Berenice Bejo’s latest project is one step closer to hitting theaters around the globe…
Goodfellas has acquired the worldwide sales rights to thriller Mexico 86, starring the 47-year-old French-Argentine Oscar-nominated actress.
The film hails from Belgian-Guatemalan filmmaker César Diaz, who made waves with Guatemalan civil war disappearance drama Our Mothers, which won Cannes’ Caméra d’Or in 2019.
Mexico 86 stars Bejo as a Guatemalan rebel activist fighting against the corrupt military dictatorship, who is forced to flee to Mexico in 1976, leaving her son behind. A decade later, he comes to live with her, forcing her to choose between her duties as a mother and her revolutionary activism.
Diaz has taken inspiration from his own personal story for the drama.
The film is produced by Need Productions with Tripode Productions, Pimienta Films and Menuetto Film.
Bejo earned a Best Supporting Actress nod for her performance in The Artist. Her other credits include The Past, Eternity and Sweet Dreams.
Thorne, the highest-ranking female and Hispanic celebrity on the list at No. 4, is riding the Shake It Up! train to success. Thorne has won a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) for her portrayal of aspiring dancer Cece Jones. And, she’s starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Frenemies.
But that’s not all, Thorne has also landed on the Billboard Hot 100 twice, with Shake It up! singles “TTYLXOX” and “Watch Me.”
Meanwhile,American Idolrunner-up Jessica Sanchez has cracked the list at No. 8.
The 17-year-old half-Mexican petite singer wowed audiences during her Idol run with performances of songs like Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams” and Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father.”
Even though she didn’t win the AI title, Sanchez did receive unanimous praise from the judges and a record deal with Interscope Records. And, she recently shared her first single, “Fairytale,” with concertgoers.
Following two top-notch performances, it looks like William Levy could be headed to the Dancing with the Stars finale…
During Monday night’s semi-finals, the 31-year-old Cuban American actor demonstrated his ballroom dancing prowess by performing a sizzling samba and tantalizing tango that earned raves from the judges.
In the first round, Levy and his partner Cheryl Burke took to the floor to perform a high-octane tango to the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” which received 28 points out of 30 from the judges.
“Powerful, firm, convincing, full of animal magnetism,” professed judge Bruno Tonioli. “No doubt who was on top on that. You were like the dictator of the tango!”
But it was Levy’s dance in the second round that could just seal his fate as a DWTS finalist…
Performing to Sergio Mendes’ Portuguese classic “Magalenha” and dressed in a hot pink button down and skin-tight white pants, Levy’s oh-so-marvelous moves had the audience clapping throughout, especially when he shook his bon bon to the delight of the women in the crowd.
“I’ve never looked at a man’s bum for so long in my life,” said judge Len Goodman as the crowd broke into laughter. “The hunk with his junk in the trunk. The rhythm that you brought out was just fantastic.”
“I’m going to die with bum envy,” said Tonioli unable to contain his excitement for Levy’s performance.
“You lived up to every expectation,” Carrie Ann Inaba cooed. “Amazing! Good job.”
Talk about a proud moment for American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez…
During last night’s two-hour episode, the 16-year-old half-Mexican singer delivered two knockout performances and shined bright during her “girl power” trio with fellow female finalists Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine.
During the first hour, which was dedicated to songs of the ‘60s, Sanchez tackled living legend Tina Turner’s trademark rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary.”
Guest mentor Steve Van Zandt—the guitarist for Bruce Springsteen‘s E Street Band and ex-Sopranos actor—initially tried to dissuade Sanchez from performing the song, but she ultimately won him over.
Dressed to the nines in a heavily chained body-hugging white dress and a pair of sky-high heels, the petite San Diego native delivered a spot-on vocal performance, complete with growls and a massive high note at the end. Sanchez even channeled some of Turner’s on-stage effervescence by shimmying and shaking across the stage.
“You’re so grown up there; it’s crazy! I always forget you’re 16 years old,” said Idol judge Jennifer Lopez. “You brought it out there. You were a little bit of Tina, a little bit of Beyonce, a little bit of I don’t know what up there!”
Sanchez later took the stage with Cavanagh and Laine to perform a lively rendition of Jackie Wilson‘s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” which proved to be a much better performance than Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet’s take on the Righteous Brothers‘ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.”
But it was Sanchez’s final performance, as part of the show’s British pop theme, which seriously set her apart from the competition. It was her latest American Idol “moment,” following her previous performances of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” and Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams.”
Dressed in an intricate black and white dress and sprawled on the stage next to several LED candles, Sanchez delivered an earnest and emotional rendition of Joe Cocker‘s “You Are So Beautiful,” which she later admitted was sung with her mother in mind.
“You once again showed America just how beautiful your voice is… and what a great singer you are,” declared Idol judge Steven Tyler. “You’re gonna be No. 1 girl.”
After demonstrating her vocal prowess on Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” it’s no surprise that Jessica Sanchez has successfully taken on Beyonce.
Looking all Sasha Fierce with her slicked-back hair, statement necklace and silver and black mini-dress complete with long train, the 16-year-old part-Mexican American Idol finalist showed America why she’s considered a frontrunner by performing a slowed-down version of Beyonce’s hit “Sweet Dreams.”
And Idol’s judges couldn’t help but applaud Sanchez’s reimagining of the song, which included a harptastic intro.
“It was really, really beautiful,” gushed Jennifer Lopez, who complimented Sanchez for holding back when she could’ve easily belted her signature high notes. “You left us wanting more!” Steven Tyler called it “delicious” and “beautiful,” while Randy Jackson talked about the 16-year-old’s impressive maturity, saying “You just innately have this unbelievable talent.”
Moments later, Sanchez returned to the stage to perform a Madonna medley with fellow finalists Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine. Wearing a white tuxedo with black piping and black top, Jessica kicked off the performance with “Like a Prayer” and assisted the ladies on their renditions of “Borderline” and “Express Yourself.”
The film hails from Belgian-Guatemalan filmmaker César Diaz, who made waves with Guatemalan civil war disappearance drama Our Mothers, which won Cannes’ Caméra d’Or in 2019.
