Joss Favela Earns First-Ever No. 1 on Any Billboard Chart with Luis R. Conriquez-Collaboration “Con Todo Respetillo”

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Joss Favela has earned a special first… 

The 33-year-old Mexican musician, singer and songwriter has achieved his first No. 1 on any Billboard chart as “Con Todo Respetillo” with Luis R. Conriquez rises 3-1 to top the November 9-dated Regional Mexican Airplay chart. 

Joss Favela“Con Todo Respetillo” ascends to the summit due to gains in audience impressions for the tracking week of October 25-31.

The single, released on Sony Music Latin/Azteca, generated 7.1 million impressions in the U.S., up 37% from the week prior, according to Luminate.

The track also takes the Greatest Gainer honors, awarded weekly to the song with the most airplay among the chart’s 40 titles.

Although “Con Todo Respetillo” secures Favela’s breakthrough to the No. 1 spot on any Billboard chart, the Sinaloan previously registered six other top 10s on Regional Mexican Airplay, reaching as high as No. 2 through “Me Hubiera Dicho” in June 2018.

Conriquez, meanwhile, returns for his third No. 1 with “Con Todo Respetillo.”

 

The corridos-bélicos singer last achieved his two other No. 1s two years ago, as “JGL,” with La Adictiva,” and “Ya Hiciste Mal,” with Jessie Uribe, both ruled for one week in 2022.

Four other male team-ups have achieved a No. 1 on Regional Mexican Airplay in 2024: Christian Nodal and Peso Pluma through “La Intención” (April 6), Oscar Ortiz and Edgardo Nuñez with “First Love” (April 27), Alejandro Fernandez and Alfredo Olivas with “Cobijas Ajenas” (June 8), and Leonardo Aguilar and Pepe Aguilar through “Bandido de Amores” (July 6).

Despite their different achievements on Regional Mexican Airplay, Favela and Conriquez, both score their third top 10 on the overall Latin Airplay tally, where “Con Todo Respetillo” soars 12-4 with the Greatest Gainer honors of the week.

“Con Todo Respetillo” is the only single that previewed Favela’s Mis Compas, Vol. 1 EP, released May 10 via Sony Music Latin. The album has not visited a Billboard chart yet.

David Castañeda Starring in Neon & Topic Studios’ “Splitsville”

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It’s splitsville for David Castañeda.

The 35-year-old Mexican American actor has been added to the cast of Neon and Topic Studios’ comedy Splitsville, which recently wrapped production.

David CastañedaDirected by and starring The Climb‘s Michael Angelo Covino, the film has also added Nicholas Braun and O-T Fagbenle to the cast

Details as to the trio’s roles are being kept under wraps.

Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona and Covino’s The Climb collaborator Kyle Marvin will also star.

In Splitsville, Ashley (Arjona) asks for a divorce, leading good-natured Carey (Marvin) to run to his friends, Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino), for support. He’s shocked to discover that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage — that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.

The project was developed at Topic Studios as part of a multi-year first look deal with Covino and Marvin’s Watch This Ready following their collaboration on Covino’s directorial debut The Climb.

Known for his role as Diego Hargreeves on Netflix’s hit series The Umbrella Academy, Castañeda will next be seen starring opposite Ana de Armas in Lionsgate’s John Wick spin-off Ballerina, which releases on June 6, 2025.

Gravitas Ventures Acquires Miguel Angel Garcia-Starrer “Die Like A Man”

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Miguel Angel Garcia’s latest project is going global… 

Gravitas Ventures has acquired writer-director Eric Nazarian’s Los Angeles-set crime thriller Die Like A Man, starring the Latino actor, for U.S., Canada and international rights.

Miguel Angel GarciaThe coming-of-age journey follows Freddy, a 17-year-old Westsider who is given a gun and asked to prove himself to a veteran gangster he idolizes. Garcia stars as the conflicted teen, Cory Hardrict as ruthless gang father figure Solo, and Mariel Molino as love interest Luna.

Nazarian called Die Like A Man “an honest tale about the doomed codes of machismo culture that has spiraled into worsening gun violence and inner city warfare. Freddy’s journey explores the destructive power of internalized rage and the road towards atonement.”

The film was shot entirely in Los Angeles’ inner city communities and included teaming up with famed advocate Father Gregory Boyle’s Homeboy Industries.

Nazarian’s film was inspired by his upbringing as an immigrant in LA’s working class neighborhoods.

“Die Like A Man is a gritty thriller with so much heart and powerful performances. We are so excited to release the film in North America in April 2025, and to pitch the film to international markets at AFM,” said Danielle Gasher, VP of Acquisitions & International Sales at Gravitas Ventures.

