Top 5 Most Anticipated Spanish Films for 2011

2010 gave us a unique batch of films in Emilio Aragón’s Paper Birds (Pájaros de Papel), Achero Mañas’s Anything You Want (Todo lo que tú quieras), Jordi Cadena & Judith Colell’s Elisa K. and festival circuit favorites in Javier Mariscal & Fernando Trueba’s Chico y Rita, Guillem Morales’ Julia’s Eyes (Los ojos de Julia) , Icíar Bollaín’s Even the Rain (También la lluvia), Andrucha Washington’ Lope and Alex de la Iglesia’s nutty concoction The Last Circus (Balada triste de trompeta), but 2011 will be one hell of a ride. It should be a strong year for films from Spain not only in its domestic cull but on the international scene as well, and the films featured on the list appear to be more “ambitious” batch in their form and shape. These are my Top 5 Most Anticipated Spanish Films for 2011.

#5. Extraterrestial

This sci-fi comedy set in a small town flat where a man tries to seduce the girl of his dreams while outside, in the big cities, an alien invasion occurs. After the helming of his instant cult film “Timecrimes”, Nacho Vigalondo’s second film acts as further proof on how you can make genres films with practically no budget.

#4. Kidnapped
Directed by Miguel Ángel Vivas, this has already made a big buzz over at the United States in several festivals (grabbing Best Film and Director awards at the Austin film Festival) and has been sold already to over 40 territories before its Spanish release. And to further prove it’s popularity status, there are talks for an American remake.

#3. Intruders
Another project with a wider international aim, the third film from the Oscar nominated director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo features some well-known stars in Clive Owen and Carice Van Houten (“The Black Book”). This is a psychological thriller and centers on an 11-year-old girl who is forced to confront childhood demons.

#2. The Impossible
This will be an acid test for director J. A Bayona after the success of his debut “The Orphanage” as with his only second film he faces a bigger than life project, with a larger budget, international projection with the involvement of stars Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor and a more complex story, the account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. (Above you’ll find a set pic of Bayona and Watts).

#1. The Skin I Live In
After the cold reception and the mixed reviews received by the “Broken Embraces” this should mark a comeback to form for director Pedro Almodóvar and a breath of fresh air as he enters new territory with a twisted horror tale and the comeback of old “muse” Antonio Banderas which might bring back the edgy aura that impregnated the films in which they collaborated in the 80’s. Feature in the pic above we have the beautiful Elena Anaya in the unusual garb.