Pedro Almodóvar’s Short Film “Strange Way of Life” to World Premiere at Cannes Film Festival

Pedro Almodóvar’s latest project is headed to the Cannes Film Festival.

The 73-year-old Spanish Oscar-winning director’s short film Strange Way of Life will have its world premiere at the upcoming 76th edition of the festival, which will run from May 16-27.

Pedro AlmodovarThe Western shot in southern Spain stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal and is the filmmaker’s second English-language experience, after The Human Voice in 2020.

The film had been widely expected to play at Cannes after the director told singer-songwriter Dua Lipa that he expected it to premiere the festival in an interview for her At Your Service podcast in January.

Pedro Almodóvar, "Strange Way of Life"The screening of Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life will be followed by a conversation with the director and the filmmaking team.

The work revolves around a reunion between a sheriff and a rancher who knew one another in a previous life.

The synopsis provided by Almodóvar and posted by the festival reads: “A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, worked together as hired gunmen. Silva visits him with the excuse of reuniting with his friend from his youth, and they do indeed celebrate their meeting, but the next morning Sheriff Jake tells him that the reason for his trip is not to go down the memory lane of their old friendship.”

“I must say no more so as not to give away all the surprises of the script,” adds the director. “The strange way of life referred in the title alludes to the famous fado by Amalia Rodrigues, whose lyrics suggest that there is no stranger existence than the one that is lived by turning your back on your own desires.”

The film is produced by Agustín Almodóvar with Esther García as executive producer and Bárbara Peiró, Diego Pajuelo and Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello as associate producers.

Further cast members alongside Hawke and Pascal include Pedro Casablanc, Manu Ríos, George Steane, José Condessa, Jason Fernández, Sara Sálamo, Ohiana Cueto and Daniela Medina.

Pedro Almodovar’s Production Company Developing TV Series “Mentiras Pasajeras” with Viacom International Studios

Pedro Almodovarwill be spreadinglies

Viacom International Studios has set a co-development deal with El Deseo, the Spanish production company owned by the 70-year-old legendary Spanish filmmaker and his brother Agustín Almodóvar, for an eight-episode series, Mentiras Pasajeras.

Pedro Almodovar honored at MoMa Film Benefit

The companies will co-develop the series under the direction of Spanish screenwriters Nerea Castroand Blanca Andres

El Deseo, which produces both film and television projects, was formed in 1985 by Pedro Almodovar. His  latest release, Pain and Glory, earned a Best International Filmnomination and also a Best Actornod for Antonio Banderas.

“We are honored to have entered into this agreement with internationally distinguished production company, El Deseo, which will further expand our portfolio with more world-class productions and properties,” said Federico Cuervo, SVP and Head of Viacom International Studios. ”We look forward to working with Almodovar and his team, and we are certain that this co-development deal will result in even more captivating content for VIS and its partners.”

“We very much appreciate the trust VIS has placed in us, El Deseo, as producers and are convinced the joining of forces of two companies with such high standards in this industry will yield very exciting projects in this era of high demand for quality cinematic content. We hope this first venture is the first of many more to come. We are very excited! ”said Agustin Almodovar, producer of El Deseo.

The series follows a collaboration involving VIS, El Deseo, RTVE and Movistarfor the upcoming Isabel Coixet film, Snow in Benidorm. With a cast featuring Timothy SpallSarita ChoudhuryCarmen MachiAna Torrentand Pedro Casablanc, the project started filming on January 20 in Benidorm, Spain.

Casablanc to Star in BBC One’s Three-Part Drama “Gunpowder”

Pedro Casablanc is powdering his resume…

The 53-year-old Spanish actor has been cast in BBC One’s drama Gunpowder.

Pedro Casablanc

The three-part Guy Fawkes-inspired thriller tells the real story of the Gunpowder Plot, the 1605 attempt by a group of provincial English Catholics to blow up the House of Lords and kill King James I in order to help restore a Catholic to the throne.

In addition to Casablanc, the cast includes Peter Mullan, Mark Gatiss and Liv Tyler.

Shooting is currently underway.

Casablanc, a Goya Award-nominated actor, has appeared in several Spanish-language films and television programs throughout his career.