Bejo to Star in Michel Hazanavicius’ Drama “The Search”

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Bérénice Bejo is reuniting with her husband for another film project…

The 37-year-old Argentine actress, who earned an Oscar nod for her performance in The Artist, will star opposite Annette Bening in her husband Michel Hazanavicius’ drama The Search, which the Oscar-winning director also wrote.

The film will reunite Hazanavicius with producer Thomas Langmann and his award-winning production team from The Artist.

The Search tells the story of an NGO worker who forms a special relationship with a young boy in war-torn Chechnya.

It’s based on Fred Zinnemann’s Oscar-winning 1948 film, which is set in post-World War II Berlin.

Shooting is currently underway in the country of Georgia, then will move on to France.

Bejo Earns Best Actress Honors at the Cannes Film Festival

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Following her critically acclaimed performance in 2011’s The Artist, Bérénice Bejo is back in the hunt for Oscar.

The 36-year-old Argentine Oscar-nominated actress earned best actress honors at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Bejo fought back emotion as she picked up her award on Sunday for her starring role in Asghar Farhadi‘s French-language film The Past.

Bejo, who rose to international acclaim with the Best Picture-winning silent film The Artist, plays a wife who asks her estranged husband to return from Iran to finalize their divorce.

After the awards ceremony, Bejo said she was touched by the honor but felt uncomfortable with the idea of taking credit for Oscar winner Farhadi’s Paris-set family drama.

“It is special to get a best performance prize; it is for me and I cannot imagine getting something just for me,” said Bejo. “I would be nothing if there weren’t other actors, the director, photography, and all the members of the crew.”

“It is as if the film is being reduced just to me and I can’t envision that,” she added, speaking in French.

Bejo — who was born in Argentina and speaks fluent Spanish as well as English — is married to Michel Hazanavicius, director of The Artist, which swept the 2012 Oscars with five awards including Best Picture.

Speaking earlier in the festival, she said she received offers from Hollywood after the success of The Artist.

But she said the chance to keep working in Paris with “one of the world’s best directors” was more tempting.

She said the shifting perceptions in Farhadi’s films, where things are never quite what they seem, had drawn her to the character of Marie.

“For an actress it was quite an extraordinary experience — things appear true and then turn out to be completely different,” she said.

Sony Picture Classics is set to distribute The Past in the United States in the near future.

Bejo in Final Talks to Star in the French Drama “The Choice”

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Bérénice Bejo is thisclose to lining up her next project…

The 36-year-old Argentinean actress, who earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance in The Artist, is in final talks to star in Michele Placido‘s French-language drama The Choice.

Inspired by a novel by Luigi Pirandello and written by Placido, the film centers on a woman who discovers she’s pregnant after being raped. She and her husband, who haven’t been able to conceive a child, are faced with a terrible choice.

“The Choice is not only a drama, it’s a powerful love story about these two people whose feelings for each other run so deep that they’re determined to overcome this tragedy and rebuild their life together,” says the film’s producer Maxime Delauney. “It’s an echo of Placido’s first film (as an actor), Mia moglie, un corpo per l’amore.”

The film is expected to begin shooting in late 2013.

Bejo will next be seen in Asghar Farhadi’s Dominos; and she’s also set to reteam with her The Artist director and husband Michel Hazanavicius as the star of his next film, The Search.

Bejo Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies at Cannes Film Festival

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s further proof that The Artist’s breakout starlet Bérénice Bejo is one of Hollywood’s latest “It girls”…

The 35-year-old Argentine-French actress will reportedly serve as the mistress of ceremonies at the opening and closing ceremonies of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, according to French newspaper Le Parisien.

It would be a great return to the festival for Bejo—who received an Oscar nomination for her role as Peppy Miller in The Artist, as well as France’s Cesar award for her work—after dazzling audiences last year with her performance in Michel Hazanavicius’ black-and-white Oscar-winning film.

Bejo would follow actresses Kristin Scott Thomas, Monica Bellucci, Diane Kruger and last year’s host Melanie Laurent.

