Paula Dinamarca of Cannes Un Certain Regard Winner ‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' Joins Buzz Pic ‘A Decorous Woman' (EXCLUSIVE)
Chilean trans actress-activist Paula Dinamarca, who starred in Cannes' Un Certain Regard Grand Prix winner, 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,' has joined the stellar cast of the upcoming 'A Decorous Woman.' Pic was one of the more anticipated projects to be showcased at the 2025 Malaga Festival Fund & Co-Production event (MAFF).
Dinamarca also starred in 'Flamingo' director Diego Céspedes' acclaimed short film 'The Melting Creatures,' which Rodrigo Díaz of Parina Films produced.
More from Variety
'The King's Speech' Exec Producer Deepak Sikka Boards U.K.-Costa Rica Co-Production Starring 'The Liberator's' Jose Palma (EXCLUSIVE)
Francisca Alegría's 'Nativity' Sees Chile's Madre Content Join Quijote Films on the Magical Realist Fable of a Violent Man's Rebirth (EXCLUSIVE)
Rai Cinema Celebrates 'Heads or Tails?' at Cannes and Readies for More Hits: 'Cinema Without Audience Doesn't Exist'
News of Dinamarca's casting comes as Díaz is presenting a new project, 'Don't Let Me Die Alone,' participating in the Costa Rica Tres Puertos Lab, which runs June 18-23 in the build-up to the Costa Rica Media Market, which takes place June 24-25.
'Paula has a presence that resonates on and off screen. She brought depth, sensitivity and a powerful emotional honesty to her role in 'The Melting Creatures,'' said Díaz.
'Paula doesn't perform emotions – she channels experiences in a way that feels immediate and fully lived. Her work is guided by an acute awareness of the character's internal world, as she engages with the material from a place of truth. Watching her inhabit moments of joy or sorrow with such openness reveals the kind of presence that gives real meaning to her performance,' he added.
Dinamarca will play opposite lead Catalina Saavedra, best known for her lauded career-launching performance in Sundance Grand Jury prizewinner, 'The Maid.'
The debut feature of Chilean-Spanish director Natalia Luque, 'A Decorous Woman' melds drama and comedy, reality and imagination through the point of view of a recent empty nester hairdresser.
Set in present-day downtown Santiago, in a shopping mall seemingly frozen in time, the film centers on Marta María (Saavedra), a 55-year-old hairdresser facing an empty nest after her only daughter departs for a year in France. To cope with the loneliness, she immerses herself in her work, finding solace and connection by living vicariously through her clients' stories.
'I have followed Paula Dinamarca's trajectory and I've always been fascinated by her capacity for conveying deep emotions through her gaze. Her acting is impressive – she can achieve deep layers of characterization. In this film, she plays Lola, a numerologist and client of the protagonist, who, just by looking at you, knows what you are feeling and has a special gift for telling stories,' said Luque, adding: 'I think Paula is perfect for this role, not only because of her presence in the scene but also because her connection to the audience is moving'
The co-production, involving Parina Films (Chile), France's Tomsa Films and Madre Content from the U.S., is set to start filming by April next year, with its debut targeted for the first semester of 2027.
Madre Content, a Latinx company launched in 2023 by Chilean filmmaker Francisca Alegría ('The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future'), was able to tap a grant from the Chilean Audiovisual Fund 2024 in its Feature Film Production category, securing 30% of its budget.
In her previous work, Luque has often explored underrepresented spaces and nuanced characters, often delving into the intimate worlds of middle-class women in their workplaces. Her most recent short film, 'So They Say,' premiered at the 2023 Palm Springs ShortFest and was also selected at Telluride and POFF Shorts, among others.
'Don't Let Me Die Alone' ('No me dejen morir solo') is set to be directed and produced by Francisco Rodríguez Teare ('Otro Sol') of Axolotls Cine, where Diaz is a minority shareholding partner.
Rodriguez Teare's second feature centers on Mamani, a miserable delivery boy in the northern coastal city of Iquique, Chile who survives his own suicide attempt and meets Jordi, a retired thief, and Sofía, his niece. Drawn into mummy trafficking, Mamani unexpectedly finds purpose and the possibility of belonging to a family.
'Don't Let Me Die Alone' is lead produced by Axolotls Cine alongside co-producers Michigan Films (Belgium), co-producers of Rodríguez Teare's docu-fiction hybrid 'Otro Sol,' and by Chile-based Mimbre Films.
