Melbourne Spanish Festival

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Event:

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Spanish Film Festival 2015. All images courtesy of Palace Cinemas website

The Kino Cinemas, Palace Westgarth and Palace Cinema Como will be entertaining you with films from the 2015 Spanish Film Festival from 22 April to 10 May. This year's festival program is exclusive to Palace Cinemas around Australia and it screens 38 features from across Spain, Latin-America and beyond. The opening night film Spanish Affair stars Clara Lago and Dani Rovira who is a popular stand-up comic and presenter. This 98 minute romantic comedy won 'best supporting actor', 'best supporting actress' and 'best breakthrough actor at the 2015 Goya Awards. Considered the biggest Spanish box-office hit in history, it's set in the Basque countryside and tells the tale of a typical Andalucian male who's in pursuit of love. However, the one he wants, wants nothing to do with him. Until of course her father turns up, mistakenly believing she's still engaged to the fiance who's dumped her. Thus begins the classic comedy of errors that attracted over 6.5 million admissions in Spain last year. Sounds like an offer you just can't refuse.

Opening (Spanish Affair) and Closing Night Films

The opening night film screens at Palace Cinema Como on Wednesday 22 April at 7pm. If you arrive at 6.30pm, you'll be given Freixenet Cava bubbles on arrival followed by the after party with Torres wines, 'live' entertainment and tapas by Robert Burns Hotel. Admission for Palace Movie Club Members for this Australian Premiere will be and General Admission will be . CLICK HERE for dates in other States and CLICK HERE to buy tickets. You can also buy it directly from the Cinema's website.
Another Australian Premiere, the 122 min long closing night film Wild Tales, a black comedy, stars Dario Grandinetti and Maria Marull. It's won a swag of awards that includes winner of best foreign film in the Spanish language at the 2015 Goya Awards; 10 awards from the Argentine Academy including best film director; best foreign language film - National Board of Review; Audience Award, best actress - Biarritz International Festival 2014 and nominated best foreign language film at the 2015 Academy Awards. Sounds like you shouldn't miss this one either.
These dark tales of 6 short stories explores how everyday people pushed to their farthest limits will exude their darkest side and prove that there's an animal in all of us. This collection with revenge its common thread is bursting at the seams with the blackest of humour that is executed through six totally 'wild' characterisations. There's the deadly case of road rage, a wedding gone wrong, accidental manslaughter and so on.

Revenge is a dish best served cold they say and this offering will grip you by the throat with an electrifying opening and swallow you whole with its unpredictable turns that are funny, clever, brutal and thrilling.

This closing night event takes place on Sunday 10 May and will screen at 7pm. CLICK HERE for closing night dates in other states. Arrival at 6.30pm will guarantee you Torres wines and live entertainment. Palace Movie Club Members pay $24 a ticket and general admission is $27. CLICK HERE for tickets.

Special guests Elena Anaya, Eulalia Ramon and Cesar Espada (not pictured)

The screening of 'They are all Dead', a 93 minute black comedy/drama on Friday the 24th of April at 6.30pm will be followed by Q&A with the star of the show Elena Anaya and an after party with Torres wines, cheese plates and a DJ. Tickets are $24 for Palace Movie Club Members and General Admission will be $27. Click here for tickets and click here for dates in other States.

This Australian Premiere was the official selection of the Raindance Film Festival (London) and the Miami International Film Festival. It also won the best actress award at the Malaga film festival in 2014. Actress Elena Anaya plays Lupe, an agoraphobic former poprocker who's trapped by memories of her youth and the death of her band mate and brother Diego, for which she blames herself. She's lost all connection to her teenage son who can't stand her. Enter her mother who wants to set things right before her demise and asks for the help of her departed son Diego who responds. A debut by director Beatriz Sanchis, it tells the dramatic tale of evoking the dead to re-discover love.

Other special events to look forward to are Finding Gaston, a 75 minute documentary that was the official selection for the Napa Valley Film Festival 2014 and NYC Food Film Festival 2014. Restauranteur extraordinaire Gastón Acurio is the subject of this inspirational mouth watering doco. This is the story of a man that has taken his cuisine outside his kitchen in a mission to change his country with his food. Click here for tickets and here for screening times and dates in other states. Palace Movie Club Members pay $26 for tickets and General Admission $29 for this film that screens at Kino Cinemas on Thursday 30 April for a 7pm screening. A 6.15pm arrival will give you live entertainment, Freixenet Cava and traditional Peruvian cuisine by Pastuso.

Tango Glories a 109 minute romantic comedy was the official selection of the Singapore International Film Festival 2014 and the Chicago Latino and Miami International film festivals in the same year. You'll experience stunning dance numbers in a film that calls attention to the basic need for connection, passion and forgiveness in life. Screening at Palace Westgarth on Wed 6 May at 8.45pm, an 8pm arrival will have you accompanied by Torres wines and Argentinean flavours courtesy of San Telmo. Tickets for Palace Movie Club Members are $26 and General Admission $29. Click here for sessions in other states and here to purchase tickets.

Director César Espada and actress Eulalia Ramón will be in attendance for Q&A after the film 'Spot' (below pic) which screens on Friday 8 May at 6.30 pm at Palace Cinema Como. For this film we travel back in time to find out what pushes Daniel to the brink to drink two bottles of Vanish stain remover in front of his camera for YouTube. Click here to find out session times in other states and click here for tickets. Palace Movie Club Members pay $15 a ticket and general admission is $19.50.

An Australian Premiere and special presentation of 'Spot' starring special guest Eulalia Ramon and directed by Cesar Espada. A 90 min drama that was nominated at the Maverick Movie Awards 2013: best movie, script, director, actress and production design.

Check out the Film Festival website to buy tickets and for comprehensive details about events and sessions.

You can also go to the Palace Cinemas website to find the cinemas in different States. Changing the location on the top right corner will give you the screening details of special events in your city. It also lists all the films alphabetically and under their specific categories which comes in very handy.

a) Latin American Films b) Spanish Films & c) International Co-productions. Click on large image, then click again on image that unfolds to see it full size.

You will also be in with a chance to win a trip for two to Spain if you can answer a question and supply the title of the film that was viewed at the festival. Check back here from the first day of the festival for more details and the entry form.

Why? The Spanish Film Festival with a choice of 38 films, Q&A sessions and special events.