The film was written and directed by Nazarian and produced by Mucho Mas Media, Voyager Pictures, Confluential Films, 222 Pictures and Boycott Entertainment and Showdown Productions.

Garcia’s previous credits include The Long Game.

Pedro Almodóvar Earns Three European Film Awards Nominations for “The Room Next Door”

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Pedro Almodóvar is this year’s European Film Awards darling…

The European Film Academy has announced the nominees for the 37th European Film Awards, which will take place in the Swiss lakeside city of Lucerne on December 7, with the 75-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning filmmaker earning three nods.

Pedro AlmodovarAlmodovar earned a nod in the Best European Film category for his first English-language film The Room Next Door, which stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.

He’s also nominated for European Director and Best Screenplay for the film.

Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal are up for two awards.

The 69-year-old Spanish filmmaker and the 74-year-old Spanish Spanish artist and designer are nominated for Best European Film and Best European Animated Film for They Shot the Piano Player.

Isabel Herguera is up for two awards…

The 63-year-old Spanish artist, filmmaker, cultural manager, professor and critic is nominated for Best European Film and Best European Animated Film for Sultana’s Dream.

Karla Sofía Gascón has earned her first European Film Awards nod.

The 52-year-old Spanish actress, who became the first openly trans actor to win a major prize at the Cannes Film Festival when she shared the Best Actress Award with her co-stars from Emilia Pérez, is up for Best Actress for Emilia Perez.

For the first time this year, under new rules announced last summer, films nominated for Best European Documentary and Best Animated Feature Film are also eligible in the Best European Film category.

The awards, which are voted on by the Berlin-based European Film Academy’s some 5,000 members based across Europe, are also seen as a bellwether for which European films are likely to pick up steam in the U.S. awards season.

This year’s ceremony in Lucerne will mark the last time it takes place in December with the dates shifting to mid-January, starting with the 38th edition in 2026, as part of a strategy to position the prizes within the wider awards season conversation on both sides of the Atlantic.

Awards for the craft categories of Best European Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, Make-up and Hair, Original Score, Sound and Visual Effects are decided by a specialized a jury and selected from the films in core Academy selection.

Here’s a look at the 2024 nominations:

Best European Film
BYE BYE TIBERIAS (BYE BYE TIBERIADE) (France, Belgium, Palestine, Qatar) – documentary film, directed by Lina Soualem, produced by Jean-Marie Nizan, Guillaume Malandrin & Ossama Bawardi

DAHOMEY (France, Senegal) – documentary film, directed by Mati Diop, produced by Eve Robin, Judith Lou-Lévy & Mati Diop

EMILIA PÉREZ (France) – feature film, directed by Jacques Audiard, produced by Pascal Caucheteux, Jacques Audiard, Valérie Schermann & Anthony Vaccarello

FLOW (STRAUME) (Latvia, France, Belgium) – animated feature film, directed by Gints Zilbalodis, produced by Matīss Kaža, Gints Zilbalodis, Ron Dyens & Gregory Zalcman

IN LIMBO (W ZAWIESZENIU) (Poland) – documentary film, directed by Alina Maksimenko, produced by Filip Marczewski

LIVING LARGE (ŽIVOT K SEŽRÁNÍ) (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia) – animated feature film, directed by Kristina Dufková, produced by Matej Chlupacek, Agata Novinski & Marc Faye

NO OTHER LAND (Palestine, Norway) – documentary film, directed by Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Basel Adra & Hamdan Ballal, produced by Fabien Greenberg, Bård Kjøge Rønning, Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor & Hamdan Ballal

SAVAGES (SAUVAGES) (Switzerland, France, Belgium) – animated feature film, directed by Claude Barras, produced by Nicolas Burlet, Laurence Petit, Barbara Letellier, Carole Scotta, Vincent Tavier, Hugo Deghilage, Annemie Degryse & Olivier Glassey

SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT (France, Belgium, Netherlands) – documentary film, directed by Johan Grimonprez, produced by Daan Milius & Rémi Grellety

SULTANA’S DREAM (EL SUEÑO DE LA SULTANA) (Spain, Germany, India) – animated feature film, directed by Isabel Herguera, produced by Chelo Loureiro, Diego Herguera, Fabian Driehorst, Mariano Baratech & Iván Miñambres

THE ROOM NEXT DOOR (Spain) – feature film, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, produced by Agustín Almodóvar & Esther García

THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG (DANAYE ANJIR-E MOABAD) (Germany, France) – feature film, directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, produced by Mohammad Rasoulof, Amin Sadraei, Jean-Christophe Simon, Mani Tilgner & Rozita Hendijanian

THE SUBSTANCE (UK, United States, France) – feature film, directed by Coralie Fargeat, produced by Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner

THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER (Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Peru) – animated feature film, directed by Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal, produced by Cristina Huete, Serge Lalou, Sophie Cabon, Bruno Felix, Janneke van de Kerkhoff, Femke Wolting & Humberto Santana

VERMIGLIO (Italy, France, Belgium) – feature film, directed by Maura Delpero, produced by Francesca Andreoli, Leonardo Guerra Seràgnoli, Santiago Fondevila Sancet & Maura Delpero

Best European Documentary
BYE BYE TIBERIAS (BYE BYE TIBERIADE) (France, Belgium, Palestine, Qatar), directed by Lina Soualem, produced by Jean-Marie Nizan, Guillaume Malandrin & Ossama Bawardi

DAHOMEY (France, Senegal), directed by Mati Diop, produced by Eve Robin, Judith Lou-Lévy & Mati Diop

IN LIMBO (W ZAWIESZENIU) (Poland), directed by Alina Maksimenko, produced by Filip Marczewski

NO OTHER LAND (Palestine, Norway), directed by Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Basel Adra & Hamdan Ballal, produced by Fabien Greenberg, Bård Kjøge Rønning, Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Rachel Szor & Hamdan Ballal

SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT (France, Belgium, Netherlands), directed by Johan Grimonprez, produced by Daan Milius & Rémi Grellety

European Director
Andrea Arnold for BIRD
Jacques Audiard for EMILIA PÉREZ
Pedro Almodóvar for THE ROOM NEXT DOOR
Mohammad Rasoulof for THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
Maura Delpero for VERMIGLIO

Best Actress
Renate Reinsve in ARMAND
Karla Sofía Gascón in EMILIA PÉREZ
Trine Dyrholm in THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE
Vic Carmen Sonne in THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE
Tilda Swinton in THE ROOM NEXT DOOR

Best Actor
Franz Rogowski in BIRD
Ralph Fiennes in CONCLAVE
Lars Eidinger in DYING
Daniel Craig in QUEER
Abou Sangare in SOULEYMANE’S STORY 

Best Screenplay
Jacques Audiard for EMILIA PÉREZ
Magnus von Horn & Line Langebek for THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE
Pedro Almodóvar for THE ROOM NEXT DOOR
Mohammad Rasoulof for THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG
Coralie Fargeat for THE SUBSTANCE

European Discovery – Prix FIPRESCI
ARMAND (Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden), directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar

HOARD (UK), directed by Luna Carmoon, produced by Loran Dunn, Helen Simmons & Andrew Starke

KNEECAP (Ireland, UK), directed by Rich Peppiatt, produced by Patrick O’Neill, Trevor Birney & Jack Tarling

SANTOSH (UK, France, Germany), directed by Sandhya Suri, produced by Mike Goodridge, James Bowsher, Roman Paul, Gerhard Meixner, Carole Scotta & Eliott Khayat

THE NEW YEAR THAT NEVER CAME (ANUL NOU CARE N-A FOST) (Romania, Serbia), directed and produced by Bogdan Mureșanu

TOXIC (AKIPLĖŠA) (Lithuania) directed by Saulė Bliuvaitė, produced by Giedre Burokaite

European Young Audience Award
LARS IS LOL (Norway, Denmark), directed by Eirik Sæter Stordahl, produced by Caroline Hitland & Matilda Appelin
THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN (Norway), directed by Benjamin Ree, produced by Ingvil Giske
WINNERS (Germany), directed by Soleen Yusef, produced by Sonja Schmitt, Marc Schmidheiny & Christoph Daniel

Best European Animated Film
FLOW directed by Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia, France, Belgium)
LIVING LARGE directed by Kristina Dufková (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia)
SAVAGES directed by Claude Barras (Switzerland, France, Belgium)
SULTANA’S DREAM directed by Isabel Herguera (Spain, Germany, India)
THEY SHOT THE PIANO PLAYER directed by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal (Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Peru)  

Best European Short Film
2720 directed by Basil da Cunha (Portugal, Switzerland)
CLAMOR directed by Salomé Da Souza (France)
THE EXPLODING GIRL directed by Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel (France)
THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT directed by Nebojša Slijepčević (Croatia, France, Bulgaria, Slovenia)
WANDER TO WONDER directed by Nina Gantz (The Netherlands, France, Belgium, United Kingdom)

Lionel Messi Named Finalist for Major League Soccer’s 2024 MLS MVP Award

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Lionel Messi is in the running for Major League Soccer’s highest player award.

