Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “Official Competition,” a new Spain/Argentina film about a trio – two actors and a director – trying to get a film out of rehearsal and in front of the cameras. It opened in select theaters on July 1st, 2022, see local listings.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
This is the story of a billionaire named Humberto (Jose Luis Gomez), who wants his legacy to be the greatest movie ever made, so he buys a hot novel about rival brothers and hires the greatest director working, Lola Cuevas (Penelope Cruz). Lola in turn hires the greatest and purest legendary actor Ivan (Oscar Martinez) and the greatest movie idol Felix (Antonio Banderas) to see how they will work together. Not surprisingly, it’s very badly, but the clever Lola has many tricks up her sleeve to get their best performances, and with only nine rehearsals the rivalry has just begun.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
This is the story of a billionaire named Humberto (Jose Luis Gomez), who wants his legacy to be the greatest movie ever made, so he buys a hot novel about rival brothers and hires the greatest director working, Lola Cuevas (Penelope Cruz). Lola in turn hires the greatest and purest legendary actor Ivan (Oscar Martinez) and the greatest movie idol Felix (Antonio Banderas) to see how they will work together. Not surprisingly, it’s very badly, but the clever Lola has many tricks up her sleeve to get their best performances, and with only nine rehearsals the rivalry has just begun.
- 7/4/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Mubi Go, which has helped buoy NYC’s arthouse market by offering members a free movie ticket a week at participating theaters, expands to LA today where the biz could really use a boost. The films are curated and the first is Apple’s Cha Cha Real Smooth.
Mubi, a global streaming service, production company and film distributor, launched Mubi Go in New York last fall and will continue expanding to major markets through 2022 with Chicago next. “We’re being very careful and methodical about the rollout,” said distribution chief Chris Wells.
Mubi members get Mubi Go as a perk. The company doesn’t release subscriber numbers but Wells said its NYC base jumped by 30 after it added Mubi Go.
Movie picks include its own releases, like Lingui, The Sacred Bonds, but mostly from other distributors from Drive My Car, The Power of the Dog and Passing to We’re...
Mubi, a global streaming service, production company and film distributor, launched Mubi Go in New York last fall and will continue expanding to major markets through 2022 with Chicago next. “We’re being very careful and methodical about the rollout,” said distribution chief Chris Wells.
Mubi members get Mubi Go as a perk. The company doesn’t release subscriber numbers but Wells said its NYC base jumped by 30 after it added Mubi Go.
Movie picks include its own releases, like Lingui, The Sacred Bonds, but mostly from other distributors from Drive My Car, The Power of the Dog and Passing to We’re...
- 6/17/2022
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
In the run-up to its roll-out in cinema theaters around the world, Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas starrer “Official Competition” has a official trailer.
Variety has had exclusive access to its international subtitled version. Buena Vista International will release “Official Competition” in Spanish cinemas on Feb. 25.
Spanish producer The Mediapro Studio and London-based international sales agent Protagonist Pictures already dropped a 48-second teaser trailer in late July, just before the film’s announced selection – appositely – for Official Competition at September’s Venice Film Festival, where it world premiered in September and was pretty much liked by everyone.
The now dropped official trailer is a minute longer and hits the movie’s main plot points: “Official Competition” begins with a billionaire businessman deciding to make a movie that leaves his mark on history. So he hires Cannes Palme d’Or winning filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Cruz), whose oeuvre includes “The Inverted Rain,...
Variety has had exclusive access to its international subtitled version. Buena Vista International will release “Official Competition” in Spanish cinemas on Feb. 25.
Spanish producer The Mediapro Studio and London-based international sales agent Protagonist Pictures already dropped a 48-second teaser trailer in late July, just before the film’s announced selection – appositely – for Official Competition at September’s Venice Film Festival, where it world premiered in September and was pretty much liked by everyone.
The now dropped official trailer is a minute longer and hits the movie’s main plot points: “Official Competition” begins with a billionaire businessman deciding to make a movie that leaves his mark on history. So he hires Cannes Palme d’Or winning filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Cruz), whose oeuvre includes “The Inverted Rain,...
- 11/26/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Following a tussle for rights in the territory, Protagonist Pictures has closed a French all-rights deal with Wild Bunch for well-received comedy Official Competition, starring Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Oscar Martínez.
