Belen Rueda and Edurne Ormazabal will be hosting the opening gala of the 56th San Sebastian Film Festival on Thursday. The gala, that will start at 20.00 in the Kursaal, will take place on a constantly changing stage that will be including some surprises during the show.

The team that made Vicky Cristina Barcelona: Woody Allen, Javier Bardem and Rebecca Hall, will also be at the opening gala.

Source: eitb24

Please join us for the screening of Javier Bardem’s new documentary, “Invisibles,” which shines a light on five of the world’s most underreported crises.

Mr. Bardem will join a panel discussion on one of the film’s subjects: extreme violence against women in the Congo. The Enough Project will also unveil its forthcoming campaign, RAISE Hope for Congo: Protect and Empower Congo’s Women.

Featured Speakers:
Javier Bardem, Academy Award-Winning Actor (”No Country for Old Men,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”) and Producer of “Invisibles”
Rebecca Feeley, Enough Project Field Researcher
Dayle Haddon, Author and UNICEF Ambassador
Candice Knezevic, Enough Project Congo Campaign Manager
Dr. Roger Luhiriri, Panzi Hospital
John Prendergast, Enough Project Co-chair

Reception 6:15 pm; Panel discussion 7 pm; Film Screening 7:45 pm

… Read the full story »

Javier has been busy lately, taking a break from his “break” to promote “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” which is being released in the US on August 15, 2008. Here is a mass upload of pictures from premieres and the press conference. He looks great and I believe all the guys will agree is the luckiest man alive standing next to Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson!

Unfortunately Javier Bardem is not present at the Cannes Film Festival to promote “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” I would guess this is because of the reported exhaustion, he probably wants to take time off from the spotlight, which I respect. We now know that Javier’s character is called Juan Antonio. You can view a video clip of the movie here.

Variety offers some quotes of the film and Javier’s performance:

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is a sexy, funny divertissement that passes as enjoyably as an idle summer’s afternoon in the titular Spanish city. With Javier Barden starring as a bohemian artist involved variously with Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Rebecca Hall, pic offers potent romantic fantasy elements for men and women and a cast that should produce the best commercial returns for a Woody Allen film since “Match Point.”

Even if the film provides a strictly tourist’s view of the city (a perspective justified by the scenario, in fact), and one just as upscale and heedless of money as ever for Allen, “VCB” is by several degrees more hot-blooded than his usual norm, thanks especially due to the palpable chemistry of Bardem and Cruz in the second half.

Looking macho but speaking mostly in a tender, sincere way to his women, Bardem is a thoroughly convincing and likable ladies’ man.

On behalf of all the fans I’d like to congratulate Mr Bardem for his well deserved Academy Award win for his performance in “No Country for Old Men”.

Here is Javier’s very funny speech. You can also view it here.

Wow. Alright, this is very amazing. It’s a great honor for me to have this. I want to and I have to speak fast here, man. Thank you to the Coens for being crazy enough to think that I could do that and put one of the most horrible haircuts in history over my head.

Thank you for really proving my work. I want to share this with the cast, with the great Tommy Lee Jones, with the great Josh Brolin, with the great Kelly Macdonald. And I want to dedicate this to my mother, and I have to say this in Spanish, and I’m sorry…

Mama esto es para ti. Esto es para tus abuelos, para tus padres, Rafael y Matilde. Esto es para los comicos de Espana que han traido la dignidad y el orgullo a nuestro oficio.

Esto es para Espana. Y esto es para todos vosotros.

Thank you very much!

Javier presented at the 2008 Independent’s Spirit Awards held yesterday in Santa Monica. Pictures have been added!