Spanish version of MGM HD channel launch in Argentina and Mexico

The channel launches in Spanish in HD for subscribers across Cablevision Argentina, Cablevision Mexico and Sky Mexico this month. A Portuguese-language version of MGM HD launched in Brazil last year. The channel boasts a library of more than 4,100 film titles, along with a variety of original productions, recent releases and exclusive special events such as American Film Institute: Life Achievement Award, World Music Awards and its latest production MMA on MGM: Battle of the Americas in high definition.

“MGM Channels continue to expand and thrive across the global multichannel marketplace,” said Bruce Tuchman, the president of MGM Worldwide Networks. “High definition has become a particularly hot area of growth for us as this new HD launch follows our recent launch of MGM HD in the U.K., and the slew of vibrant MGM HD channels that we have launched in rapid succession over the last few years in the U.S., Europe and the Mid-East.”

Melvin Perez, the president of MGM Networks Latin America, added: “The MGM HD channel arrived in Brazil in May 2009 and our strategy remains to offer a channel with programming that is separate from our standard signal, presenting different genres of films without commercial interruptions and without traditional advertising. With the strengthening of our portfolio in the region, MGM Networks Latin America strengthens its market position by taking leadership in launching new trends and presenting the first truly basic movie channel in high definition.”

Source: www.worldscreen.com

13th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival

From Wednesday, April 21 2010 to Thursday, April 29 2010

This year, more than 100 films from over 13 countries will be showcased at the festival, including an unprecedented number of new releases highlighting new and prestigious productions from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States; an impressive selection of narrative and feature films in competition; a great collection of short films, and youth films presented in the Emergencia Youth Film Program.

First Ibero-American Film Festival New England

The 1st Annual New England Festival of Ibero-American Cinema (NEFIAC) will be held Saturday September 18, 2010 through Saturday September 25, 2010 in Providence, RI.

NEFIAC will be screening films at the Avon Cinema, the Cable Car Cinema, as well as various local University locations. Screenings in other cities in the area will include Cambridge, MA (Harvard Film Archives), New Haven, CT (Yale University), and Williamsburg, VA (William & Mary College).

Do you want to read Lula’s review from “The Economist” – another view

Brazil’s presidential biopic

Lula, sanitised, a film for the campaign trail

http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15331001.

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=27957

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via http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=27957.

More “socialist soap operas” for Venezuela says Chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he has asked film producers to make “socialist soap operas,” with government help if needed, because there’s too much capitalism on television.

“A while ago, I was in Cuba and they broadcast soap operas there, not capitalist soap operas but with a social content, socialist” soap operas, Chavez told a group of filmmakers and scriptwriters guested on his weekly radio and television show, “Alo Presidente.”

“I’m going to ask that we make socialist soap operas (in Venezuela), instead of capitalist ones.”

The firebrand leftist leader offered government help to producers following his advice.

“We can also make good movies,” he added. “Not capitalist movies that are poison and incite our children to take drugs and even push them into crime.”

In 2006, Chavez opened Villa del Cine, a filmmaking center outside Caracas that produces full-length and short films and documentaries.

The 31st International Festival of New Latin American Cinema will be officially inaugurated today

The 31st International Festival of New Latin American Cinema will be officially inaugurated today with a cultural gala and the screening of the Spanish-Argentinean film ‘El secreto de sus ojos’ by Juan Jose Campanella at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana.