Costa Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Laia Costa has new representation…

The 31-year-old Spanish actress has signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME).

Costa recently starred as the title character in Sebastian Schipper’s critically-acclaimed Victoria, a film almost entirely improvised by the actors and shot in one single take.

She also plays the lead in Drake Doremus’ The Newness, opposite Nicholas Hoult, which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival this week.

Previously, Costa had the lead role in the Russian film Fort Ross, directed by Yuriy Moroz and has also starred in Palm Trees in the Snow. She has worked extensively in her native country on local television shows like Cities, the Spanish remake of Brit TV series Dates, Carlos, Rey Emperador and Polseres Vermelles. She also stars in Matthew Brown’s upcoming title Maine and Martin Hodara’s Neive Negra.

Her performance in Victoria has earned her a Lola Award (Germany’s equivalent of an Oscar) as well as a Gaudi Award for Best Actress. She’s also been nominated for a European Film Award for Best European Actress.

Costa is one of five actors competing for the coveted 2017 BAFTA EE Rising Star Award next month, alongside actors Ruth Negga, Lucas Hedges, Tom Holland and Anya Taylor-Joy.

Costa Earns European Film Awards Nomination for “Victoria”

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Laia Costa has earned her first-ever European Film Awards nod…

The 30-year-old Spanish actress has earned the nomination for her starring role in Sebastian Schipper’s Victoria.

Costa is nominated in the Best Actress category for her portrayal of the title character in the film, which was shot in a single take.

Victoria centers on a runaway party girl, who is asked by four friendly men to join them as they hit the town. Their wild night of partying turns into a bank robbery.

Costa is up against Margherita Buy, Charlotte Rampling, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz.

Costa’s other film credits include Tengo ganas de ti. Her television credits include Carlos, Rey Emperador, Bandolera and The Red Band Society.

The EFAs will be announced in Berlin on December 12.

Here’s a look at all the nominees:

EUROPEAN FILM 2015
A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE
Sweden, France, Germany, Norway
Written & Directed by Roy Andersson
Produced by Pernilla Sandström

MUSTANG
France, Germany, Turkey
Directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven
Written by Deniz Gamze Ergüven & Alice Winocour
Produced by Charles Gillibert

RAMS
Iceland, Denmark
Written & Directed by Grímur Hákonarson
Produced by Grímar Jónsson

THE LOBSTER
UK, Ireland, Greece, France, Netherlands
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Written by Yorgos Lanthimos & Efthimis Filippou
Produced by Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Ceci Dempsey & Yorgos Lanthimos

VICTORIA
Germany
Written & Directed by Sebastian Schipper
Produced by Jan Dressler

YOUTH
Italy, France, UK, Switzerland
Written & Directed by Paolo Sorrentino
Produced by Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima & Carlotta Calori

EUROPEAN COMEDY 2015
A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE
Sweden, France, Germany, Norway
Written & Directed by Roy Andersson
Produced by Pernilla Sandström

THE BÉLIER FAMILY
France
Directed by Eric Lartigau
Written by Eric Lartigau, Victoria Bedos, Stanislas Carre de Malberg & Thomas Bidegain
Produced by Eric Jehelmann, Philippe Rousselet & Stéphane Celerier

THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT
Belgium, France, Luxembourg
Directed by Jaco Van Dormael
Written by Jaco Van Dormael & Thomas Gunzig
Produced by Jaco Van Dormael, Olivier Rausin & Daniel Marquet

EUROPEAN DOCUMENTARY 2015
A SYRIAN LOVE STORY
UK
Directed by Sean McAllister
Produced by Elhum Shakerifar

AMY
UK
Directed by Asif Kapadia
Produced by James Gay-Rees

DANCING WITH MARIA
Italy, Argentina, Slovenia
Written & Directed by Ivan Gergolet
Produced by Igor Princic, David Rubio & Miha Cernec

THE LOOK OF SILENCE
Denmark, Norway, Indonesia
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
Produced by Signe Byrge Sørensen

TOTO AND HIS SISTERS
Romania, Hungary
Written & Directed by Alexander Nanau
Produced by Valeriu Nicolae, Hanka Kastelicova, Alexander Nanau, Catalin Mitulescu & Marcian Lazar

EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2015
Roy Andersson for A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE
Yorgos Lanthimos for THE LOBSTER
Nanni Moretti for MY MOTHER
Sebastian Schipper for VICTORIA
Paolo Sorrentino for YOUTH
Małgorzata Szumowska for BODY

EUROPEAN ACTRESS 2015
Margherita Buy in MY MOTHER
Laia Costa in VICTORIA
Charlotte Rampling in 45 YEARS
Alicia Vikander in EX MACHINA
Rachel Weisz in YOUTH

EUROPEAN ACTOR 2015
Michael Caine in YOUTH
Tom Courtenay in 45 YEARS
Colin Farrell in THE LOBSTER
Christian Friedel in 13 MINUTES
Vincent Lindon in THE MEASURE OF A MAN

EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER 2015
Roy Andersson for A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE
Alex Garland for EX MACHINA
Andrew Haigh for 45 YEARS
Radu Jude & Florin Lazarescu for AFERIM!
Yorgos Lanthimos & Efthimis Filippou for THE LOBSTER
Paolo Sorrentino for YOUTH

Ramirez to Star Opposite Matthew McConaughey in the Mining Drama “Gold”

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez is ready to mine his own business…

The 37-year-old Venezuelan actor, who starred in Zero Dark Thirty, will star opposite Matthew McConaughey in Black Bear Pictures’ upcoming mining drama Gold.

In the Stephen Gaghan-helmed project, Ramirez will portray geologist Michael Acosta opposite the Oscar winner’s role of prospector Walsh.

Written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman and based on the true story about the 1993 Bre-X Mineral Corporation mining scandal, the film revolves around the unlikely pair traveling to the Indonesian jungle in search of the highly valued soft metal of the title.

Production begins in June with filming in New York, New Mexico and Thailand.

Best known for playing 1970s terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez in the 2010 miniseries Carlos, a role that earned him the César Award for Most Promising Actor, Ramirez’s more recent credits include David O. Russell’s Joy opposite Jennifer Lawrence and the Alcon reboot of Point Break, both of which are set for Christmas Day releases this year. Additionally, the actor stars as boxer Roberto Duran in the biopic Hands of Stone opposite Robert DeNiro. Hands of Stone is scheduled to hit the big screen in October.

Arvelo’s “The Liberator,” Starring Edgar Ramirez, Selected as Venezuela’s Oscar Submission for Foreign Language Film

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Alberto Arvelo is one step closer to a possible Oscar nomination…

The Venezuelan filmmaker’s latest project The Liberator has been selected to be the country’s submission to the Foreign Language Film category for the next Academy Awards, according to the Venezuelan paper Ultimas Noticias.

The paper reports that a selection of Venezuelan film industry professionals voted on Arvelo’s film earlier this week.

The voting was reportedly divided between The Liberator and Mariana Rondon’s indie drama Bad Hair, winner of the Golden Shell at the San Sebastian Film Festival last year.

An absolute rarity for local standards in terms of production value, The Liberator is a $50 million co-production between Spain and Venezuela about military and political leader Simon Bolivar, who commanded an army that freed a great part of the region from Spanish colonialism back in the 19th century, and is regarded as a forefather of South America, together with Argentine Jose de San Martin.

The epic period piece stars Venezuela’s most high profile international actor Edgar Ramírez (Carlos, Zero Dark Thirty) as Bolivar, with a score by the L. A. Philharmonic’s music director Gustavo Dudamel, and a script by Timothy J. Sexton, who co-wrote Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men.

The film’s unusually international crew also features Spanish cinematographer Xavi Gimenez (The Machinist, Agora), production designer Paul D. Austerberry (Twilight Saga: Eclipse), costume designer Sonia Grande (Midnight in Paris) and editor Tariq Anwar (American Beauty, The King’s Speech).

The Liberator opened in Venezuela on July 24, selling more than 500,000 tickets to date.

The film is scheduled for US release on October 3.

First Look: Ramírez as Simón Bolívar

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Édgar Ramírez’s transformation into one of the one of the most influential politicians in Latin American history is complete…

The the 35-year-old Venezuelan actor has completed his work as the star of the sweeping historical epic Libertador, which tells the story of Venezuelan military and political leader Simón Bolívar.

Directed by Alberto Arvelo, Libertador follows the life of Bolivar, who was instrumental in Latin America’s struggle for independence from the Spanish empire.

Along with portraying Bolívar, Ramírez will serve as an executive producer on the project, which is considered the largest independent South American production to date.

Libertador, now in post-production.

Meanwhile, L.A. Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel—who helped kick off the London 2012 Festival with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra—is scoring the Spanish, French and English-language pic in his feature film debut.

Ramirez, who earned critical acclaim for his performance in Carlos, will next appear on the big screen in U.S. theaters in Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, which opens in December.

In France, he’s currently in theaters in An Open Heart, starring opposite Juliette Binoche

Naranjo to Direct “A Man Must Die”

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Gerardo Naranjo’s stock in Hollywood continues to rise…

The 40-year-old Mexican filmmaker has just inked a deal with Focus Features to direct A Man Must Die.

Naranjo—who helmed Miss Bala, Mexico’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar submission—wrote the script for the project. The film is described as a political thriller comparable to the critically acclaimed Carlos.

