Dandelooo Closes Sales on Fictional Animated Film About Frida Kahlo, “Hola Frida!,” in Mexico, Spain & Greece

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

The animated homage to the late Frida Kahlo is going global…

Emmy-winning French animation producer-distributor Dandelooo has closed sales for the animated feature Hola Frida! in Mexico, Spain and Greece.

Dandelooo gave audiences at Annecy an early look at footage and music from Hola Frida! back in June, but a full premiere is just around the corner, with the film set to join Coco among the ranks of animated features to world premiere at Mexico’s prestigious Morelia International Film Festival.

Hola Frida! will screen on October 25 at Morelia’s Cineteca Nacional and at Kahlo’s Casa Azul museum.

After its Morelia debut, the film will be released in France on February 12, where it will be distributed by Haut et Court Distribution.

In March, Pack Màgic will release the film in Spain.

In spring, Maison 4:3 will release the film in Canada and Rosebud21 in Greece, although specific dates have not yet been revealed.

Hola Frida! tells a fictionalized story of the childhood adventures of real-life artist Frida Kahlo, growing up in Coyoacán, Mexico City. Fascinated by the world around her, the girl overcomes adversity by using her vibrant imagination.

Directed by Karine Vézina and André Kadi,“Hola Frida! is aimed at kids ages six and up and their families. The film was written by Sophie Faucher, Anne Bryan and André Kadi and produced by Haut et Court in France and Tobo Media and Du Coup Studio Production in Canada.

“It’s a great honor to be selected by Morelia International Film Festival and to present Hola Frida! at Cineteca Nacional and la Casa Azul,” said Dandelooo’s International Sales & Acquisitions Manager Luna Sirvin. “The launch of Hola Frida! could only have happened in Frida’s homeland, Mexico. These screenings are a fitting tribute to an amazing artist, as well as a starting point for the film’s global journey.”

Carlos Vives Unveils His Wax Figure at Mexico City’s Wax Museum

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Carlos Vives is waxin’ nostalgic.

The 63-year-old Colombian singer, songwriter and actor now has his double at the Wax Museum of Mexico City.

Vives helped unveil his figure on Thursday night at the institution, where it will share space with Mexican cultural figures, like painter Frida Kahlo and wrestler El Santo.

“I’m happy with this recognition that the Mexican people give me, that’s how I feel,” Vives said during the ceremony, evidently moved. “We have come to Mexico so much, our hearts have been touched by its music, by its art, by its cinema, its television.”

He added: “Being here in the museum, next to so many figures from the world, but above all next to the Mexican stars, who from my childhood and my youth had been a great example and inspiration — being here with them is the greatest honor I’ve received from the Mexican people.”

The new wax figure shows Vives looking a bit younger and taller than the real artist.

It carries a guitar and wears fitted leather pants and a black t-shirt emblazoned with his name and the title of his sixteenth album, Cumbiana (2020). It’s located in the main hall of the museum, close to those of Vicente Fernández and Marco Antonio Solís.

Vives — who is performing this Saturday, September 7 before 10,000 people for a sold-out show at the National Auditorium in Mexico City — shared the honor with the Colombian musicians who inspired him in his youth and who are part of his history.

“They are here with me and represent what I wanted to show the world: a beautiful and diverse oral tradition like our country,” he said.

His addition to the museum comes two months ahead of his honoring as the Latin Recording Academy 2024 Person of the Year in November, during the 25th anniversary of the Latin Grammys in Miami.

Born in Santa Marta, Colombia, Vives is one of the most respected artists in Spanish-language music and a pioneer of a new Latin American sound, redefining traditional Colombian vallenato by incorporating to it pop and rock sounds. With No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts such as “Volví a Nacer,” “Fruta Fresca” and “La Bicicleta” with Shakira, among others, he has become an ambassador of Colombian and Latin American culture around the world.

“He has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of people and today he will be immortalized at the Wax Museum of Mexico City,” said the museum in a press release prior to Thursday’s ceremony.

Located in the central neighborhood of Colonia Juárez, in an old Art Nouveau style mansion, the Wax Museum of Mexico City celebrates this year its 45^th anniversary.

In its 14 thematic rooms, visitors can appreciate some 260 wax figures of characters from history, art, politics, and sports, from Diego Rivera and Salvador Dalí, to Bill Gates, Ronaldinho, Hugo Sánchez, ‘Canelo’ Álvarez; Gene Simmons, Michael Jackson, Chaplin, Alex Lora, Chabelo, and more.