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Costa Rica Strengthens Its Position as a Regional Hub for the Audiovisual Industry with New Regional Market
Costa Rica Media Market will take place June 24–25 in San José, with over 500 business meetings and participation from buyers, producers, and experts from 19 countries Organized by the Costa Rica Film Commission, PROCOMER and the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the event includes tours across six Film Friendly Zones in the country to highlight Costa Rica's advantages for audiovisual production. The platform offers project showcases, co-production opportunities, masterclasses, and funding access for the region. SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ -- More than 50 buyers and 130 content creators from the Americas, Europe, and Asia will gather this June 24 and 25 at the Costa Rica Media Market (CRMM)—a space designed to boost the audiovisual industry in Central America and the Caribbean, energize regional content, and attract international co-productions and services. Hosted in San José, Costa Rica, the event will welcome leaders from the film, television, animation, video game, advertising, and technical service industries. Organized by the Costa Rica Film Commission, the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (PROCOMER), and the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ), CRMM is consolidating itself as a key platform to connect regional projects with the global market. This year, Costa Rica Media Market will feature more than 500 business meetings and 51 international buyers from 19 countries: Argentina, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Curaçao, Spain, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. "Costa Rica Media Market is born as a bridge between creativity and opportunity. It is a space where Costa Rican talent in film, music, and literature finds strategic allies to grow, export, and transform our economy through culture. Together with PROCOMER, we are promoting not just a market, but an ecosystem of collaboration, innovation, and pride in what we have to share with the world. Because we believe in our stories, in our voices, and in the power of our narratives, this is a firm step toward a vibrant, strong, and future-facing cultural economy," said Jorge Rodríguez Vives, Minister of Culture and Youth. During the CRMM, there will be business roundtables, matchmaking sessions, expert panels, and masterclasses. The agenda also includes project showcases from the Costa Rica International Film Festival's Industry Section and from Tres Puertos Cine, a prominent residency for Latin American film projects that guides selected proposals from development to market. "Costa Rica Media Market is becoming a strategic platform to connect regional audiovisual talent with international opportunities. It's a tool to diversify our audiovisual content offering and generate co-productions, increasing exports and productive linkages for the sector. Costa Rica, with its strong value proposition, natural richness, and competitive tax incentives, positions itself as a key meeting point for the global industry," explained Laura López, CEO of PROCOMER. A highlight of the event will be the Fam Tours, scheduled for June 26–28. These are designed to showcase Costa Rica's potential as a filming destination. Producers and directors will tour the six Film Friendly Zones, mostly located outside the country's major cities. These areas offer a diversity of natural and urban settings, including jungles, coasts, rural towns, volcanoes, and historic centers—supported by solid logistical infrastructure, legal stability, and an incentive framework for international productions. CRMM builds upon the legacy of the Central America and Caribbean Audiovisual Market (MAUCC), which hosted over 1,000 business meetings across seven editions. This platform led to milestones such as the distribution of the film Una Navidad sin Nieve in the Arab region and the creation of the first digital channel exclusively dedicated to Costa Rican cinema on the well-known streaming platform FILMIN. Why Film in Costa Rica? Costa Rica offers key advantages for international audiovisual production: diverse locations within short distances, skilled technical professionals, legal stability, and reliable logistics. These are complemented by attractive fiscal incentives, such as income tax exemptions for foreign film productions, and streamlined administrative procedures to facilitate production processes. This set of benefits has positioned the country as a competitive destination for studios and production companies seeking efficiency, quality, and sustainable practices in their filming projects. World-Class Talent The CRMM will feature a diverse selection of international figures with broad experience in film, television, and content production. Among the guests are Costa Rican directors Antonella Sudasassi and Hernán Jiménez, as well as Pablo Guisa Koestinger, Andy van Veen, Lynette Coll, Adrian Gueyer, Emerson Machtus, Rom Donahue, Arnon Manor, and Arturo Cardelús, among others. As part of the official agenda, CRMM will also host project presentations selected by the Costa Rica International Film Festival and Tres Puertos Cine, a Latin American film project residency. The latter has formed a strategic alliance with Costa Rica Media Market to offer a program that merges creative development with direct market access—allowing top regional projects to move from incubation to co-production, financing, and international circulation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Promotora de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (PROCOMER) View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Paula Dinamarca of Cannes Un Certain Regard Winner ‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' Joins Buzz Pic ‘A Decorous Woman' (EXCLUSIVE)
