Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal are collaborating on another cinematic treasure for global audiences. The animated feature They Shot the Pianist, where music plays a starring role, is one of the films premiering this week, alongside the sequel to The Exorcist: Believer and Arantxa Echevarría’s latest project, Chinas.
They shot the pianist, jazz, bossa nova and an Argentinian touch
Trueba and Mariscal continue to explore the mystery surrounding the disappearance and murder of Brazilian musician Tenorio Jr. in Argentina in 1976. Tenorio Jr. was a renowned pianist who shared stages with giants of Latin music, and his case drew the attention of an American journalist. The project is described as a street thriller propelled by the rhythms of jazz and bossa nova, yet it unfolds as an animated documentary centered on the investigative work of Trueba’s fictional journalist alter ego, voiced by Jeff Goldblum.
The Castle is a true fairy tale
El Castillo, the latest winner of the Horizontes Latinos Award at the San Sebastián Festival, marks the first solo feature by Argentine filmmaker Martín Benchimol. The film tells the true story of a mother and daughter who inherit a vast estate once cared for by a woman the matriarch tended. It blends documentary elements with fictional narrative to follow Justina Olivo and her daughter Alexia Caminos, who play themselves while Benchimol describes how they encountered the couple during a journey from the Pampas to Buenos Aires and sheds light on the challenges faced by indigenous women in the region. The story follows their move to a new home.
The Exorcist: Believer: a continuation after half a century
David Gordon Green writes and directs The Exorcist: Believer, a continuation of one of horror cinema’s most influential works originally released in 1973 by the late William Friedkin. The film is produced by Blumhouse and centers on Victor Fielding, portrayed by Leslie Odom Jr., who has raised his daughter Angela, played by Lidya Jewett, since his wife died in the Haiti earthquake twelve years prior. Angela and her friend Katherine venture into the woods, return three days later with no memory of what occurred, and Victor is compelled to seek help from Chris MacNeil, portrayed by Ellen Burstyn.
The real story of internet investors Blow to Wall Street
Wall Street Blow, directed by Craig Gillespie, known for I, Tonya, adapts the memoir Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich, the author whose works inspired The Social Network and 21: Blackjack. The film follows a cohort of private investors and internet commentators who discuss stocks on Reddit in early 2021, culminating in a dramatic market upheaval that toppled a prominent hedge fund on Wall Street. The ensemble features Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Shailene Woodley and America Ferrera, as the story unfolds around the power of online discourse and financial risk.
After Gypsy women, Echevarría explores Chinas
Arantxa Echevarría returns with her third feature, The Chinas, a story linked to her prior works Carmen y Lola and marks a continuation of her exploration of identity and belonging. The film follows two young women in Madrid, one adopted and the other born to Chinese parents, as they navigate life in the Usera district. The cast features fresh faces Shiman Yang, Ella Qiu, and Xinyl Ye, alongside established actors such as Leonor Watling, Pablo Molinero and Carolina Yuste, with casting that also incorporates non-professional performers discovered through an extensive process.
A mysterious nocturnal thriller from Tunisia: Ashkal, the crimes of Túenz
Directed by Youssef Chebbi, who showcased his work at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Ashkal, the crimes of Tunisia presents a thriller set in Tunisia amid the recent past following the fall of a long-standing regime. Two police officers uncover a burned body in Cartago Gardens, a neighborhood left unfinished during revolutionary upheaval. As reconstruction in the area progresses slowly, the investigation takes a disturbing turn as similar events begin to recur and deepen the mystery.
Stewart, the first documentary about the racing legend
Stewart examines the life and career of Sir Jackie Stewart, the British Formula 1 icon born in 1939. From humble beginnings in Glasgow’s tenements, Stewart rose to become one of the sport’s most celebrated figures, securing multiple world championships and a long list of accolades. The film chronicles his ascent, his perseverance, and his lasting impact on racing.