According to the museum, the wax figures are made by its team of sculptors and many wear clothes that belonged to the real character. The creation of each figure takes approximately four to eight months.

Salma Hayek Named to Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” List

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is being feted for her sway…

Time magazine has released its list of the “100 Most Influential People in the World,” with the 56-year-old Mexican Oscar-nominated actress and film producer making the cut.

Each year, the media outlet honors 100 individuals that it perceives as holding sway, pairing the list with praiseful blurbs from contemporaries. The logrolling list contains comedians, sports stars, authors and other influential figures.

“Salma is a great observer and feels everything deeply. She’s strong yet sensitive, and she can read people very well. That’s what makes her a great actor, her ability to put herself in someone else’s shoes, from her breakthrough portrayal of Frida  Kahlo to her most recent performance as Maxandra in Magic  Mike’s Last Dance,” says Penelope Cruz in her write-up. “Her huge heart, great intelligence, and charisma are a winning combination, but the thing I’m most proud of is that she’s always entirely herself. As one of the first Latinas working in Hollywood, she’s opened so many doors for people who followed. She is a total revolutionary, and there’s still so much she will do.”

But Hayek isn’t the only Hispanic/Latinx artist to make the list.

Aubrey Plaza, who won a SAG Award this year for being part of the ensemble cast of HBO’s The White Lotus, received her special tribute from Amy Poehler.

“I met Aubrey, a deeply versatile actor and producer, almost 15 years ago on Parks  and Recreation, where she played the droll and mischievous intern April Ludgate. I knew two things immediately: I was working with a determined and profoundly talented woman with big plans, and I had met a dear friend for life,” says Poehler of the 38-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress/comedian. “Her work over the past decade has been acutely truthful and always surprising—whether conveying fear-based choices in Emily the Criminal, manic breakdowns in Black Bear, chilly secret keeping in The White Lotus, or whatever big and ballsy swing is up next in Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis.”

Zoe Saldaña, who became the first performer to appear in the top three highest grossing films globally earlier this year, received a tribute from Mila Kunis.

“Whether she’s kicking butt in Guardians of the Galaxy, saving humanity in Avatar, or making you bawl your eyes out in From Scratch, she’s always on top of her game,” writes Kunis of the . Zoe has also been a trailblazer for women and people of color in Hollywood, breaking down barriers and advocating for greater diversity and representation. She’s not afraid to speak out for what she believes in, and uses her platform to make a positive impact.

Other honorees include international soccer star Lionel Messi; Chilean actor Pedro Pascal; executive director of OnPoint NYC, Sam Rivera; Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Colombian president Gustavo Petro and Mexican activist María Herrera Magdaleno.

The list was first published in 1999. Nominations are secured from Time 100 alumni and the international writing staff. The final list is exclusively chosen by Time editors. There is also a commemorative gala held to celebrate the list winners.

For the full list of nominees, visit Time.com/Time100.

Frida Kahlo’s Family Authorizes Development of New Stage Work “Frida Kahlo, The Musical”

Posted on July 21, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Frida Kahlo is getting the stage treatment…

The family of the late Mexican artist and legend has authorized the development of Frida, The Musical, a new stage work based on the life story of the groundbreaking 20th Century artist.

“Frida still has so much to teach us, and I am thrilled at the chance to honor her life and her work through this most expressive medium,” said producer Valentina Berger in a statement. “Her spirit is very much alive in our young creative team, who continually dazzle me with their big creative swings and mind-bending talent.”

Berger, along with the Frida Kahlo estate and BTF Media, announced the project. The first workshop is slated for 2023, and the musical will feature music by the Mexican composer Jaime Lozano and lyrics by the Obie Award-winning playwright Neena Beber.

In the announcement today, the production said the musical will reveal “new, rarely explored layers of this most complex – and ardently Mexican – genius as it follows her journey from Mexico City to Paris and New York, and finally back home to the house of her birth for one final professional triumph.”

The synopsis continued, “Grounded by the rollercoaster romance between the artist and her great love, Diego Rivera, Frida will be a full-throated celebration of Kahlo’s joyous spirit of creativity and her unmatched gift for transforming physical and emotional pain into breathtaking beauty.”

