Rodriguez Lands Three Albums in the Top 30 on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

They’re really searching for Sixto Rodriguez in the Land Down Under…

The 72-year-old Mexican American folk musician, who returned to the spotlight after being the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, has landed three albums in the top 30 of this week’s Australian sales chart.

Rodriguez’s chart surge has been fuelled by the announcement of his upcoming national tour and the recent free-to-air television broadcast of his award-winning documentary.

The first Rodriguez album Cold Fact (Inertia) from 1969 is currently at No. 11, outpacing its previous chart peak of No. 23. Also on this week’s ARIA Albums chart, the Searching for Sugar Man (Legacy/Sony) soundtrack is at No. 22 and his second and final studio set Coming From Reality from 1971 (Light in the Attic/Inertia) is at No. 25. The chart is led this week by Ariana Grande’s My Everything.

Searching For Sugar Man tells the story of how the protest singer from Detroit was all but forgotten in his homeland, but an unlikely legend in South Africa, where his political and personal themes resonated with the blossoming anti-apartheid movement (he cut two albums of soulful folk rock for Sussex, label home to Bill Withers). The film tracks the search for Rodriguez, a journey undertaken by a few fans and journalists in South Africa who cherished his music. It won the Oscar in 2013 for best documentary, and Rodriguez is now enjoying the international attention that eluded him in his prime.

The film aired August 24 on the SBS channel as a warm-up for Rodriguez’ Australian tour. He’ll visit Australia to play Brisbane (Convention Centre, Oct. 19), Sydney (Sydney Opera House, Oct. 21 and 23), Melbourne (Palais Theatre, Oct. 25 and 26), Adelaide (AEC Theatre, Oct. 29) and Perth (Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Nov. 7).

The singer-songwriter’s cult status has been assured in Australia since the mid-1970s, when his music gained airplay on Sydney AM radio station 2JJ (the precursor to Triple J) and he toured here finding limited success. He first performed Down Under in 1979, returning in 1981 when Midnight Oil joined him for some shows. He was last in Australia for 2013’s Bluesfest.

“Life of Pi” Cinematographer Miranda Wins BAFTA Award…

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Claudio Miranda may have to look for another place to display his growing stash of awards…

The Chilean cinematographer, a favorite to win at this year’s Oscars, won the Best Cinematography gong at Sunday night’s BAFTA Awards, sponsored by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Miranda, who wasn’t present to pick up his award at London’s Royal Opera House, claimed the award for his work on Ang Lee’s Life of Pi.

It’s Miranda’s latest win this awards season, following his Critics’ Choice Award and New York Film Critics Online, among others.

Meanwhile, Malik Bendjelloul’s Searching for Sugar Man, the critically acclaimed documentary about Mexican American musician Sixto Rodriguez, won the BAFTA Award.

Earlier this month, Searching for Sugar Man picked up the DGA Award from the Directors Guild of America.

“Searching for Sugar Man” Earns Directors Guild Award

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Searching for Sugar Man has the momentum heading into the final Oscar stretch…

The critically acclaimed documentary about Mexican American musician Sixto Rodriguez, who has been dubbed “the greatest rock star who never was,” earned the film’s helmer Malik Bendjelloul his first DGA Award from the Directors Guild of America.

Bendjelloul picked up the award during the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards dinner on Saturday night at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles.

It’s the latest award for Searching for Sugar Man, which is looking like an Oscar front-runner in its category. The film had previously won a Critics Choice award and Producers Guild of America award.

In addition, the film has resulted in what’s shaping up to be the comeback of the century, with the film’s subject Rodriguez now in high demand. He’s slated to perform at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and other music festivals this year.

Cuesta Wins Producers Guild Award for Showtime’s “Homeland”

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Cuesta has another award to add to his mantle…

The 49-year-old Latino film & television director picked up a Producers Guild Award (PGA Award) on Saturday night in the Television Drama category.