The Spanish-language film, produced by MediaPro Studio, recently had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
In Official Competition, Cruz plays renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas, who is recruited by a billionaire entrepreneur who impulsively decides to create an iconic movie. Banderas will star as Hollywood heartthrob Félix Rivero, and joining them is Argentinian actor Oscar Martínez, who plays radical theatre actor Iván Torres.
Pic is directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat from a script they wrote with Andrés Duprat.
The film has also booked a Special Presentations berth at the Toronto International Film Festival and will open this year’s Perlak Section at the upcoming San Sebastian International Film Festival.
The Spanish-language film, produced by MediaPro Studio, recently had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
In Official Competition, Cruz plays renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas, who is recruited by a billionaire entrepreneur who impulsively decides to create an iconic movie. Banderas will star as Hollywood heartthrob Félix Rivero, and joining them is Argentinian actor Oscar Martínez, who plays radical theatre actor Iván Torres.
Pic is directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat from a script they wrote with Andrés Duprat.
The film has also booked a Special Presentations berth at the Toronto International Film Festival and will open this year’s Perlak Section at the upcoming San Sebastian International Film Festival.
- 9/13/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Five years ago, Gaston Duprat and Mariano Cohn’s “The Distinguished Citizen” premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It was one of the sharpest and funniest comedy-dramas of the year, and its star, Oscar Martinez, won the Festival’s acting prize, the Cuppa Volpi. But it didn’t get much of a release in English-speaking countries. The follow-up from the Argentinian directing team, “Official Competition” is more likely to be seen by audiences around the world. Martinez has one of the lead roles again, but this time he is acting opposite two of Spain’s — and the world’s — most glamorous superstars, Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
Astoundingly, despite being Almodóvar regulars, Cruz and Banderas have never done any substantial acting together. They had a brief joint scene in Almodóvar’s “I’m So Excited,” and in “Pain and Glory,” Cruz played the mother of Banderas’ character in his boyhood flashbacks.
Astoundingly, despite being Almodóvar regulars, Cruz and Banderas have never done any substantial acting together. They had a brief joint scene in Almodóvar’s “I’m So Excited,” and in “Pain and Glory,” Cruz played the mother of Banderas’ character in his boyhood flashbacks.
- 9/4/2021
- by Nicholas Barber
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Ahead of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Protagonist Pictures has closed a UK all rights deal with Curzon for Spanish-language pic Official Competition starring Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz and Oscar Martínez.
In Official Competition, Oscar winner Cruz plays renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas, who is recruited by a billionaire entrepreneur who impulsively decides to create an iconic movie. Banderas will star as Hollywood heartthrob Félix Rivero, and joining them is Argentinian actor Oscar Martínez (The Distinguished Citizen), who plays radical theatre actor Iván Torres.
The Spanish-language comedy, directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat from a script they wrote with Andrés Duprat, will also screen in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival and will open this year’s Perlak Section at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
The deal for the film that debuts as part of the competition line up at Venice, was...
In Official Competition, Oscar winner Cruz plays renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas, who is recruited by a billionaire entrepreneur who impulsively decides to create an iconic movie. Banderas will star as Hollywood heartthrob Félix Rivero, and joining them is Argentinian actor Oscar Martínez (The Distinguished Citizen), who plays radical theatre actor Iván Torres.
The Spanish-language comedy, directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat from a script they wrote with Andrés Duprat, will also screen in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival and will open this year’s Perlak Section at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
The deal for the film that debuts as part of the competition line up at Venice, was...
- 9/4/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas Comedy ‘Official Competition’ Drops First Teaser Trailer (Exclusive)
Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas are Spain’s biggest Hollywood names, and Pedro Almodovar’s most frequent stars, but – extraordinary as it may seem – to date, they’ve had just two minutes on screen together, in the opening scene of 2013’s “I’m So Excited.”
In comedy “Official Competition,” a frontrunner for Venice selection next Monday, they get to share the screen for the whole of the film. If a teaser trailer, released Thursday, is anything to go by, however, for their characters at least it doesn’t look like a comfortable experience at all.
Produced by The Mediapro Studio, with Rtve, TV3 and Orange España, and brought onto the market by sales agent Protagonist Pictures at this year’s Berlin, “Official Competition” begins with a billionaire businessman deciding to make a movie that leaves his mark on history.
To do so, he hires famed filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Cruz), Hollywood hearthrob...
