One-Stop Shop Opens: the New Spain Audiovisual Bureau

Emiliano De Pablos Portuguse public broadcaster RTP has taken an undisclosed co-production stake in animated series “My Brother Is a T-Rez,” a Spanish-Portuguese project created and directed by Spaniard Javi Peces (“Bento”). Executive produced by Celine Fernandes at Portuguese animation house Lusco Fusco Animation in co-production with Madrid-based Mr. Klaus Studio, “My Brother” is an upper pre-school series project aimed to promote adventure, educational and sustainability values. The project was previously pre-bought by Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE for its children-oriented channel Clan TV.

Emiliano De Pablos As part of its objective of building into a key industry hub in the European animation and VFX landscape, Spain’s Madrid will host for the first time an edition of renowned training event Cartoon Springboard, which will run Oct. 25-27. 24 animated series and feature film projects by young European talents will be presented at the meeting, where a panel of experts will mentor the selected writers, directors, and producers with the aim of strengthening their projects both creatively and financially.  Organised by Cartoon, the training event reaches Madrid, after having been previously held in the cities of Valencia, Valenciennes and Halle. 

Emiliano De Pablos “The Silence of the Ants,” by documentary filmmaker Francisco Montoro, snagged top prizes at the 18th Lau Haizetara Documentary Co-Production Forum, part of the San Sebastián Festival. The documentary took the Ibaia–Elkargi Award for best project at the pitching session, plus the Distribution and Festival Consultancy Treeline Award and the Fipadoc Biarritz Award. Produced by Apnea Films, “The Silence of the Ants” follows a Spanish couple who traveled to the Ukraine in 2015 to find the seven-year-old girl they hosted for temporary foster care. Federation Spain’s “Carapirú: El Superviviente,” by Aner Etxebarria and Pablo Vidal, took The Ibaia – Bilibin Circular Prize for its environmental values with a title suggesting a combination of “Cast Away” and “Apocalypto” translated to real life in Brazil’s Amazon jungle.

Getting “Closer.” Steve Jobs’ youngest daughter, Eve Jobs, is dating The Chainsmokers’ Drew Taggart, Us Weekly can exclusively reveal.

Emiliano De Pablos Spain’s Madrid region is riding the crest of a wave towards becoming one of the most important animation/VFX hubs in Europe. Taking in the country’s capital, the Madrid region hosts more than 32% of Spain’s active audiovisual companies and around 31% of its animation and VFX firms.  Regional animation and VFX players – structured around Pixel Cluster Madrid –  scored last year a net revenue of €72.6 million ($72.6 million) and generated 1,855 jobs.  “Animation and video games are strategic sectors within the economy of Madrid,” says Ignacio Carballo, head of audiovisual industries in the Madrid region. “They are elements of the future, dynamizers.”

Alexandra Shipp, Jennifer Morrison and Thuso Mbedu arrive in style for the Through Her Lens: The Tribeca CHANEL Women’s Filmmaker Program Luncheon held at Locanda Verde on Tuesday afternoon (September 20) in New York City.

New Order and Pet Shop Boys kicked off their joint North American tour over the weekend – see footage, pictures and the setlists from their opening night below.The British synthpop titans’ tour got underway at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage on Saturday (September 17) following delays due to the COVID pandemic.The Unity Tour’s revised dates include guest DJ Paul Oakenfold and take in an additional date at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in New York. Head here for any remaining tickets.New Order opened their set on Saturday with ‘Regret’ and wrapped with a cover of Joy Division‘s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.Pet Shop Boys, meanwhile, opened with ‘Surburbia’ before closing with ‘Being Boring’.

Emiliano De Pablos Eight animated TV series projects involving Spanish companies will be presented to buyers and producers attending 2022 Cartoon Forum’s pitching sessions, the event’s main attraction.  Among well-known production companies presenting their latest cartoon shows figure In Efecto Atlantis, the Spanish-French studio behind Disney’s series “Tara Duncan;”Sygnatia, the producer of multi-award winning animated film “Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles,” and Peekaboo Animation, creator of world sales hit series “I, Elvis Riboldi.”  Two of the Spanish projects selected (“My Brother is a T-Rez” and “Polka Dot Zebra”) target preschoolers; five titles (“Bertie’s Brainwaves,” “Best Friends Forever… Stranded!,” “Mervyn’s Album,” “The Little Orchestra” and “Zoey Oceans”) are intended for older children; “Firsts” aims for family audiences.