The official announcement on the juries, film lineups and visiting guests for the 65thedition of the Cannes Film Festival will take place Thursday during a late-morning press conference in Paris.

Bejo: Flapping for Fashion at the DGA Awards…

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Bérénice Bejo is proving to be the artist to watch on screen and off during this year’s awards season.

The 35-year-old Argentine star of The Artist has not only received an Oscar nomination for her role in the critically acclaimed French silent, black-and-white film, but she’s also dazzled on the red carpet.

For this weekend’s 64^th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, Bejo channeled her scene-stealing character Peppy Miller by donning a black and gold flapper girl-esque fringed-skirt dress from Gucci’s 1920s-inspired collection.

Bejo, a Golden Globes best dressed honoree, teamed the oh-so-stunning drop-waist and art deco-lined dress with Gucci accessories, including a gold and black clutch and onyx-colored sandals.

A side-parted, side-swept ponytail and gold earrings completed Bejo’s stunning look… a tip of the hat to the time and theme of The Artist, for which her husband Michel Hazanavicius claimed the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film award.

Hail Cesar! Bejo Receives a Cesar Award Nomination…

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Having scored numerous nominations this awards season—including her first Academy Award nomination—it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Bérénice Bejo has received recognition from France’s Academy of Technical Arts and Sciences.

The 35-year-old Argentine actress—the scene-stealer in the critically acclaimed French silent, black-and-white film The Artist—has received a Cesar Award nomination for best actress.

Bejo is up against Declaration of War’s Valerie Donzelli, Poliss stars Karin Viard and Marina Fois, Leila Bekhti for Radu Mihaileanu’s The Source, Marie Gillain for Toutes nos envies and Ariane Ascaride for her role in The Snows of Kilimanjaro.

In all, France’s Academy bestowed Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist with 10 nominations including best film, best actor for Bejo’s co-star Jean Dujardin and best director.

For the first time, one of the Cesar favorites — The Artist — is a best film Oscar front-runner as well, which doesn’t surprise French Film Academy president Alain Terzian.

“Don’t forget that the Cesar Awards were created in homage to the Oscars,” Terzian told The Hollywood Reporter. “The people who founded the Cesar Awards were all known in Hollywood – Claude Lelouch, Claude Berri, Costa-Gavras, Michel Legrand and Jean-Jacques Annaud for example. It’s symbolic that the Cesar and the Oscars are the same weekend. It’s an homage I want to permanently pay.”

The winners will be announced at the 36th annual Cesar Awards ceremony in Paris on February 24, just two days prior to the Academy Awards.

Bejo “Overjoyed” Over Oscar Nod…

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Since the start of the awards season, Bérénice Bejo has received praise and recognition for her scene-stealing presence in The Artist.

The 35-year-old Argentine star has been lauded by a growing number of organizations, including acting nods from the Hollywood Foreign Press, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

But Bejo is only the second Argentine actor or actress to receive an Academy Award nomination—following in the footsteps of Norma Aleandro, who received an Oscar nod nearly 25 years ago for her supporting role in Gaby: A True Story.

“I’m overjoyed and filled with happiness. I can’t believe that a year ago I was learning how to tap dance and shooting in Hollywood studios and today I am nominated for an Academy Award,” said Bejo after receiving a Best Supporting Actress nomination for playing Peppy Miller in the . “It was a thrill to work on a project as ambitious as The Artist and I am happy to share this moment with our visionary director, Michel Hazanavicius.”

Bejo—who was the best-dressed Latina at this year’s Golden Globes—will face-off against Jessica Chastain (The Help), Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) and  Octavia Spencer (The Help).

The 84th Academy Awards will be televised on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Bichir Receives First-Ever Oscar Nomination…

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Demián Bichir is following in the footsteps of legendary actor Anthony Quinn…

The 48-year-old former telenovela star has become only the second Mexican actor to receive a lead actor Academy Award nomination; nearly 50 years after Quinn won an Oscar for his role in Zorba the Greek.