In comedy “Official Competition,” a frontrunner for Venice selection next Monday, they get to share the screen for the whole of the film. If a teaser trailer, released Thursday, is anything to go by, however, for their characters at least it doesn’t look like a comfortable experience at all.
Produced by The Mediapro Studio, with Rtve, TV3 and Orange España, and brought onto the market by sales agent Protagonist Pictures at this year’s Berlin, “Official Competition” begins with a billionaire businessman deciding to make a movie that leaves his mark on history.
To do so, he hires famed filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Cruz), Hollywood hearthrob...
- 7/22/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Following the presentation of exclusive footage at the European Film Market last week, highly anticipated title “Official Competition” – reuniting Spanish stars Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz – has seized sales to major distributors for sales agency Protagonist Pictures and producer The Mediapro Studio.
Banderas, Cannes best actor winner and Academy Award nominee for “Pain and Glory,” and Cruz, Academy Award winner for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” star alongside Argentinian actor Oscar Martínez, Venice best actor winner for “The Distinguished Citizen,” in the comedy about the fierce rivalry between two actors with massive talent but even bigger egos.
Lucky Red has acquired the film for Italy, Studiocanal for Germany/Austria, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Pathe Films Ag for Switzerland, MK2 Mile End for Canada, Madman for Australia/New Zealand, Golden Scene for Hong Kong/Macau, and Sahamongkol Film for Thailand, with further deals closed previously at EFM 2020 for Benelux (September Film), Portugal (Lusomundo), Cee...
Banderas, Cannes best actor winner and Academy Award nominee for “Pain and Glory,” and Cruz, Academy Award winner for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” star alongside Argentinian actor Oscar Martínez, Venice best actor winner for “The Distinguished Citizen,” in the comedy about the fierce rivalry between two actors with massive talent but even bigger egos.
Lucky Red has acquired the film for Italy, Studiocanal for Germany/Austria, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Pathe Films Ag for Switzerland, MK2 Mile End for Canada, Madman for Australia/New Zealand, Golden Scene for Hong Kong/Macau, and Sahamongkol Film for Thailand, with further deals closed previously at EFM 2020 for Benelux (September Film), Portugal (Lusomundo), Cee...
- 3/10/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Headlined by Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, The Mediapro Studio’s “Official Competition,” one of the year’s highest-profile international Spanish productions lensing in Spain, has resumed shooting.
Compounding the difficulty of going into production for a second time, the film features an international cast including Argentine heavyweight Oscar Martínez, a former San Sebastian, Venice and Argentine Academy best actor award-winner, plus two Argentina-based directors, Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat.
They will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself this time around. Eight days after production started in March of this year, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down filming when it became unsafe to continue. Ominously, as shooting resumes this week, parts of Spain, led by Madrid, are reintroducing stricter lockdown conditions once again, as the daily number of new cases is rising.
“Official Competition” features Banderas and Martínez as renowned actors of large talent but even bigger egos, set on...
Compounding the difficulty of going into production for a second time, the film features an international cast including Argentine heavyweight Oscar Martínez, a former San Sebastian, Venice and Argentine Academy best actor award-winner, plus two Argentina-based directors, Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat.
They will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself this time around. Eight days after production started in March of this year, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down filming when it became unsafe to continue. Ominously, as shooting resumes this week, parts of Spain, led by Madrid, are reintroducing stricter lockdown conditions once again, as the daily number of new cases is rising.
“Official Competition” features Banderas and Martínez as renowned actors of large talent but even bigger egos, set on...
- 9/22/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Local authorities implement safety precautions amid outbreak.
Spain’s The Mediapro Studio has announced it is temporarily halting the shoot on Competencia Oficial (Official Competition) directed by Argentinian duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat and starring Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
Production started in Madrid a few weeks ago and stopped on Wednesday (11) after the spread of coronavirus in the region forced local authorities to implement safety measures including the closure of schools and universities and a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
The decision to halt production will allow, according to The Mediapro Studio’s note to the press,...
Spain’s The Mediapro Studio has announced it is temporarily halting the shoot on Competencia Oficial (Official Competition) directed by Argentinian duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat and starring Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
Production started in Madrid a few weeks ago and stopped on Wednesday (11) after the spread of coronavirus in the region forced local authorities to implement safety measures including the closure of schools and universities and a ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
The decision to halt production will allow, according to The Mediapro Studio’s note to the press,...
