Antonio Banderas returns to the big screen with a new action thriller, a film set in Miami that competes for attention with other high-profile releases this friday. The movie paints a bold portrait of a man who crosses lines to protect the innocent, driven by a fierce sense of duty amid a dangerous criminal underworld.
Antonio Banderas returns with The Protector
In this new feature, Antonio Banderas stars as a Malaga native who becomes a deadly enforcer known as Cuda for the Miami mafia. He makes a painful personal sacrifice to shield a young woman who has aligned with the wrong crowd, specifically the head of the criminal organization she once served. The character study blends hard-edged action with a relentless pursuit of justice, offering a gritty look at loyalty under pressure. This project marks a bold return for the actor to theaters, delivering suspense and adrenaline from start to finish. (Source: Film Trade Desk)
‘Manticore’ is a horror thriller with a tormenting twenties
Vermut explores fear and fascination in a horror thriller that centers on a mythic creature with a human head, a lion’s body, and a dragon’s tail that strikes with venom to paralyze its prey. The narrative pits a world of everyday life against a monstrous presence that lurks in public spaces as if it walked among people waiting to strike. The film invites audiences to confront an urban terror that feels all too real, turning subway cars and shop aisles into stages for a chilling confrontation with the unknown. (Source: Cine Chronicle)
‘Miss Harris’ trip to Paris’ or how to chase dreams
This adaptation follows a driven manager navigating collaborations and friendships while pursuing a meaningful dream. The story underscores the importance of candor, resilience, and the bonds that sustain someone on the path to success. The arc emphasizes personal integrity and how authentic connections can shape a life more than any single achievement. (Source: Literary Film Review)
‘Simone, woman of the century’, feminist film
The biopic centers on Simone Veil, brought to life by a talented actress, charting the trajectory of a public figure who also carried a deeply human story. The film offers an intimate look at a life shaped by politics, empathy, and unwavering advocacy for human rights. Director Olivier Dahan crafts an epic, candid portrait that continues to resonate with audiences seeking a humanist message that endures. (Source: Cinema Spotlight)
‘Open Body’, a rural thriller with supernatural elements
Ángeles Huerta leads a cast that follows a young teacher assigned to a remote border town, where old customs guard the secrets of a harsh landscape. The setting becomes a character in its own right, shaping mysteries that blur the line between the natural and the supernatural. The film builds tension through atmosphere, small-town routines, and a palpable sense of isolation. (Source: Rural Screenings)
“Background Noise”, absurd humor
The project delivers a wry, satirical look at modern life through a nimble, comedic lens. Produced by a renowned filmmaker, the story follows a contemporary family as they juggle daily trials while confronting the big questions about love, mortality, and happiness in an unpredictable world. The tone mixes sharp wit with heartfelt moments, making the comedy feel both relatable and sharp. (Source: Film Arts Review)
‘Goliath’ Fights Climate Crisis
The film, directed by a French talent, centers on a climate activist network and dives into a tale of pesticide investigations. Through the intersection of personal and environmental stakes, the narrative follows a group of characters including a sports teacher who works by day and activism by night, a sharp Parisian lawyer specializing in environmental law, and a hurried lobbyist. The story unfolds as a disturbing act by a desperate farmer brings their fates into a tangled collision. (Source: Global Screens)
The cast and crew push the boundaries of political cinema, offering a tense meditation on responsibility and the consequences of environmental neglect. The intertwining paths of the characters highlight how a single event can reverberate through a community and beyond. (Source: Global Screens)
‘Nostalgia’, memories and the Neapolitan mafia
From the director, this Italian entry spotlights a story of Pierfrancesco Favino returning to his Naples hometown after four decades. Adapted from a novel, the film peels back the layers of memory to reveal the enduring power of the Neapolitan camorra. It traces a complicated relationship between a hero and a city that never fully grants him rest. (Source: Italian Film Digest)
‘Bunny academy: big easter egg heist’, pool in danger
This German animated adventure is the second installment of the Easter bunnies saga. Ute von Munchow-Pohl directs a tale where Max and friends must protect the golden egg, their most precious asset, as danger looms when misfortune turns their world upside down. The movie champions friendship, tolerance, and teamwork with a playful, high-stakes chase. (Source: Animation Weekly)
“With my remaining years”, Mexican drama
Frank Ariza directs a story about a legal professional who navigates family ties and debt while delivering a poignant portrait of immigrant experience. The plot follows a woman named Macarena, whose journey through love, duty, and obligation becomes the compass of a life shaped by two continents, a shared ride, and a choice that tests loyalty. (Source: Latin Screen News)
‘Matadero’, the cinema in the Argentine pampas of the 70s
A director guides a filmmaker visiting the pampas to shoot in a tense era when revolutionary dreams clash with art and power. The film reflects on the politics of cinema and the ways creative ambition intersects with real-world conflict, inviting viewers to witness a moment when art and society collide. (Source: South American Film Quarterly)
Marriage of an Argentine and a French ‘little flower’
An Argentine filmmaker presents a cross-cultural tale about a man caught between two families and cultures after a wife’s arrival in his country. The narrative weaves humor with tension as neighbors and a seductive, manipulative rival complicate life, forcing the main character to navigate loyalty, desire, and responsibility. (Source: European Screen Review)
Brazilian trans reality ‘Madalena’
The disappearance of a beloved transgender figure sets the stage for a feature debut. The story follows three friends in a western Brazilian town as they reckon with loss, community, and the violence faced by LGBTQIA+ people. The director aims to illuminate the lived experiences of marginalized communities in a landscape shaped by rural life and fear. (Source: Brazilian Film Journal)
‘Mission H2O’, animation to save water
This animated collaboration among Venezuela, Cuba, and China follows an adventure led by Samuel and his friends. When a villain steals the water from Buenaventura and the Knowledge Machine is threatened, the quest for knowledge becomes a heroic mission to restore life-giving resources and defend a planet thirsting for hope. (Source: Global Animation News)