Speaking on behalf of the Kahlo Family, Mara Romeo, universal heiress to the Frida Kahlo legacy, said, “We are deeply moved that this show will allow audiences around the world to get to know Frida as so much more than just an artist. Full of joy, ahead of her time, and steeped in the culture of Mexico, she was a woman driven by an unending passion for life. I hope that this show inspires women everywhere to have the courage to fight for their dreams.”

Although overlooked in her lifetime, Kahlo, who died in 1954 at the age of 47, is now widely regarded as one of the most significant artists of the last century, an exemplar of surrealism and a pioneering artistic force in feminism and an icon of and for Chicanos. Her work exploded in popularity and impact beginning in the 1970s, and the 2002 film Frida, starring Salma Hayek and directed by Julie Taymor, carried her legacy to movie audiences.

In the statement today, producers of the upcoming stage production said, “Kahlo redefined beauty, humanity, political activism, feminism, and sexuality in her time. Through an explosion of music, alongside authentic imagery and exclusive material granted by the estate, Frida promises to bring audiences new dimensions of this sister, friend, artist, lover, and perennially relevant icon.”

Eiza González to Portray Iconic Mexican Star Maria Felix in Upcoming Film

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eiza González is preparing to portray a Mexican legend…

The 31-year-old Mexican actress and singer will star as iconic Mexican film star Maria Felix in a film from director Matthew Heineman and Linden Entertainment.

The team is looking for a Latin American writer to adapt Felix’s life for the screen.

González will portray Felix and also produce the film alongside Dana Harris and Nicole King for Linden Entertainment. Walter Rivera will executive produce the film on behalf of Felix’s estate.

Felix was one of the most successful Mexican stars of all time, and this is the first time her estate will be involved in telling her story. The actress starred in 47 movies in Mexico, France, Italy and Argentina and was the queen of the silver screen in Mexico, becoming known as “La Doña.”

Felix’s story is one that follows her from the rough Northern town of Sonora, to knowing the president of Mexico, Diego Rivera, artist Frida Kahlo and being awarded France’s highest cultural award, the Legion d’honneur.

Felix’s story is one of love and loss and an exploration of Mexican culture and religion, acceptance, womanhood and fame. It is a story of a girl from Alamos who becomes Mexico’s most unconventional muse.

“Maria’s tenacity and fierce way of living through some of the hardest adversity I’ve witnessed has inspired me and many more,” González said. “I’m incredibly honored to be playing her and to be bringing her voice and story to the world.”

She added, “Maria constantly pushed boundaries and lived by her own rules, while the world tried to tear her down. I’ve always believed her life needs to be seen around the world, for people to learn more about how society depicts successful and driven women.”

Said Rivera: “We have long been searching for the right partner to tell Maria’s story, and we are proud to be partnering with Eiza González as she embodies so much of Maria’s strength, intelligence, passion, character and beauty. We know Eiza and this film has the power to influence change, much like Maria Felix did, and we know in Eiza’s hands, Maria Felix’s legacy will be portrayed in the most authentic light.”

González’s feature credits include Baby Driver, Hobbs & Shaw, Netflix’s Golden Globe-winning I Care a Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong, Michael Bay’s upcoming Ambulance and the television series From Dusk till Dawn.

Salma Hayek to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek will have a permanent place in Hollywood…

The 54-year-old Mexican Oscar-nominated actress and producer is among the 38 honorees invited to join the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hayek, who moved to Hollywood in 1991, rose to acclaim in films like Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn. She earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in Frida.

But Hayek isn’t the only Latin honoree this year…

Tessa Thompson was selected in the Motion Picture category.

The 37-year-old Afro-Panamanian American actress gained mainstream recognition for her starring role as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero films Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame.

Her other credits include Sylvie’s Love, Men in Black: International, and Creed.

Ashanti has been selected in the Recording category.

The 40-year-old part-Dominican American Grammy-winning singer and actress was first discovered as a teenager and later signed to Murder Inc. Records in 2002.

That year, she was featured on Fat Joe‘s “What’s Luv?” and Ja Rule‘s “Always on Time,” both of which became two of the biggest hit songs of 2002; Ashanti became the first female artist to occupy the top two positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously when “Foolish” and “What’s Luv?” were at numbers one and two, respectively.

Other Latin artists selected include Los Huracanes Del Norte and Angelica Vale.

These honorees were chosen from among hundreds of nominees at a meeting of the Walk of Fame selection committee and ratified by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors this week. Radio personality Ellen K, chair of the selection committee (and a past Walk of Fame honoree), announced the new honorees on the Walk of Fame’s website.