- 3/12/2020
- by 1101324¦Elisabet Cabeza¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Madrid — Filming has begun in Spain on “Competencia Oficial” (“Official Competition”) starring Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas’ and Oscar Martínez, and one of the biggest Spanish-language features to go into production this year.
Argentina’s Martínez, though less well known abroad, is one of the grand talents of Latin American cinema and theater, winning a best actor Coppa Volpi Award at Venice in 2016 for “The Distinguished Citizen.”
Sold by Protagonist Pictures, and part of a new push by The Mediapro Studio into movie production, “Official Competition” also suggests one approach to movie production at a time when the independent sector is increasingly challenged by dwindling returns in theatrical: Scale up, playing off revenues from high-end drama series production and take on board homegrown Hollywood talent to become part of a privileged top-echelon of titles which can sell, and strongly, in theatrical or cut a choice moneyed deal with a platform.
Written...
Argentina’s Martínez, though less well known abroad, is one of the grand talents of Latin American cinema and theater, winning a best actor Coppa Volpi Award at Venice in 2016 for “The Distinguished Citizen.”
Sold by Protagonist Pictures, and part of a new push by The Mediapro Studio into movie production, “Official Competition” also suggests one approach to movie production at a time when the independent sector is increasingly challenged by dwindling returns in theatrical: Scale up, playing off revenues from high-end drama series production and take on board homegrown Hollywood talent to become part of a privileged top-echelon of titles which can sell, and strongly, in theatrical or cut a choice moneyed deal with a platform.
Written...
- 3/4/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Amid a flurry of buzz titles heading into Berlin’s European Film Market, this could be one of the most in-demand – I can reveal that Protagonist Pictures will launch sales on Official Competition, a comedy reuniting Spanish stars Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz.
The Spanish-language movie has Argentinian directing duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat at the helm; their credits include the 2016 Venice Competition title The Distinguished Citizen.
Prestige pair Banderas and Cruz are teaming again after appearing together recently in Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain And Glory, which was nominated for two Oscars this month including Best Actor for Banderas.
Cruz is a three-time Oscar nominee and a winner in 2009 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She was also on stage at the latest Academy Awards presenting Bong Joon Ho with his statue for Best International Feature Film.
In Official Competition, Cruz will play renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas, who is recruited...
The Spanish-language movie has Argentinian directing duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat at the helm; their credits include the 2016 Venice Competition title The Distinguished Citizen.
Prestige pair Banderas and Cruz are teaming again after appearing together recently in Pedro Almodóvar’s Pain And Glory, which was nominated for two Oscars this month including Best Actor for Banderas.
Cruz is a three-time Oscar nominee and a winner in 2009 for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She was also on stage at the latest Academy Awards presenting Bong Joon Ho with his statue for Best International Feature Film.
In Official Competition, Cruz will play renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas, who is recruited...
- 2/14/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Mediapro Studio production to start shoot in Spain at end of February.
Spanish superstars Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas are to take the relatively unusual step of starring together in a film and have signed on to Competencia Oficial (Official Competition) from Argentinian duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat.
While both actors have collaborated with Pedro Almodóvar for many years and starred (without sharing the screen) in Almodóvar’s fresh Goya winner Pain & Glory, the pair have rarely been seen together at the same time on screen, The last time this happened was, briefly, in Almodóvar’s 2013 film I’m So Excited.
Spanish superstars Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas are to take the relatively unusual step of starring together in a film and have signed on to Competencia Oficial (Official Competition) from Argentinian duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat.
While both actors have collaborated with Pedro Almodóvar for many years and starred (without sharing the screen) in Almodóvar’s fresh Goya winner Pain & Glory, the pair have rarely been seen together at the same time on screen, The last time this happened was, briefly, in Almodóvar’s 2013 film I’m So Excited.
- 1/30/2020
- by 1101324¦Elisabet Cabeza¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas are to topline Spanish-language feature Competencia Oficial, which is due to get underway in Spain at the end of next month. Veteran Argentine actor Oscar Martínez will also star.
The movie is co-written and co-directed by Argentine filmmaking duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat. Andrés Duprat also scripted. The MediaPro Studio is producing.
Banderas and Martínez will play actors with very different track records whose methods clash during the preparation for a movie financed by a notorious and over-eager millionaire. Cruz will play the film’s prestigious but eccentric director.
