Argentina Taxes Foreign Blockbusters

by Amy Ramirez, contributing blogger

What is the easiest way to boost cultural pride in a country with a vastly underrated cinematic potential? Tax the films that are imposing a Hollywood cultural agenda! Argentina’s National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) has begun to tax foreign blockbusters in order to promote the advancement of national films. The tariff’s purpose is to avoid Hollywood films populating theatres and overshadowing local films, as Hollywood films often open with 80-120 copies, while a local production normally has 4-10. (Keep in mind, there are only about 900 cinemas in all of Argentina)

The tax rate is something like this: If a movie is shown in 40 theatres, the tariff is set to the equivalent of 300 tickets. If a movie is shown in 120 theatres, the tariff is set to the equivalent of 1,200 tickets. If a movie is shown in more than 120 theatres, the tariff will rise to 2,400 tickets. But this is only for inside the capital, tariffs are cut in half for showings anywhere else in Argentina.

An article on Argentina’s leading film journal, haciendocine.com.ar, voices the general consensus on people’s mixed feelings about the matter. Some think the bar is set “too low” (movies such as Toy Story would have only had to give up 0.3% of their earnings); others think that these tariffs will end up benefitting independent European films (since a foreign movie with a few copies is exempt), and a small minority think this will not change anything, much less stimulate people’s interest in national film.

Argentina´s Oscar candidate – Carancho – High Hopes for Another Win

by Amelia Batho, contributing blogger

Carancho, directed by Pablo Tapero, has been chosen to represent Argentina in the 2011 Oscars for ‘Best film in a foreign language’.

It was chosen by a panel from the Academy of Arts and Cinematic science of Argentina, from a selection of five Argentine films. The other unsuccessful choices were,  El Hombre del Lado, Dos Hermanos, Tres Deseos y Sin Retorno (check out some of their reviews in our blog!). Receiving 31% of the votes, Carancho will be the national entry for the competitive category -’Best film in a foreign language’.
Expectation are high as it follows in the very famous footsteps of ‘El secreto de los ojos’, which won the category earlier this year. This is also great news for one of the films protagonists, Ricardo Darin, who has been apart of two other Oscar nominated films in recent years including “El secreto’.

Argentina has won the Oscar for best foreign language flim twice, the first time being for The Official Story in 1985. It seems like films that reflect Argentina’s corrupt political system are most likely to win or get nominated! Let’s see if in the future the Academy will also begin to award the comedies and adventure films from the region.

You can read our review and watch the trailer here.

Juan José Campanella is part of the Academy of Motion Pictures

Oscar winning director Juan Jose Campanella

by Tracey Chandler, contributing blogger

Juan José Campanella, the Argentine director that won an Oscar this year for Best Foreign Film with “El Secreto de sus Ojos” (The Secret of their Eyes) is now part of the Academy of Motion Pictures and can now therefore vote for other films that he believes to be worthy of an Oscar.

This is a huge step forward for the credibility and artistic integrity of cinema in Argentina and something that has filled the Argentine director with a great deal of pride.

In addition to Campanella, U2´s Bono was also invited by the Academy of Motion Pictures´ board and the right to vote will be celebrated officially by the Academy in September with a gala to be held in Beverly Hill. It promises to be a very glamorous and glorious event to say the least.

Argentina Cinema Grows Audiences

2009 was a very good year for “cine nacional” in Argentina, with huge gains in local audiences over 2008. Many Argentines complain that the local cinema is boring compared with Hollywood blockbusters, and local producers have listened, turning out high quality films that are filled with comedy and action (as well as some super cool special effects). “Secreto de sus Ojos” (The Secret of their Eyes) had 2.3 million spectators domestically, and this combined with other successes means that there was a 26% increase of viewers over 2008.

National movies increased their box office grosses by 52% over 2008!

There was a 10% decrease in spectators for foreign films in 2009.

This year, 2010, “Dos Hermanos” (two brothers) and “Carancho” are the most successful films.

Thanks to the magazine Haciendo Cine for the data!

Review of Pablo Trapero´s “Carancho” (it’s in Cannes, Baby!)

by Tracey Chandler, Contributing Blogger

If you haven’t yet seen Pablo Trapero’s “Carancho,” then you must! It is an exceptionally well made film, with some fantastic performances by Ricardo Darín (from “El Secreto de sus Ojos“) and Martina Gusmán, wife of the director, in the leading roles. “Carancho” stands an excellent chance of doing very well at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and that Argentina, as a contender for film on a global level, is most definitely a country to begin paying more attention to in the future.

“Carancho” tells the story of Sosa (Ricardo Darín), a “Carancho” (without a true translation in English, but which is used to describe traffic accident lawyers because they circle around dead bodies like vultures and take advantage of the wounded) who falls in love with an emergency services doctor called Luján (Martina Gusmán). Part tragic love story, part intense drama, the film follows Sosa through a series of decisions which day by day spiral out of control until both he and Luján are so deep into a place where they never thought they would be, that even further drastic actions are required to get themselves out of the world within which they find themselves. As Sosa desperately tries to leave behind a life that he no longer wants, with Luján at his side, the corruption and his complicated past seems to meet them at every corner, putting another block in their way and forcing them further along a path of poor decisions

OSCAR Winning Producer of “Secret of their Eyes” Reveals Secrets of Argentina Movie Production

Oscar Winning Producer Vanessa Ragone

We all love a little glamour (and let’s face it, often filmmaking is anything but glamorous) and the talk offered by Vanessa Ragone, had a bit of glamour when she unveiled the Oscar she won for producing “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” (The Secret of Their Eyes). For a moment, all of us gathered yesterday in the Ministry of Economy felt like we were on the red carpet and whipped out our cell phones for a quick photo-op.

