Spain Bids to Grab Top Spot

Spain to Abu Dhabi.Prosecutors in the Spanish Supreme Court said Wednesday they didn't find evidence that could be prosecuted, because the monarch was protected by immunity until his abdication eight years ago and because any possible fraud fell out of the statute of limitations.The probes allowed the recovery of 5.1 million euros ($5.6 million) in fines and taxes for income that Juan Carlos had failed to declare to Spain's tax authorities, the prosecutors said in their conclusions.The former monarch, 84, moved to the United Arab Emirates in mid-2020 after the judicial probes on his possible financial wrongdoings emerged. A Swiss probe on money laundering was also dropped recently.Spanish media have reported Juan Carlos' interest in returning home, but the issue is highly divisive in Spain: some say the former king's role in steering the country from dictatorship to democracy in the late 1970s and early 1980s trumps his sins, while a growing number have used the probes to demand more accountability for members of the royal family — or even to open a debate on the future of Spain's monarchy.Juan Carlos abdicated in favor of his son Felipe VI in 2014 following a series of scandals in the royal family.

One of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) most wanted fugitives has been arrested in Spain.

Tom Parker has reportedly spent the last week in Spain, receiving "revolutionary treatment" amid his ongoing cancer battle The 33 year old, who recently enjoyed a sunny holiday abroad with his family, was diagnosed with grade four glioblastoma in October 2020, and has since gone through 30 rounds of chemotherapy and another 30 of radiotherapy.The treatment has thankfully been working, with the star revealing his tumour is now "stable" back in November. Now, according to The Sun, The Wanted star has been staying in a private hospital, receiving treatment ahead of his upcoming reunion tour with his band, which starts on Thursday 2 March.

Premio Lo Nuestro, the oldest Spanish awards show had another year of epic presenters, and performances. HOLA! USA had the opportunity to cover the red carpet and attend the show- check out the top 10 best moments. PAULINA RUBIO THE QUEENPaulina Rubio had the best performance of the night, as she performed a medley of her top hits. ‘La Chica Dorada’ looked amazing as she showcased her voice and dance moves.

In a close week which saw new entries from Bad Boy Chiller Crew and Sea Power vying for Number 1, Ed Sheeran reclaims the top spot with = (Equals), as Bad Boy Chiller Crew boast this week’s highest new entry with Disrespectful. 

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorBerlinale Competition title “Return to Dust,” written and directed by China’s Li Ruijun, has been sold to Modern Films for U.K. and Ireland, and BTeam Pictures for Spain.

After nearly two years of tough travel restrictions many Brits will be looking forward to jetting away on a foreign holiday this year.

EXCLUSIVE: Saban Films is continuing to expand its international footprint, having recently inked a deal with distribution partners in Switzerland and Benelux. The L.A.-based company has signed with WW Entertainment in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) and Ascot Elite in Switzerland, which it will add to deals it already has in place in the UK and Ireland (Altitude), Germany and Austria (Splendid), France (ACE Entertainment), Spain (Key2Media), Scandinavia (Mis.Label) and Australia and New Zealand (Defiant Screen Entertainment).

Javier Bardem at Saturday’s Goya prize ceremony. The prizes marked both Leon and Bardem’s seventh Goya wins. Produced by El Reposado and The Mediapro Studio, and a workplace dramedy skewering the abuse of power practised by a seemingly benign factory owner, “The Good Boss” also won best director and original screenplay for León, as well as best score and editing.Blanca Portillo beat out “Parallel Mothers’” Oscar-nominated Penélope Cruz, thanks to Portillo’s powerful performance as Maixabel Lasa, the real life widow of former Basque Country governor Juan Mari Jauregui who agreed in 2011 to meet one of his ETA killers. Her forgiveness, and Portillo’s portrait, has touched a large nerve in Spain.

Jamie Lang The success of Spain’s regional talent peppers the country’s record-setting Berlinale presence. Both movies in Competition – Isaki Lacuesta’s “One Year, One Night” and Carla Simón’s “Alcarrás” – are made by Catalan directors and are Catalan co-productions.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentLola Arabia, the United Arab Emirates label of Oscar-winning Spanish producer Andrés Vicente Gómez (“Belle Epoque”), has struck a 12-movie co-production deal with Dubai-based Charisma Group.The alliance will take in a range of titles, from $2 million-budgeted contemporary comedies to banner productions budgeted at $40 million, revolving around contemporary and historic stories of West Asia.The partners aim to produce an average of four films a year, said Charisma Group co-president Ayham Al Ziyoud.Development has begun on the whole slate. “Although in principle we plan projects with modest budgets, these will be increased in the following year once we find the rights partners outside the Gulf States,” Gómez said.

Emiliano De Pablos Media giant Mediaset has acquired Italian distribution rights to Spanish writer-director Benito Zambrano’s drama “Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake,” produced and sold by Barcelona-based studio Filmax.News of the deal comes just before Filmax screens “Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake” to buyers at this year’s online European Film Market.Described as high-quality cinema for adults and predominantly female audiences, “Lemon and Poppy Seed Cake” adapts the novel of the same title by screenwriter and casting specialist Cristina Campos. It has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide.A member of  Spain’s generation of directors that broke out in the 1990s,  helping Spanish movies find far larger favor with audiences at home, Zambrano’s breakout debut, 1999’s “Alone,” won the Panorama Audience Award at Berlin.

Love Island star Amber Davies wowed her fans in a plunging corset top as she appeared backstage at Proud Embankment in London on Monday.The West End actress, who plays Judy Bernly in the smash hit musical 9 to 5, was seen in the daring outfit while chatting to John Partridge ahead of his Cabaret All Stars Show.The 25 year old star watched the performance with glee as she gears up to replace the former EastEnders actor in March. Amber, who recently got a tattoo after she rekindled her romance with boyfriend Nick Kyriacou, looked stunning as she rocked a chocolate-brown strapless corset that showed off her cleavage.

Emmerdale fans have seen an unexpected arrival take to the screens in the shape of Marcus Dean. Son of soap villain Pierce Harris, Marcus has arrived in search of his criminal father’s ex-wife Rhona Goskirk. With Marcus and Rhona struggling to get hold of one another after Vanessa pretended to be Rhona, fans are eager to find out how the storyline unfolds.

Emilio Mayorga Barcelona-based Nanouk Films and Funicular Films and Spanish pubcaster TVE are partnering to produce “This is Not Sweden,” a dark comedy half hour which marks the first Spanish show to be presented at the Göteborg’s Festival’s TV Drama Vision.Set in the idyllic Vallvidrera, a suburb in the foothills of the Collserola mountains surrounding Barcelona, the six-part series explores parenting and other family-related issues by focusing on a young couple ­– Mariana and Samuel – who has just moved there and wants to raise their children in contact with nature.“This is Not Sweden” is created by actor-director Aina Clotet, a Malaga Fest best actress winner for “Someone’s Daughter” and by producer Sergi Cameron. Clotet will direct along with Coll, who won a best new director Goya for “Three Days with the Family.” “‘This is Not Sweden’s’ international appeal has always been a key objective for Aina, Marta and myself.