Additional cast includes José Luis Gómez, Carlos Hipólito, Koldo Olabarri, Irene Escolar, Nagore Aramburu, Pilar Castro and Juan Grandinetti.
This will be The MediaPro Studio’s third co-production with Cohn and Duprat after My Masterpiece and 4×4.
The movie is co-written and co-directed by Argentine filmmaking duo Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat. Andrés Duprat also scripted. The MediaPro Studio is producing.
Banderas and Martínez will play actors with very different track records whose methods clash during the preparation for a movie financed by a notorious and over-eager millionaire. Cruz will play the film’s prestigious but eccentric director.
Additional cast includes José Luis Gómez, Carlos Hipólito, Koldo Olabarri, Irene Escolar, Nagore Aramburu, Pilar Castro and Juan Grandinetti.
This will be The MediaPro Studio’s third co-production with Cohn and Duprat after My Masterpiece and 4×4.
- 1/30/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Festival also launches new Vr strand.
The full jury line-ups for the 2017 Venice Film Festival (August 30-September 9) have been announced.
Baby Driver director Edgar Wright, actress Rebecca Hall and Hungarian director Ildiko Enyedi, who won a Berlin Golden Bear this year for On Body and Soul have joined the main competition jury presided over by Annette Bening.
They are joined by Mexican director Michel Franco, French actress Anna Mouglalis, Australian film critic David Stratton, Italian actress Jasmine Trinca and Hong Kong director, producer and screenwriter Yonfan.
Director John Landis will head the international jury for a new Venice Virtual Reality (Vr) section. The other Jury members are French screenwriter and director Celine Sciamma and actor/director Ricky Tognazzi.
The Vr jury will award prizes for best Vr film, grand Vr jury prize and best Vr creativity award. A restored version of Landis’ Into the Night will also be screened at Venice this year.
Italian director...
The full jury line-ups for the 2017 Venice Film Festival (August 30-September 9) have been announced.
Baby Driver director Edgar Wright, actress Rebecca Hall and Hungarian director Ildiko Enyedi, who won a Berlin Golden Bear this year for On Body and Soul have joined the main competition jury presided over by Annette Bening.
They are joined by Mexican director Michel Franco, French actress Anna Mouglalis, Australian film critic David Stratton, Italian actress Jasmine Trinca and Hong Kong director, producer and screenwriter Yonfan.
Director John Landis will head the international jury for a new Venice Virtual Reality (Vr) section. The other Jury members are French screenwriter and director Celine Sciamma and actor/director Ricky Tognazzi.
The Vr jury will award prizes for best Vr film, grand Vr jury prize and best Vr creativity award. A restored version of Landis’ Into the Night will also be screened at Venice this year.
Italian director...
- 7/24/2017
- ScreenDaily
Pedro Almodóvar named best director for Julieta; Sonia Braga wins best actress for Aquarius.
The Distinguished Citizen converted three of its four nominations at the Platino Awards in Madrid on Saturday honouring the best of Ibero-American cinema.
The feature won best film, best screenplay and best actor for Óscar Martínez, crowning almost a year of prizes and box office success for this acute comedy directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat.
The film premiered last year at the Venice Film Festival, where Óscar Martínez won the prize for best actor, playing a Nobel prize-winning writer who returns to his hometown in Argentina after years away and discovers the dangers of revisiting the past.
Winners of the fourth edition of the Platinos also included prizes for Julieta and A Monster Calls.
Pedro Almodóvar was named best director of for Julieta. In tune with political statements on the night referring to the Venezuelan crisis and the need to build...
The Distinguished Citizen converted three of its four nominations at the Platino Awards in Madrid on Saturday honouring the best of Ibero-American cinema.
The feature won best film, best screenplay and best actor for Óscar Martínez, crowning almost a year of prizes and box office success for this acute comedy directed by Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat.
The film premiered last year at the Venice Film Festival, where Óscar Martínez won the prize for best actor, playing a Nobel prize-winning writer who returns to his hometown in Argentina after years away and discovers the dangers of revisiting the past.
Winners of the fourth edition of the Platinos also included prizes for Julieta and A Monster Calls.
Pedro Almodóvar was named best director of for Julieta. In tune with political statements on the night referring to the Venezuelan crisis and the need to build...
- 7/22/2017
- ScreenDaily
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.