28/04/2006

Four European films hit Spanish screens this weekend, directly competing in the box office against a total of eight US titles.
Two of the European productions are domestic titles, including Mireia Ros' second feature film El Triunfo: The Beat of the Streets [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which was part of this year’s Berlinale sidebar section Panorama (see news) and was also in competition at the Malaga Spanish Film Festival. Initially set to be released in March, the film is being distributed by Filmax.

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The second local release is the controversial documentary Apaga y vámonos, la otra cara de Endesa by Catalan director Manel Mayol, denouncing transnational Spanish company Endesa, which built the Ralvo hydroelectric plant in the Biobío, Chile's largest river. During construction, several local families were forced to move up to the mountains and survived there with no electricity. Those who rebelled against Endesa were accused and convicted of terrorism by the Chilean courts. Produced and distributed by Andoliado Producciones, Apaga y vámonos, la otra cara de Endesa was shown and awarded in several film festivals last year, including the Sheffield International Documentary Festival, Galway Film Fleadh and the Bogotá International Film Festival.

Also in theatres is Amos Gitai's Free Zone [+see also:
trailer
film profile], an Israeli/French/Spanish/Dutch co-production (being distributed Golem Distribución) and The Beat That My Heart Skipped [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the amazing France box office hit directed by Jacques Audiard. Starring Romain Duris, the film is successfully maintaining its position in France’s Top 40, having accrued almost 1.2m admissions in its 56 weeks of release thus far. Vertigo Films is distributing the film locally.