Bichir received the nod for his starring role in A Better Life where he played Carlos Galindo, an illegal immigrant gardener living in East Los Angeles. Struggling to remain employed but undetected by immigration authorities, Galindo attempts to provide a better life for his American-born son.

“I’m overwhelmed for having my name among those incredible actors,” Bichir tells Us Weekly in a statement. “This could have never happened if Chris Weitz had not been the head of this film. He is my brother and I thank him deeply.”

Bichir’s performance—which led to a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and Independent Spirit Awards nod, has simmered on Hollywood’s back burner since awards season began.

“You know, when you encounter a character like this and a project like this, the first reaction is how lucky I am,” said Bichir in a recent interview with USA Today. “Because this is my Hamlet. This is my King Lear… It’s a bigger-than-life character that any actor would fight for it, would die to do it.”

Bichir will face-off against George Clooney (The Descendants), Jean Dujardin (The Artist), Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Brad Pitt (Moneyball).

Meanwhile, Bérénice Bejo is also a first-time Oscar nominee. The 35-year-old Argentine star—who was the best-dressed Latina at this year’s Golden Globes—received a Best Supporting Actress nod for her star-making role in The Artist.

Bejo is up against Jessica Chastain (The Help), Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids), Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) and  Octavia Spencer (The Help).

Here’s a look at the other Latinos nominated for an Academy Award this year:

Music (Original Score):
Alberto Iglesias, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Music (Original Song):
Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown & Siedah Garrett, “Real in Rio” from Rio

Martin Scorsese’s Hugo was this year’s most nominated film with 11 nods, followed by Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist, with 10.

The 84th Academy Awards will be televised on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Bejo Receives BAFTA Award Nomination

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Bérénice Bejo’s star turn in Michel Hazanavicius’ critically acclaimed silent film The Artist continues to receive rave reviews for her performance…

The 35-year-old Argentine star of the French black-and-white film—an homage to the “pre-talkie” era set in 1920s and 1930s Hollywood—received a BAFTA award nomination for best actress for playing the effervescently charming and irresistibly beautiful Peppy Miller in The Artist.

Bejo—who illuminated the red carpet at Sunday’s Golden Globes in an Emilio Pucci sapphire gown—is up against Michelle Williams for her turn in My Week With Marilyn, Viola Davis for The Help, Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady and Tilda Swinton for We Need To Talk About Kevin.

In all, The Artist leads the field with nominations in 12 categories for this year’s British Academy Film Awards, presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, including best film.

Meanwhile, 55-year-old Spanish composer Alberto Iglesias has received a BAFTA award nomination for original music for his work on the spy thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Iglesias, who earned a London Film Critics’ Circle nod for his work on Pedro Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In, will face off against The Artist’s Ludovic Bource, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Hugo’s Howard Shore and War Horse’s John Williams.

The British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday February 12 at the Royal Opera House in London.

Bejo Receives Critics’ Choice Nomination…

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Tom Castaneda

It could turn out to be a stellar awards season for rising star Bérénice Bejo…

The 35-year-old Argentine actress has received a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Supporting Actress from the Broadcast Film Critics Association for her show-stopping performance in The Artist.

The announcement comes about a week after it was announced Bejo will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February. She’s also received Best Supporting Actress nods this season from the Detroit Film Critics Society and the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association.

In the highly acclaimed film directed by her husband Michel Hazanavicius, Bejo stars as Peppy Miller, a young dancer on the verge of her big break in Hollywood in 1927 as silent movies grow out of fashion and get replaced by “talkies.”

Bejo faces serious competition in the Best Supporting Actress category. She’s up against Jessica Chastain for the The Help, Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids, Carey Mulligan for Shame, Octavia Spencer for The Help and Shailene Woodley for The Descendants.

In addition, Bejo and her The Artist co-stars have received a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Acting Ensemble, along with the casts from Bridesmaids,The Descendants, The Help and  The Ides of March.

Meanwhile, 57-year-ild film composer Cliff Martinez, who recently received a Satellite Award nomination, has received a Critics’ Choice nod for Best Score for his work on Drive.

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