TWITCH FILM.NET: Sitges 2008 - RAMIREZ REVIEW by Todd Brown

17 February 2009

"A surprisingly poetic and gently rhythmic film, Ramirez is a study of young Sebastian Ramirez: aspiring photographer, low level drug dealer, and highly accomplished serial killer." "Yes, the serial killer film has been done before but it has seldom been attempted quite like this. Shot digitally on an impossibly small budget Ramirez the film takes on the sort of chill out jazz tone of the music preferred by Ramirez the character. Arizza offers neither excuse nor explanation for Ramirez’s behavior, instead his camera simply observes, creating a quietly intimate portrayal of his character. Arizza has a stellar eye for composition and a rhythmic approach to editing - the multitasking Arizza also wrote and co-produced the film - and draws an excellent performance out of lead actor Christian Magaloni, who has the potential to be a major star." "While most films of this genre go for the big shock, for the big kill scene, Ramirez takes the exact opposite approach. This is film as a form of portraiture and it is an intriguing little experiment by a very talented film maker." http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/sitges-2008-ramirez-review/

Asian buyers lift Sheets with Kevin Williams Associates

17 February 2010

Asians buyers are getting into bed with Madrid-based sales outfit Kevin Williams Associates. Midway through the market, Between Sheets, the sultry Colombian drama starring model and actress Karina Mora, has sold to Sonamu Pictures for Korea. KWA has also done brisk business on other titles on its EFM slate. Erotic teen thriller The Hanged Man has gone to Sonamu for Korea, as well as AK for Japan and Venevision for the US. Sonamu has also taken Vicente Aranda’s Tirant Lo Blanc while MIG Film has picked it up for Germany. Meanwhile, the sales company is introducing buyers to Mexican comedy Recently Hooked, a runaway hit at the local box office where it was released on 200 prints by Warner Brothers.

NonStop gets Between The Sheets

24 February 2010

Kevin Williams Associates close deal on two Berlin titles with NonStop. Madrid-based sales agent Kevin Williams Associates (KWA) has closed two deals for titles on its Berlin slate with NonStop for Scandinavia. The titles it has sold are its Latin erotic drama Between The Sheets (Entrant Sábanas), starring model and actress Karina Mora, and Vicente Aranda’s Tirante El Blanco. During the Berlinale, KWA also added two new titles to its slate - Mexican comedy Recently Hooked, and spicy drama The End Of Ecstasy. Williams reported a brisk EFM but noted that prices being paid have fallen dramatically. “We’re making sales but in some cases, we’re only getting 10 of the prices we were getting three to five years ago,” he said.

ABALLAY - Variety review

13 June 2011

An homage to both Argentina's gaucho culture and the brutal oaters of Sam Peckinpah and Walter Hill, ABALLAY is raw, surreal and memorable, with such a potent vision that its flaws float away like dust from a horse's hooves. As Drama, this broodingly intense, fierce and visually dazzling yam of a young man seeking revenge for his pappy's death is neither original nor even particularly coherent, but helmer Fernando Spiner brilliantly makes his point about the violence that underpins both Argentinean And American popular culture. Pic deserves fest and offshore play. Read full article at: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117945206