The selection panel, made up of fellow Walk of Famers, handpicks a group of honorees each year that represent various genres of the entertainment world. “The panel did an amazing job choosing these very talented people,” said Ellen K. “We can’t wait to see each honoree’s reaction as they realize that they are becoming a part of Hollywood’s history with the unveiling of their star on the world’s most famous walkway.”

Dates have not been scheduled for these star ceremonies. Recipients have two years to schedule star ceremonies from the date of selection before their selection expires. Upcoming star ceremonies are usually announced 10 days prior to dedication on the Walk of Fame website.

Here’s the full list of Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2022 honorees (using their full names as shown on their list):

Recording: Black Eyed Peas, George E. Clinton Jr., Ashanti Douglas, DJ Khaled, Avril Lavigne, Los Huracanes Del Norte, Martha Reeves and Ermias Asghedom (Nipsey Hussle, posthumous).

Motion pictures: Francis Ford Coppola, Macaulay Culkin, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, James Hong, Helen Hunt, Michael B. Jordan, Regina King, Ray Liotta, Ewan McGregor, Adam McKay, Jason Momoa, Tessa Thompson and Carrie Fisher (posthumous)

Television: Byron Allen, Greg Berlanti, Ricky Gervais, Peter Krause, Robert Odenkirk, Holly Robinson-Peete, Norman Reedus, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jean Smart, Ming-Na Wen and Kenan Thompson.

Live theatre/live performance: Patti LuPone, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. and Angelica Vale

Radio: Richard Blade

Sports entertainment: Michael Strahan

CIC Media Teams Up with Frida Kahlo Corporation & Carlos Baute to Develop Drama Series About Iconic Mexican Artist

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Frida Kahlo’s life story is headed to the small screen…

CIC Media is partnering with the Frida Kahlo Corporation and Venezuelan composer/singer Carlos Baute to create a drama series following the life of the iconic Mexican artist who has influenced, inspired and had a significant impact on the Latinx diaspora, the art world, feminism and culture as a whole.

The writing team of Joel Novoa and Marilu Godinez are set to create the series. Novoa is attached to direct.

The partnership will create a slate of content to celebrate the life of Frida Kahlo in different genres.

Novoa and Godinez said that they are developing a “high concept series” that’ll blend the new wave of international content with their experience in the American studio system.

“The idea is to talk about what the books don’t,” said the writing duo in a joint statement. “The subtext behind each painting, the richness of Mexico’s 20th century and the revolution. Themes that are incredibly relevant at this unprecedented time.”

“We are currently developing and writing the basis of the series and expect to be ready to present the project in the upcoming weeks. Joel and Marilu are doing a superb job,” said Marlon Quintero, CIC Media’s Managing Director and project leader. “Working with the Frida Kahlo Corporation has been phenomenal, it has given us the ultimate blessing to work on what we can call the one and only official series about the iconic artist”.

Carlos Dorado of the Frida Kahlo Corporation added, “Frida Kahlo Corporation is always looking for talented people who know how to exalt the life of an icon like Frida Kahlo. In this case the professional team that has been formed is distinguished by its great professionalism, experience and most importantly the sensitivity to be able to approach a project as important and transcendental as Frida Kahlo. This high professional team will always have the support of Frida Kahlo Corporation”.

The team expects to start production of the series during the second half of 2021. A studio has already shown interest and the presentation of the project to the market is expected to occur in February.

This collaboration also marks the first fiction venture for Baute, who said, “Since Carlos Dorado told me about his newly acquired brand, I was mesmerized by all the possibilities in terms of music, theatre and content. It then took a few seconds to push this possibility through when I spoke to Marlon a couple of years ago and from there, we started working together on this incredible project.”

He continued, “Today we are about to turn the dream of three into a reality for millions of people through this historic project. I am very excited to create music to dress and accompany the story of the great Frida Kahlo, a character that I am sure millions of people want to know more about”

This will mark the first drama series focusing on Kahlo in recent history. In 2002, Julie Taymor directed Frida starring Salma Hayek, who also co-produced the film. Frida was based on the biography written by Hayden Herrera. It went on to earn six Oscar nominations, winning for Best Makeup and Best Original Score. More recently, Kahlo was voiced by Natalia Cordova-Buckley in the Oscar-winning Pixar pic Coco.