Emiliano De Pablos The rise of Spain’s animation power promises to provide one of the leading narratives at this year’s Cartoon Forum.   In one of its strongest representations ever at the Toulouse event, eight high-profile TV series projects from Spain will be pitched, trailing only France.   To complete its standout presence, a spotlight on Spain will take place at the Forum, with several networking activities to promote local industry, backed by Spanish trade promotion broad ICEX in collaboration with Diboos, the country’s toon and VFX federation. In recent years, the animation scene has experienced a historic growth, becoming a key sector in the rapidly growing local audiovisual market. 

The Independent Film & Television Alliance has today unveiled the confirmed exhibitors, as well as the opening speakers for the 43rd edition of the American Film Market, taking place at the Loews Beach Hotel in Santa Monica and theatres throughout the city from November 1-6.

Zack Sharf The long-running “Scream” franchise is moving out of Woodsboro and coming to New York City for its upcoming sixth installment. It’s a creative decision that will make the franchise all the more terrifying, says cast member Melissa Barrera. No “Scream” film has ever been set in the big city. “It’s like 20 times more mortifying,” Barrera told Collider about setting the new “Scream” film in New York City. “It’s awful. Because you also see how, in a city like New York City, everyone is kind of doing their own thing and someone is screaming for help, and no one will come to their help.” Barrera continued, “No one comes to help them, you know, like, everyone’s kind of like, ‘I’m not getting into that.’ So it’s mortifying, because you’re chased by Ghostface, but you also see humanity and how that reacts in a situation like that. Anyway, I think I’ve already probably said too much.”

Actor Jacob Elordi has been cast as Elvis Presley in the upcoming Sofia Coppola film "Priscilla," and is slated to star alongside Cailee Spaeny, who will play Priscilla Presley. "Priscilla" will be based on Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir, "Elvis & Me." (Getty Images) Based on Priscilla's 1985 memoir "Elvis & Me," the film will recount her personal life with Elvis.The book went on to become both an international success and "New York Times" bestseller. Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley were married from 1967 to 1973.

Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny are about to take on iconic roles. The actors have been cast to play Elvis and Priscilla Presley, respectively, in Sofia Coppola's upcoming film, , ET confirms.Based on Priscilla's 1985 memoir, , which provided an intimate account of Priscilla's life with Elvis, Coppola wrote the script and is set to direct the film, which will begin shooting in Toronto this fall.Elvis and Priscilla wed in 1967 and had one child, Lisa Marie Presley.

Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny are set to star in the newest Elvis and Priscilla Presley focused movie, titled Priscilla.

Angelique Jackson Priscilla Beaulieu Presley’s 1985 bestselling memoir “Elvis and Me” is set to get the big screen treatment, courtesy of Sofia Coppola. Coppola wrote and will direct the feature film, titled “Priscilla,” with Cailee Spaeny (“Mare of Easttown,” “Bad Times at the El Royale”) attached to star as Presley and Jacob Elordi (“Euphoria,” “Saltburn”) as Elvis. The film will shoot in Toronto this fall. A24 will distribute the project in North America, with Vision Distribution handling distribution in Italy — where it will later become a Sky exclusive. Stage 6 Films/Sony Pictures International Releasing will distribute in the rest of the world.

America's Got Talent have a pretty strong bond both on and off-camera - none more so than Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum.MORE: Howie Mandel delivers tough critiques to divisive AGT live performanceWhile the pair have become close friends due to their time spent together, the unconscious comparisons do arise, especially in Sofia's mind.VIDEO: Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum show off AGT finale outfitsThe actress sat down with fellow judge Howie Mandel on his podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff to discuss her life and career.While talking about feelings of security among the group, they both asserted that Heidi was "super secure, being a supermodel".MORE: Sofia Vergara readies for momentous performance ahead of AGT grand finalsSofia continued: "I feel like I'm secure.