The news comes as 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment continue to develop the film adaptation of Charles Martin’s novel The Mountain Between Us for Naranjo to direct, with Michael Fassbender attached to star.

Ramirez to Portray El Libertador Simon Bolivar

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Édgar Ramírez is preparing to take on another real-life role…

Following his award-winning performance as Carlos the Jackal in 2010 biopic Carlos, the 35-year-old Venezuelan actor will portray Simón Bolívar in Libertador.

Bolívar was instrumental in Latin America’s struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire. Told from his point of view, the film will trace his expeditions, epic military campaigns and vision to unify South America. The Venezuelan military and political leader is considered one of the most influential politicians in American history.

Ramírez, who most recently starred in Wrath of the Titans, will also serve as an executive producer on the film project.

Along with Ramírez in the title role, the cast includes Danny Huston, María Valverde, Imanol Arias and Billy Elliot’s Gary Lewis.

Venezuelan filmmaker Alberto Arvelo, who directed Ramírez in his last feature, Cyrano Fernandez, is set to helm the project.

Meanwhile, L.A. Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel—who will be helping kick off the London 2012 Festival with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra—is scoring the Spanish, French and English-language pic.

Higareda Signs Talent Deal with Fox

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She’s known as “the Mexican Sandra Bullock”… But, Martha Higareda may soon be giving the real Sandra Bullock a run for her money.

The 28-year-old Mexican actress has signed a talent holding deal with Fox as part of the network’s initiative to find untapped Latin American talent, according to Deadline.com.

Higareda has had some presence in the United States. She’s appeared in Smokin’ Aces 2 and Street Kings, the CBS pilot Skip Tracer and most recently guest-starred on CSI: Miami. Additionally, Higareda appeared in the miniseries Carlos and Lifetime’s Lies In Plain Sight.

But the actress—the daughter of actress Martha Cervantes and artist Jose Luis Higareda—is best known in her native Mexico for her standout work opposite big name stars like Jaime Camil and Ximena Sariñana. Higareda even received a Mexican Academy Award nomination for her role in Fuega Del Cielo.

As part of her talent deal with Fox, Higareda will be exposed to producers and directors of the network’s current collection of pilots.

But Higareda isn’t the only Mexican actor to sign a talent deal with Fox…

Adan Canto, a rising star in Mexico but virtual Hollywood newbie is also on reserve for pilot season at Fox.

The 30-year-old Mexican actor/singer only has a handful of projects under his belt, but has apparently demonstrated a lot of potential.

No word on what projects Canto or Higareda may be under consideration for, but Fox currently has a Latino-themed project in the works: Silvio Horta’s Latino family dramedy centered on three sisters, which is being executive produced by Fox’s biggest Latina star, American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez.

Ramirez May Star in Bin Laden Movie…

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez may soon become a Navy SEAL in Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s movie about Osama Bin Laden.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan actor, who has starred in Carlos and The Bourne Ultimatum, is reportedly being considered for a role in the film, along with actress Jessica Chastain and actor Mark Strong, according to Deadline.com.

Directed by Bigelow, who became the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director for The Hurt Locker, the drama will reportedly tell the story of Navy SEAL Team 6′s
extensive hunt for the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Osama Bin Laden, who was finally killed in a covert mission last year.

The project isn’t without controversy. The Pentagon will reportedly investigate charges made by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) that Bigelow and her team somehow received inside information about the mission from the Obama Administration in preparing the script.

Despite the drama surrounding the drama, the script has been completed and Bigelow is expected to move forward with filming.

Sony Pictures has scheduled the film for release on December 19, to avoid this year’s presidential election.

Meanwhile, Ramirez will next star in Wrath of the Titans, a sequel to the recent Clash of the Titans reboot.

Star Trek 2: del Toro Out, Ramirez In?

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

Edgar Ramirez received critical acclaim for his playing the infamous terrorist and murderer Carlos the Jackal in the TV miniseries Carlos… And, now he could be playing an out of this world baddie.

With Benicio del Toro no longer interested in starring as the villain in the sequel to the Star Trek reboot and production set to begin soon, J.J. Abrams is working ‘round the clock to cast the important role. And, he’s reportedly set his sights on Ramirez.

The 34-year-old Venezuelan actor is reportedly in talks to play the villain in Star Trek 2. Although Abrams hasn’t confirmed the role, several sources report the villain character in the film will be Khan. Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban played Khan in the classic Star Trek: Wrath of Khan.

Ramirez reportedly tested for the role via Skype this week.

But he isn’t the only Latino that Abrams is considering.

Jordi Mollà is reportedly in the running as well. The 43-year-old Spanish actor has starred in Colombiana, Knight and Day and Bad Boys 2.

Production on the new Star Trek movie is expected to begin on January 15, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin expected to return to the cast.

The movie is scheduled to hit theaters nationwide on May 17, 2013.

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