Vanessa pointed out a lot of differences between producing in Argentina and in Hollywood.

1) In Argentina, the director, not the producer or production company, has the right to final cut.

2) No completion bonds are available in Argentina (this is insurance that guarantees that the film will be completed no matter what or the insurance company will pay investors, in the case of the star dropping dead half way though the shoot, for example. Also, if the director does not meet the schedule, the insurance company can replace him or her and become the owner of the film). In Spanish this is called “seguro de buen fin”.

3) Ironically, it is much easier to sell Argentine films to the US and Europe than other Latin American Countries.

4) Banks won’t make loans to movies in Argentina–not one Bank wanted to participate in “The Secret of their Eyes”, even with a director, Campanella, who normally has huge box office success in Argentina and renowned actors like Franchella and Darin. Most of the financing comes from the INCAA (Argentine Film Board which is a government entity funded by tax on movie tickets), pre-sales to foreign distributors and co-productions.

Vanessa then outlined what made the Secret of their Eyes one of the biggest commercial successes in Argentina in 2009 (more than one million people saw the movie).

1) Campanella himself picked the date–the long weekend after the winter school vacation, when parents would be tired of watching children’s movies.

2) A partnership with TELEFE, one of the largest television stations, which gave them free television spots.

3) Releasing on 90 screens during the first week, unheard of for an Argentine movie.

4) A strong anti-pirated dvd campaign, involving police raids.

5) Releasing the dvd in all points of sale at the same time, and for the low price of 30 pesos (normally dvds cost 70 pesos, which is very high for the public).

Overall, the talk made me feel very hopeful about the future of Argentine cinema and happy to meet a woman who rose from a poor country family to become one of the most successful movie producers in the country. In addition, government officials that were present mentioned new economic initiatives aimed at the audiovisual industry: low interest loans and a special film studio to be built outside of the city. This industry contributes over 3% of the GDP and is growing fast.

Is Guillermo Francella Stealing “Secret of their Eyes” Oscar-Win Spotlight?

With good reason fans of Argentinean cinema are celebrating: its been more than 25 years since the industry won the best foreign language Oscar, and when “The Secret of their Eyes” (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) won last Sunday so many people were happy that a much loved film had gotten the international recognition that it deserved.

But the reaction of supporting actor Guillermo Francella has been a bit, well, over the top. For those who know nothing about Argentinean b-movies and television, Francella is the most revered comic in the country, famous for crazy skits where he fumbles his way around beautiful woman. He is also beloved throughout Latin America, and even Fidel Castro is a fan. Director Campanella made him shave off his trademark mustache and put him in a serious role (although Francella added a few funny one-liners) and took advantage of his great acting ability. The result: a great performance, kind of like Jim Carry doing Shakespeare.

Francella with his famous smile and mustache.

And after the awards ceremony, Franchella has been acting like HE won the award, while the other actors like Ricardo Darin were very clear that the movie and CAMPANELLA won the award. Francella hasn’t stopped giving press conferences and he was even greated at the airport like a returning hero, while Campanela has gone back to filming episodes of House for the TV.

A typical Francella Film.

The Secret of their Eyes WINS OSCAR, Argentina Celebrates!

The Argentine film “The Secret in Their Eyes,” a thriller about a 25-year-long manhunt, won the Academy Award for best foreign language film. The Oscar win was the second for Argentina, following the win by “The Official Story” in 1985. The film’s director, Juan Jose Campanella, previously directed a movie that was also nominated for best foreign film: “Son of the Bride” in 2002. He has also worked frequently in American TV, including the shows “House” and “30 Rock.”

And he showed his sense of humor Sunday. “I want to thank the academy for not considering Na’vi a foreign language,” said Campanella, referring to the invented language of “Avatar” while he accepted the award.

The build up to the Oscars this Sunday was huge in Argentina, especially considering that the oscar ceremony is not a big event here. The film enjoyed wide box office success and is considered by many to be a display of the technical prowless of the Argentine film industry.

We hope this will increase the growing number of productions that choose Argentina as their filming location of choice.

Argentinean Movie “The Secret in Their Eyes” Nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar

A big congrats to Juan José Campanella, director of “The Secret in Their Eyes” (El secreto de sus ojos) which has just been nominated for best foreign language picture for the Academy Awards.

The story, set in 1999, is told in flashback form: in June 1974 a federal justice agent, Benjamín Espósito, becomes spellbound by and subsequently entangled in the investigation of the crime of a young woman, brutally raped and murdered inside her house in a Buenos Aires neighbourhood. The backdrop of the story is the beginning of the violent military dictatorship that rocked Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In addition to the suspenseful plot, the movie is very beautifully shot. This 5 minute shot (with no cuts, at least ones that I can see) in which the camera flies into a soccer stadium, becomes hand-held during a chase sequence and then somehow hovers in mid-air, is incredible:

The budget was around 2 million Euros or 3.5 million dollars (could Hollywood do something like this for even five times that?) and was produced by Haddock Films, co-produced with the Spanish company Tornasol y 100 Bares Producciones, which is Campanella´s company.

Here´s to wishing the movie the best of luck!

For more information, visit the official website:  www.elsecretodesusojos.com