In May, Deadline exclusively reported that Kartemquin Films selected Reveca Torres’ Tres Fridas as one of two projects for the inaugural Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator Program for filmmakers of color. The film follows two artists paralyzed by spinal injuries. The two discover a shared connection to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and decide to recreate her painting, “Dos Fridas,” using themselves as models.

Reveca Torres’ “Tres Fridas” Selected for the Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator Program

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Reveca Torres’ latest project is getting a major assist…

Kartemquin Films has set the Latina filmmaker’s Tres Fridas as one of two projects that will participate in the inaugural Hulu/Kartemquin Accelerator Program for filmmakers of color.

The Accelerator program offers two alumni of Kartemquin’s Filmmaker Development Programs$20,000 each towards production, and mentorship through 2020 within the Kartemquin collaborative production model.

“Access to meaningful development opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers is critically important, especially as we see just how under-resourced our community of independent documentary filmmakers of color are in this pandemic moment,” said Jolene Pinder, Executive Director. “This intervention — to bring a streaming service together with filmmakers at an earlier stage in the storytelling process — is where we want to be. Here at Kartemquin, we could not be more proud to support Colette and Reveca and the transformative films they are making. Both are powerful storytellers and incredible movement builders in their communities.”

“Being selected for the Hulu / Kartemquin Accelerator Program for a film so personal to me is a true honor,” said Ghunim. “Kartemquin Films has been the catalyst for both Traces of Home and my emerging career in documentary filmmaking. I applaud their intentionality to push for equity by lifting up filmmakers from communities often ignored.”

“It is an honor to have such an opportunity for mentorship and support from both Kartemquin and Hulu,” adds Torres. “This experience will provide me with the tools and confidence to tell this story and future stories authentically and creatively. I love being part of the KTQ community and look forward to learning and developing as a filmmaker.”

The program stems from Hulu and Kartemquin’s collaboration on the Oscarand Emmy nominated documentary Minding the Gap directed by Bing Liu and produced by Diane Quon. The feature doc won a Special Jury Prize for Breakthrough Filmmaking at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Liu originally developed the film through Kartemquin’s DiverseVoicesinDocs program, of which Torres is also a graduate.

Here are the details about Torres’ film:

Tres Fridas
Director: Reveca Torres

Two artists paralyzed by spinal injuries discover a shared connection to Mexican painter Frida Kahloand decide to recreate her painting, Dos Fridas, using themselves as models. This sparks a five-year artistic journey as the two women join forces with a photographer to transform iconic works of art into portrayals of contemporary people with disabilities. The film highlights a unique creative process as they devise ways to authenticate disability as part of the human experience.

Salma Hayek to Present at This Year’s Oscars

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayekwill be taking the Oscarsstage…

The 53-year-old Mexican actress and producer has been added to the list of presenters for the 92nd annual Academy Awards telecast on Sunday.

In addition to Hayek, who earned an Oscar nod for her portrayal of iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in the 2002 film Frida, the new additions include Utkarsh Ambudkar, Brie Larson, Spike Lee, Ray Romano, and Rebel Wilson.

Previously announced presenters include James Corden, Penélope Cruz, Beanie Feldstein, Zack Gottsagen, Diane Keaton, Shia LaBeouf, George MacKay, Steve Martin, Keanu Reeves, Maya Rudolph, Zazie Beetz, Timothée Chalamet, Will Ferrell, Gal Gadot, Mindy Kaling, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anthony Ramos, Mark Ruffalo, Kelly Marie Tran, Kristen Wiig and Sigourney Weaver.

The 92nd annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC on February 9 from the Dolby Theatre.

Natalia Cordova-Buckley to Voice Frida Kahlo in Disney/Pixar’s “Coco”

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Natalia Cordova-Buckley is getting her Frida on…

The 34-year-old Mexican actress makes a cameo appearance as the voice of legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in the English language-version of Disney/Pixar’s animated film Coco.

The film, which features Benjamin Bratt, Gael Garcia Bernal, Edward James Olmos, and Anthony Gonzalez, follows Miguel, who through a mysterious and otherworldly chain of events, meets charming trickster Héctor (Bernal), and, together, they set off on an adventure of music and mystery, resulting in the most unusual family reunion.

The pic is directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), co-directed by Adrian Molina and produced by Darla K. Anderson.

It screened at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico and will open in U.S. theaters November 22.

Cordova-Buckley is best known in the U.S. for her role on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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