Cuesta earned the award for producing Showtime’s Homeland, along with fellow producers Henry Bromell, Alexander Cary, Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Chip Johannessen, Michael Klick and Meredith Stiehm.

It’s the director’s first PGA Award. Cuesta, was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for directing Homeland’s pilot episode, had previously been nominated for a PGA Award in the Television Producer of the Year Award in Episodic category in 2008 for Showtime’s Dexter.

Meanwhile, Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn’s Searching for Sugar Man, about Mexican-American indie singer Rodriguez, earned the PGA Award in the Documentary category.

3Ball MTY to Perform at Coachella…

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Erick Rincon, Sergio Zavala (Dj Sheeqo Beat) and Alberto Presenda (Dj Otto) have lined up one of the biggest gigs of their lives…

The members of Mexico’s DJ collective 3Ball MTY, winners of the Best New Artist award at last year’s Latin Grammys, have been added to the lineup for the prestigious Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.

It’ll be 3Ball MTY’s first appearance at the music festival after their banner year in 2012 that included winning nine awards at last year’s Billboard Mexican Music Awards and seeing their album Inténtalo named the breakthrough album of the year by iTunes editors.

Rincon, Zavala and Presenda will perform on Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, April 20.

But 3Ball MTY won’t be the only Latin acts performing at Coachella 2013, which will once again take place over two weekends (April 12-14 and 19-21).

Mexican-American singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, the star of the Oscar-nominated documentary Searching for Sugar Man, will perform at Coachella, as previously reported. Rodriguez, who dropped out of sight after releasing two extraordinary albums in the early 1970s that didn’t sell well stateside, will perform on Sunday, April 14 and Sunday, April 21.

Rising star DJ Danny Avila will make his Coachella debut. The 17-year-old EDM wunderkind, who recently released the remixes for his smash single “Breaking Your Fall,” will take the stage on Sunday, April 14 and Sunday, April 21.

Mexican alternative rock band Café Tacvba, recipient of iTunes’ Best Album honors last year for El Objeto Antes Llamado Disco, will perform on Saturday, April 13 and Saturday, April 20

For the full Coachella 2013 lineup and information on purchasing three-day passes for either weekend, check out the fest’s official site.

“Searching for Sugar Man” Receives DGA Award Nomination

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Searching for Sugar Man continues to rock up the award nominations…

Malik Bendjelloul’s film about 70-year-old Mexican American singer Rodriguez has received a DGA Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentaries by the Directors Guild of America.

The film, which earned an Academy Award nomination last week, tells the story of the folk musician who became a huge star in South Africa while remaining a virtual unknown in the United States, even in his hometown of Detroit.

Searching for Sugar Man will compete against Kirby Dick’s The Invisible War, Lauren Greenfield’s The Queen of Versailles, Alison Klayman’s Ai WeiWei: Never Sorry and David Frances’ How to Survive a Plague.

Winners will be announced on February 2nd at the 65th annual DGA Awards Dinner in Hollywood, in a ceremony hosted by Kelsey Grammer.

“Life of Pi” Cinematographer Miranda Wins Critics’ Choice Award

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

The Critics have spoken… And, they’ve heralded Claudio Miranda…

The Chilean filmmaker picked up the first Critics’ Choice Award of his career, in his first try, from the Broadcast Film Critics Association on Thursday night.

Miranda won the Best Cinematography trophy for his work on Ang Lee’s Life of Pi.

It’s the latest win for Miranda, who was just nominated for an Academy Award for serving as the Director of Photography on the critically acclaimed Life of Pi. He’d previously won a Satellite Award and a trophy from the New York Film Critics Online.

Meanwhile, Searching for Sugar Man – about Mexican American singer Rodriguez – picked up its latest Best Documentary Feature trophy.

Bardem Receives BAFTA Award Nomination

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Skyfall’s Javier Bardem is a hit in England…

The 43-year-old Spanish actor, who masterfully plays the villain in the latest James Bond film has followed up his London Film Critics’ Circle nod with a BAFTA Award nomination.

