CO-PROGRAMMED BY PEDRO ALMODÓVAR, GUEST CURATORS ANG LEE, ANTONIO BANDERAS, KEN LOACH AND GUILLERMO DEL TORO

THURSDAY 14 APRIL to TUESDAY 26 April 2011

acmi (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) Federation Square, Melbourne

Bookings: www.lamirada.org.au or www.acmi.net.au/ticketing.htm, by phone 03 8663 2583 and at the ACMI Ticket Desk

The fabulous La Mirada Film Festival returns to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in April 2011, presenting the best and most exciting new Spanish and Latin American films of the last twelve months plus a breathtaking selection of Spanish film classics selected by some of the world’s finest filmmakers.

La Mirada is delighted to announce that the infamous Antonio Banderas will be joining Oscar Winner Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain), Mexico’s Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hell Boy) and England’s Ken Loach (The Wind That Shakes The Barley, Looking For Eric) as guest curators for La Mirada 2011. The dynamic program includes new releases, classics and documentaries and features Mexico Bizarro, a retrospective of offbeat Mexican cult films from the 1950’s through to the 1990’s compiled by Guillermo Del Toro for this year’s special program.

The Opening Night Gala event always sells out so be sure to book your tickets soon! Festival director Rocío García is very excited to announce that Gustavo Taretto’s Medianeras will be the opening night film for La Mirada 2011. Runner up in the Panorama at the Berlin Film Festival, Medianeras stars the stunning Pilar López De Ayala (In The City Of Sylvia). La Mirada is also delighted to announce that Unax Ugalde and Nicholas Goldbart will be attending the festival as guests. New Spanish heartthrob and star of Lovestorming and Bon Appétit, Ugalde will be introducing both films at their La Mirada screenings. Nicholas Goldbart, director of this year’s closing night selection the science fiction comedy Fase 7 (Phase 7), will be present to introduce his film. Watch this space for more guests to be announced soon.

Now entering its fifth year, La Mirada is a unique film festival. Celebrated Spanish filmmaker and patron of La Mirada, Pedro Almodóvar, co-programs the festival, selecting five masterpieces for the ‘Almodóvar Presents’, classics section. Each year different international cinema luminaries act as guest curators. Independent of one another Antonio Banderas and Pedro Almodóvar both selected Luis Garcia Berlanga’s 1953 classic Bienvenido Mr. Marshall (Welcome Mr. Marshall) for this year’s festival. La Mirada’s vibrant curators will share one of their favourite films from Spanish and Latin American filmmakers, offering a variety of stimulating perspectives on the intriguing world of Spanish language cinema. The films selected by Ang Lee and Ken Loach will be surprise screenings for the audience, not revealed until the night.

As in previous years, La Mirada will screen the Australian premieres of films lauded in both their Spanish speaking homes as well as film festivals abroad. Premiering at this year’s festival will be También La Lluvia (Even The Rain), Spain’s official entry for the Oscars and winner of the Panorama at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival starring Gael García Bernal; the gripping Pa Negre (Black Bread) fresh from impressive sweeps at the Goya (Spanish Academy Awards) and Gaudi awards; Maria Y Yo (Maria and I); No Controles (Lovestorming) and Remando al Viento (Rowing in the Wind) starring Elizabeth Hurley and Hugh Grant.

Mexican Fiesta and Film, a hedonistic evening of Mexican cinema, delicacies, and entertainment, is a new addition to the deliciously indulgent Spanish Cuisine and Film nights, returning with a feast of authentic Spanish dishes and premium Spanish wines. With all this as well as the famous opening and closing night galas, La Mirada 2011 will once again set Melbourne swinging with its sassy melange of film, food and culture.

La Mirada is in a unique position to present the finest new Spanish language films thanks to official support from the Spanish, Argentinean, Mexican and Australian governments and their respective consulates and embassies, as well as the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts in Spain and Argentina (ICAA and INCAA), Mexican Cinema Institute (IMCINE), Film Victoria, Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Victorian Multicultural Commission, World Movies, Art Series Hotels, FILMOTECH, the Audiovisual Producers’ Rights Management Association (EGEDA) and the Agency for External International Cooperation for Development (AECID).

Full program details will be announced in mid March 2011. Visit www.lamirada.org.au