The 37-year-old Argentine professional footballer has been named a finalist for the 2024 MLS MVP award, joining his Inter Miami CF teammate Luis Suárez, as well as Columbus Crew’s Cucho Hernández, Portland Timbers’ Evander and D.C. United’s Christian Benteke on the list.Lionel Messi Each player met the new qualifying regulations that require a minimum of 1,000 minutes played in the regular season campaign.

Messi earned his second nomination for the award since joining MLS in July 2023. Though the forward failed to win the award last season, he’s being considered the leading candidate in 2024 after contributing 20 goals and 16 assists in just 19 games. 

Despite concerns over his lack of participation throughout the 34-match campaign, playing only 55% of games, teammate Jordi Alba has insisted that Messi must win MVP.

“Regarding Leo, I repeat myself, every time you ask me, I think he deserves all the awards they can give him, I think he is the best player in the world, with a lot of intensity compared to the rest and until he retires,” he said on Friday. “I’m sure he’ll win the MVP and if he doesn’t win it, well, it’s no longer anyone’s decision, it’s the people who vote but hey, for me he’s the best.”

Messi’s contributions in 2024 propelled Inter Miami to lift the Supporters’ Shield and set the new league record for most points recorded in a single season.

Suárez, on the other hand, has recorded 20 goals and nine assists in 27 games in his first MLS season after joining Inter Miami in December 2023. He also stands as a finalist for Newcomer of the Year.

The forward adjusted quickly, tying for second place on the Golden Boot rankings with Messi and Dénis Bouanga. Together, Messi and Suárez account for 40 of the team’s 79 goals this season.

Benteke won the Golden Boot with 23 goals this season, but his D.C. United team failed to make the MLS Playoffs, while Evander impressed in the Western Conference with15 goals and 19 assists before the Timbers fell 5-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps in Wednesday’s wild-card match.

Hernández, the reigning MLS Cup MVP, propelled the Columbus Crew to second place on the Eastern Conference table with 19 goals and 14 assists.

Other award finalists include: Chris Armas (Colorado Rapids), Gerardo “Tata” Martino (Inter Miami CF) and Wilfried Nancy (Columbus Crew) for Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year.

Luca Orellano (FC Cincinnati), Gabriel Pec (LA Galaxy) and Suárez (Inter Miami CF) were announced for MLS Newcomer of the Year, and Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew) and Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders FC) for Defender of the Year.

Carlos Torres to Make World Series Debut as Member of Umpire Crew

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Carlos Torres is preparing to make his World Series debut…

The 46-year-old Venezuelan professional umpire, who made his Major League Baseball debut in 2015 as a fill-in umpire, will work his first-ever Fall Classic.

Carlos TorresTorres will be joined by Mark Carlson, who has been named the World Series umpire crew chief, Andy Fletcher and Mark Ripperger.

Torres will work the plate for the opener between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium, MLB officials said Thursday.

Carlson will be at first base for Game 1 on Friday night, joined by Doug Eddings at second, Ripperger at third, Chad Fairchild in left and Todd Tichenor in right. Fletcher will be the reserve umpire.

All nine umpires worked in the Division Series.

Torres previously worked the MLB All-Star Game in 2022 and the World Baseball Classic in 2023, among other special assignments.

New York Yankees to Start Lefty Carlos Rodon for Game 2 of the World Series

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Carlos Rodon is getting a (fresh) start

The New York Yankees will start the 31-year-old Cuban American left-handed pitcher for Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Carlos RodonRodon has started three games this postseason including Games 1 and 5 against the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series.

Overall, he’s 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in 14⅓ innings in October.

He gave up just three runs in 10⅔ innings against Cleveland in the ALCS.

During the regular season, Rodon was better at home than on the road, posting a 4.69 mark away from Yankees Stadium compared to a 3.11 ERA in New York.

Righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto will oppose Rodon in Game 2.

Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole face each other in Game 1 on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles Dodgers to Honor Fernando Valenzuela with Special Patch During World Series

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to honor franchise great Fernando Valenzuela.

The team will honor the late Mexican-American professional baseball pitcher with a jersey patch in the World Series and during the 2025 season.

Fernando Valenzuela,The Dodgers unveiled the patch on Thursday — a circular design with a black background, his name in white and a large No. 34 in Dodger Blue.

Valenzuela, who sparked a fan phenomenon known as “Fernandomania” as a rookie and became a Dodgers legend, died Tuesday evening at age 63.

