'The Blue Star', 'Marco' and 'Saturn Return' shortlisted to represent Spain at the Oscars
Only one of the three will compete in the Best International Film category at the March 8 ceremony
'The Blue Star', 'Marco' and 'Saturn Return' are the three films shortlisted to represent Spain in the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Oscars.
This was announced by the Spanish Film Academy during a ceremony on Tuesday morning in which actresses Malena Alterio, Belén Cuesta and Victoria Luengo presented the three shortlisted films.
Of these three, only one will be chosen to officially represent Spain at the Hollywood Academy Awards, which will be held on March 3. The final decision will be announced on September 18.
The Catalan influence in the selection is significant. 'Marco,' by Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño, tells the story of Enric Marco, a Catalan impostor who falsely claimed to be a Holocaust survivor.
He gained wide recognition during the early 2000s, and even served as president of Spain's main Holocaust survivors association and have numerous speeches about his experiences.
Marco is portrayed by the acclaimed Catalan actor Eduard Fernández, a winner of three Goya Awards and four Gaudí Awards.
The film was presented at the Venice Film Festival on August 30 and will be released in Catalan cinemas on November 8.
'Saturn Return,' directed by Catalan filmmakers Isaki Lacuesta and Pol Rodríguez, is a musical drama about the Spanish indie band Los Planetas.
The film premiered in May and made a big splash at the Malaga Film Festival, where it won three awards.
This is Lacuesta's eighth film. Born in Girona, he has twice won the prestigious Golden Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
Another musical biopic has also made the list: 'The Blue Star', by Javier Macipe, which follows the journey of the famous Spanish rocker Mauricio Aznar as he travels through Latin America, seeking to reconnect with music and leave behind the ghost of addiction.