Bardem was revealed as a candidate in the Best Supporting Actor category during the announcement of nominees by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Bardem, who previously won a BAFTA Award in 2007 for his performance in No Country for Old Men, will face off against Argo’s Alan Arkin, Django Unchained’s Christoph Waltz, The Master’s Philip Seymour Hoffman and Lincoln’s Tommy Lee Jones.

Bardem’s nomination is one of eight nominations for Skyfall, which is now the highest-grossing film in United Kingdom history.

Meanwhile, Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn’s Searching for Sugar Man, the documentary about Mexican-American musician Rodriguez was nominated in the Best Documentary category.

Chilean cinematographer Claudio Miranda earned a BAFTA Award nomination, the second of his career, for his work on Ang Lee’s Life of Pi.

Spanish costume designer Paco Delgado earned his first BAFTA Award nomination for his costume design work on the film adaptation of Broadway’s Les Misérables.

The BAFTA Awards ceremony will take place on February 10.

Here’s a look at the Latino nominees and their competition:

DOCUMENTARY
THE IMPOSTER Bart Layton, Dimitri Doganis
MARLEY Kevin Macdonald, Steve Bing, Charles Steel
McCULLIN David Morris, Jacqui Morris
SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN Malik Bendjelloul, Simon Chinn
WEST OF MEMPHIS Amy Berg

SUPPORTING ACTOR
ALAN ARKIN Argo
CHRISTOPH WALTZ Django Unchained
JAVIER BARDEM Skyfall
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN The Master
TOMMY LEE JONES Lincoln

CINEMATOGRAPHY
ANNA KARENINA Seamus McGarvey
LES MISÉRABLES Danny Cohen
LIFE OF PI Claudio Miranda
LINCOLN Janusz Kaminski
SKYFALL Roger Deakins

COSTUME DESIGN
ANNA KARENINA Jacqueline Durran
GREAT EXPECTATIONS Beatrix Aruna Pasztor
LES MISÉRABLES Paco Delgado
LINCOLN Joanna Johnston
SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN Colleen Atwood

“Searching for Sugar Man” Lauded by Vancouver Film Critics Circle

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Rodriguez isn’t just a hit in South Africa and the United States…

The 70-year-old Mexican American singer, or at least the film about him, has been heralded by one film critics group in Canada.

The Vancouver Film Critics Circle has just announced the nominees for its 13th annual awards; and the group has nominated Searching for Sugar Man for Best Documentary.

The critically acclaimed film, directed by Malik Bendjelloul, will face off against Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry and How to Survive a Plague.

Meanwhile, the French fantasy drama film Holy Motors, starring Eva Mendes, was nominated in the Best Foreign Film category, along with Amour and The Intouchables.

The Vancouver Film Critics Circle awards ceremony will be held on January 7, 2013.

Bardem Recognized by the London Film Critics’ Circle

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It appears that crime does pay, at least for Javier Bardem…

The 43-year-old Spanish actor – who earned an Oscar for playing a psychopathic assassin in No Country for Old Men – has picked up another nomination for his villainous role in Skyfall.

The London Film Critics’ Circle nominated Bardem in the Best Supporting Actor category for playing the main antagonist in the latest James Bond film.

Bardem, who received a SAG Award nomination earlier this month, will face off against Argo’s Alan Arkin, Prometheus’ Michael Fassbender, The Master’s Philip Seymour Hoffman and Lincoln’s Tommy Lee Jones.

Meanwhile, Chilean cinematographer Claudio Miranda has been nominated in the Technical Achievement Award category for his work on Ang Lee‘s Life of Pi. And the critically acclaimed Searching for Sugar Man, a film about Mexican American singer Rodriguez, has been nominated in the Documentary of the Year category.

The London Film Critics’ Circle will hold its 33rd awards ceremony on January 20.

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