No cause of death was given.

Valenzuela pitched for the Dodgers from 1980 to 1990, then had stints with the Los Angeles Angels (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994), San Diego Padres (1995-97) and St. Louis Cardinals (1997).

Fernando Valenzuela World Series PatchHe finished with a 173-153 record, a 3.54 ERA and 2,074 strikeouts in 2,930 innings over 453 games (424 starts).

He riveted Southern California in 1981, when as a 20-year-old from Mexico he went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 25 starts, throwing 11 complete games — eight of them shutouts — to win both Rookie of the Year and the National League Cy Young Award.

The Dodgers won the World Series against the New York Yankees that season — their opponent in this year’s World Series — and Valenzuela was 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five starts in that postseason.

After pitching in the majors for 17 seasons, Valenzuela served as a Spanish-language broadcaster for the Dodgers, starting in 2003. He had stepped away from his broadcasting duties before the start of these playoffs to “focus on his health,” the team said.

Netflix Releases New Trailer for Season 6, Part 2 of Xolo Maridueña’s “Cobra Kai”

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Xolo Maridueña is preparing for a final karate chop…

Netflix has released he new trailer for the second half of the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai, starring the 23-year-old Mexican, Cuban and Ecuadorian American actor.

Xolo MaridueñaIn Season 6, Part 2, which will consist of five episodes that will all be available to binge on November 15, the cast goes international as the series arrives in Barcelona for the Sekai Taikai.

From creators Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald and Hayden Schlossberg, Cobra Kai takes place over 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament from The Karate Kid with the continuation of the inescapable conflict between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka).

In the penultimate installment of the hit series, Miyagi-Do faces new challenges and old enemies as they fight to become world champions — can they stay united as internal rivalries bubble back to the surface?

There will be an ultimate face-off between Johnny and John Kreese (Martin Kove), at least for OG The Karate Kid fans. Sensei Kreese has been unable to give up the dream of reuniting with his former student Johnny, who the former considers as the one who got away. Kreese has attempted and failed to find a suitable replacement for Johnny in his Cobra Kai-focused life, and it’s about time Johnny proves that the student has not only surpassed his sensei but is a much better person for it.

Kreese may find it warm and cozy on the dark side, but Johnny has found love, friendship and fulfillment are part of the perks of basking in the light. He even mended fences and became basically a brother to his longtime nemesis, Daniel, a situation which may have shocked longtime fans more than the characters themselves. What will become of Kreese is only one of the major mysteries that will stress out viewers until there’s a resolution. Whether that will transpire in Part 2 or 3 is as yet unknown.

New players are joining the fold including Lewis Tan as “Sensei Wolf;” Patrick Luwis as “Axel Kovacevic” and Rayna Vallandingham as “Zara Malik.”

Part 2’s trailer reveals more about their characters and whether or not they’re involved in the Sekai Taikai. It’s worth noting Tan is a real-life martial arts expert.

A different recently released photo of the show reveals an awkward face-off between Chozen Toguchi (Yuji Okumoto) and Kim Da-eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim) is ahead. Looking at their faces there’s an uncomfortable tension and connection that makes me shiver. Is it love? Is it hate? I’m not even sure I want to know…

Even with all of the above, the core kids including Miguel (Maridueña), Robby (Tanner Buchanan), Samantha (Mary Mouser), Hawk (Jacob Bertrand), Tory (Peyton List), Kenny (Dallas Dupree Young) and Demetri (Gianni DeCenzo), to name a few, still have a lot of blood, sweat and tears in their immediate future. Kiai!

Seasons 1-6 Part 1 are currently available to stream via Netflix.

Sony Pictures Classics to Premiere Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door” in New York & Los Angeles This December

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Pedro Almodóvar’s highly acclaimed English debut film will opening in the U.S. in December.

Sony Pictures Classics has announced the release date for the 75-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning filmmaker’s acclaimed festival title, The Room Next Door, which premiered in Venice.

Pedro AlmodóvarWritten and directed by Almodóvar, who has long been in business with the studio, The Room Next Door will be released in New York and Los Angeles theaters on December 20 and expand to select cities on January 10 before opening nationwide on January 17.

Taking home the top prize of the Golden Lion at this year’s Venice Film Festival, The Room Next Door, starring Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton and John Turturro, marks Almodóvar’s first English-language feature.

The film follows Ingrid (Moore) and Martha (Swinton), who were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. Ingrid went on to become an autofiction novelist while Martha became a war reporter, and they were separated by the circumstances of life. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation.