-created its spin-offs “The Originals” and “Legacies,” seeks a deep-pocketed buyer for her former home in L.A.’s popular and centrally located Beverly Grove neighborhood.Listed with Heather T. Roy and Learka Bosnak of Douglas Elliman with an asking price pushing up on $3.3 million, the just over 3,700-square-foot vaguely Italianate villa was built in 2006 and purchased by the budding TV titan in 2011 for $1.95 million.

Will Thorne Staff WriterThere’s been another change behind the scenes at one of the Disney Plus “Star Wars” shows.“Black Mirror” alumnus Toby Haynes has been tapped to direct the first three episodes of the “Rogue One” spinoff series centered around Cassian Andor, Variety has confirmed.

Jamie Lang One of Spanish pay TV Movistar Plus’ most ambitious pushes into original, international TV yet, the 20th Century-spanning period drama “Tell Me Who I Am,” will headline Monday evening’s Movistar Gala at the San Sebastian Film Festival, screening episodes out of competition.Director Eduard Cortés will be joined on the red carpet by lead actors Irene Escolar and Oriel Pla, screenwriter and author of book on which the series is based Julia Navarro, producer José Luis Escolar, executive

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentIn the run-up to the San Sebastián film festival, where Movistar Plus will world-premiere two of its most ambitious series to date — “Riot Police” and “Tell Me Who I Am” — president Sergio Oslé chatted with Variety about its new phase in production, working with AMC Studios, and the runaway success of a series about what makes people kill for their ideas.Movistar Plus seems to be entering a different production phase…. It was very clear to me that

Emiliano De Pablos Navarre has never had such a prominent presence at the San Sebastian Festival as in this year’s lineup.Five linked-to-Navarre productions – three films, a TV series and a documentary – will screen at the Festival, highlighting its status as a standout hub for the Spanish audiovisual industry.Navarre’s higher-profile at San Sebastian, the biggest movie event in the Spanish-speaking world, is no coincidence.Since 2015, the northern Spain region has attracted Spanish productions

Jamie Lang Spain’s northern region of Navarre has fortified its position as a hub for the audiovisual industry in recent years and, mirroring trends seen elsewhere in the country, seen particularly strong growth in TV production in the past year, in spite of the current COVID-19 pandemic.Why is another matter. In 2019, Netflix produced more hours of original productions in Spain (163) than any other country outside the U.S., apart from South Korea (238), according to an Omdia analysis.

Tatiana Maslany — even when she's angry — but we're fully onboard for this casting: Maslany has been cast in the titular role in Marvel's Disney+ series,, according to multiplereports.A fan-favorite character first introduced in the '80s, Jennifer Walters is cousin to Bruce Banner and inherits his ability to Hulk out via an emergency blood transfusion from him.

Sure, Donald Trump is president of the United States, but in Chris Rock’s opinion, he’s not the one with the real power.

Sony has announced a new perk for PlayStation Plus members which allows the ability to play a selection of PS4 titles for free on the PS5.Described as “generation defining PS4 games”, the new benefit works similarly to Xbox Game Pass, and will be available for the PS5 on launch day.

Ed Meza @edmezavarWith a diverse lineup of series coming out this year, HBO España is making its mark in Europe with top tier productions that differentiate themselves from the current crop of shows currently on the market, according to the service’s head of original programming.Discussing the pay TV outlet’s strategy and upcoming productions at this year’s Conecta Fiction Reboot confab, Miguel Salvat, HBO España’s commissioning editor of original programming, said the channel receives and

Emiliano De Pablos Five Madrid-based companies, led by leading Spanish production house Tornasol Films, producer of Oscar-winner “The Secret in Their Eyes,” are teaming to launch services consortium Centro Navarro para la Producción Cinematográfica in Navarre, Northern Spain.Based out of the Sarrio industrial park in Berrioplano, a town near Pamplona, CNPC will provide production services, develop R&D projects and launch industry training programs in a region of Spain that is consolidating as a

straight to your inboxHere are your Manchester United morning headlines for Sunday, 6 September.Thiago Alcantara responds to Manchester United rumoursBayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantarahas issued a defiant message about his future amid continued speculation linking him with a move this summer.The Spanish midfielder has reportedly told the German giants he won’t be extending his current contract at the Allianz which expires in 2021.

Ann-Marie Corvin Filming is underway on new police thriller “Parot” – a series based on the chaos that followed a controversial move seven years ago to reverse a piece of legislation in Spain that ensured prisoners served their full jail terms.The ten-part drama, made up of one-hour episodes, focuses on a series of retribution attacks on prisoners who were subsequently released early, and a police officer determined to track down the person or people responsible for a series of revenge

Disney+ yet?The Mouse House's streaming service is headlined by content from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that galaxy far, far away, plus the latest from Pixar and Nat Geo, but the Disney vault is full of other titles you may not know are streaming.