Spanish-Language Films Shine At This Year’s Festival

Toronto – The 33rd Toronto International Film Festival welcomes 10 exciting and innovative films by emerging and established Spanish-speaking filmmakers, joining the previously announced Spanish-language films to date. Purchase online at tiff08.ca, by phone at 416-968-FILM or 1-877-968-FILM or in person at the Festival Box Office at Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (main floor, north entrance). Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

“This is an especially exciting year for Spanish-language cinema,” says Diana Sanchez, Latin America and Spanish Programmer. “What makes this year’s selection so unique is the diversity of themes and genres, from teen comedies to compelling documentaries, and from experimental and avant-garde films to gripping dramas. This diversity is significant, and we will continue to see a burgeoning Spanish-language industry.”

GALAS

Empty Nest Daniel Burman, Argentina/Spain/France/Italy
International Premiere
Superbly imaginative and entertaining, Empty Nest offers a heartfelt look at the marital tensions between Martha (Cecilia Roth, All About My Mother) and Leonardo (Oscar Martinez) as they struggle to maintain a fresh and exciting marriage after their youngest child marries and leaves Buenos Aires. Daniel Burman’s sixth feature is laugh-out-loud funny even while nostalgic moments bring tears to the eye.

VANGUARD

Dioses Josué Méndez, Peru
North American Premiere
Members of a dysfunctional white upper-class family in Peru grapple with their own prejudices and interpersonal issues when the father brings home his new lower-class “mestizo” girlfriend. Dioses refreshingly explores the Peruvian elite’s isolation from the social and economic reality facing the majority of the country.

Voy a Explotar Gerardo Naranjo, Mexico
North American Premiere
Charged with infectious youthful energy, Voy a Explotar focuses on the romantic escapades of Roman, the 15-year-old son of a respected yet corrupt Guanajuato politician, and Maru, an introverted middle-class teenager. Gerardo Naranjo’s genuine and tender treatment of the teenager’s emotions and insecurities serves as the perfect accompaniment to the chaos of Roman and Maru’s love story.

CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA

Blind Sunflowers José Luis Cuerda, Spain
International Premiere
Set a year after the Spanish Civil War, Blind Sunflowers tells the story of a family forced to lie and keep up appearances as they become divided by internal struggles and external pressure. With a carefully crafted script based on Alberto Méndez's novel of the same name, José Luis Cuerda explores the darkness of the post-civil war era, the effects of repression and the terrible consequences of the abuse of power. The film stars Javier Cámara (Talk to Her) and Maribel Verdú (Pan’s Labyrinth).

Horn of Plenty Juan Carlos Tabío, Spain/Cuba
World Premiere
In the eighteenth century, a group of Castiñeiras nuns deposited treasure in a British bank. Buoyed by the promise of wealth, Castiñeiras descendents throughout Cuba band together to try to prove their eligibility as legitimate heirs. Horn of Plenty is a wonderfully crafted comedy that reflects on the socio-economic difficulties of contemporary Cuba with corrosive wit. The film stars Jorge Perugorría (Strawberry and Chocolate), Laura de la Uz and Mirtha Ibarra.

The Window Carlos Sorin, Spain/Argentina
World Premiere
Antonio, an ill 80-year-old man, wakes up at his house in the country on what will become the last day of his life. As the day goes by slowly, Antonio carefully contemplates each moment, each light variation while waiting for his son’s visit. Stunningly shot and wonderfully acted, The Window is a profound meditation on solitude epitomized by Antonio’s last day of life.

Radio Love Leonardo de Armas, Spain
World Premiere
At 36, Carolina leads a glamorous life as the creator and host of the successful fashion program Radio Love. The discovery of her first wrinkles and the appearance of a beautiful young woman ready to take her place at work drive Carolina into a profound existential crisis. Radio Love is a hilarious reflection on Western society’s obsession with self-realization and the constant search for happiness.

Return to Hansala Chus Gutiérrez, Spain
World Premiere
In 2001, an inflatable dinghy with Moroccan migrants shipwrecked off the Spanish town of Rota. Thirty-seven migrants drowned, 13 of whom were from Hansala. Inspired by this tragedy, Return to Hansala is a touching road movie that follows Martín, manager of a struggling funeral home, and Leila, the sister of one of the drowned boys, in their journey to bring the bodies back to Hansala.

VISIONS

Birdsong Albert Serra, Spain
North American Premiere
Stunningly shot using only natural light, El Cant dels Ocells is a contemplative reinterpretation of the Biblical journey of the Three Wise Men in search of the newborn Messiah. With a cast of non-professionals performing an improvised script, Albert Serra’s second feature builds on his ongoing interest to cinematically express real time through the exquisite exploration of earth and sky.

Témoin indésirable Juan Jose Lozano, Switzerland/France
North American Premiere
Témoin indésirable depicts Colombia’s social and political situation through the work and life of investigative journalist Hollman Morris. Morris’s commitment to bring to light many of the untold stories of Colombia’s internal armed conflict has made him and his family the target of multiple death threats and intimidation.

The Vanguard programme is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Motorola and MTV.
The Contemporary World Cinema programme is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Sun Life Financial.
The Real to Reel programme is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Discovery Channel.

Bell Lightbox
Bell Lightbox is soon to be the world's leading destination for film lovers, and a major cultural institution on the Canadian and international landscape. A five-storey podium building located on Reitman Square in the heart of Toronto’s downtown entertainment district, Bell Lightbox is designed by world-renowned Toronto-based architectural firm KPMB. The building includes five cinemas, two galleries, three learning studios, and an enhanced film reference library and archive. Bell Lightbox programming will give context to films through innovative cross-media exhibitions, lectures, new technology showcases and film-related learning opportunities for all ages.

The campaign to build Bell Lightbox is generously supported by founding sponsor Bell. The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario each have contributed $25 million to realize Bell Lightbox. A gift of more than $22 million has been confirmed from the Reitman family – acclaimed filmmaker Ivan Reitman and his sisters Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels – and The Daniels Corporation, who together form the King and John Festival Corporation. The project is also supported by RBC as Major Sponsor and Official Bank, Visa†, Copyright Collective of Canada, NBC Universal Canada, The Allan Slaight Family, The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, CIBC, and many other individuals and corporations. The Board of Directors, staff and many generous individuals have also contributed to the campaign. The total amount raised to date is $147 million, three quarters of the total campaign of $196 million. For more information on the Bell Lightbox campaign, visit belllightbox.ca

We are a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. Our vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image.

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For information, contact the Communications Department at 416-934-3200 or email proffice@tiffg.ca