Chilean trans actress-activist Paula Dinamarca, who starred in Cannes' Un Certain Regard Grand Prix winner, 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,' has joined the stellar cast of the upcoming 'A Decorous Woman.' Pic was one of the more anticipated projects to be showcased at the 2025 Malaga Festival Fund & Co-Production event (MAFF). Dinamarca also starred in 'Flamingo' director Diego Céspedes' acclaimed short film 'The Melting Creatures,' which Rodrigo Díaz of Parina Films produced. More from Variety 'The King's Speech' Exec Producer Deepak Sikka Boards U.K.-Costa Rica Co-Production Starring 'The Liberator's' Jose Palma (EXCLUSIVE) Francisca Alegría's 'Nativity' Sees Chile's Madre Content Join Quijote Films on the Magical Realist Fable of a Violent Man's Rebirth (EXCLUSIVE) Rai Cinema Celebrates 'Heads or Tails?' at Cannes and Readies for More Hits: 'Cinema Without Audience Doesn't Exist' News of Dinamarca's casting comes as Díaz is presenting a new project, 'Don't Let Me Die Alone,' participating in the Costa Rica Tres Puertos Lab, which runs June 18-23 in the build-up to the Costa Rica Media Market, which takes place June 24-25. 'Paula has a presence that resonates on and off screen. She brought depth, sensitivity and a powerful emotional honesty to her role in 'The Melting Creatures,'' said Díaz. 'Paula doesn't perform emotions – she channels experiences in a way that feels immediate and fully lived. Her work is guided by an acute awareness of the character's internal world, as she engages with the material from a place of truth. Watching her inhabit moments of joy or sorrow with such openness reveals the kind of presence that gives real meaning to her performance,' he added. Dinamarca will play opposite lead Catalina Saavedra, best known for her lauded career-launching performance in Sundance Grand Jury prizewinner, 'The Maid.' The debut feature of Chilean-Spanish director Natalia Luque, 'A Decorous Woman' melds drama and comedy, reality and imagination through the point of view of a recent empty nester hairdresser. Set in present-day downtown Santiago, in a shopping mall seemingly frozen in time, the film centers on Marta María (Saavedra), a 55-year-old hairdresser facing an empty nest after her only daughter departs for a year in France. To cope with the loneliness, she immerses herself in her work, finding solace and connection by living vicariously through her clients' stories. 'I have followed Paula Dinamarca's trajectory and I've always been fascinated by her capacity for conveying deep emotions through her gaze. Her acting is impressive – she can achieve deep layers of characterization. In this film, she plays Lola, a numerologist and client of the protagonist, who, just by looking at you, knows what you are feeling and has a special gift for telling stories,' said Luque, adding: 'I think Paula is perfect for this role, not only because of her presence in the scene but also because her connection to the audience is moving' The co-production, involving Parina Films (Chile), France's Tomsa Films and Madre Content from the U.S., is set to start filming by April next year, with its debut targeted for the first semester of 2027. Madre Content, a Latinx company launched in 2023 by Chilean filmmaker Francisca Alegría ('The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future'), was able to tap a grant from the Chilean Audiovisual Fund 2024 in its Feature Film Production category, securing 30% of its budget. In her previous work, Luque has often explored underrepresented spaces and nuanced characters, often delving into the intimate worlds of middle-class women in their workplaces. Her most recent short film, 'So They Say,' premiered at the 2023 Palm Springs ShortFest and was also selected at Telluride and POFF Shorts, among others. 'Don't Let Me Die Alone' ('No me dejen morir solo') is set to be directed and produced by Francisco Rodríguez Teare ('Otro Sol') of Axolotls Cine, where Diaz is a minority shareholding partner. Rodriguez Teare's second feature centers on Mamani, a miserable delivery boy in the northern coastal city of Iquique, Chile who survives his own suicide attempt and meets Jordi, a retired thief, and Sofía, his niece. Drawn into mummy trafficking, Mamani unexpectedly finds purpose and the possibility of belonging to a family. 'Don't Let Me Die Alone' is lead produced by Axolotls Cine alongside co-producers Michigan Films (Belgium), co-producers of Rodríguez Teare's docu-fiction hybrid 'Otro Sol,' and by Chile-based Mimbre Films. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva' Set To Debut On Paramount+ This September
L-R Michael Weatherly as Tony Dinozzo, Cote de Pablo as Ziva David and Isla Gie as Tali In NCIS: ... More Tony & Ziva, season 1. Fans of NCIS characters Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo - and supporters of the "TIVA" movement - won't have to wait much longer to see them back on screen. Paramount+ revealed today that the highly anticipated original series NCIS: Tony & Ziva will premiere exclusively on the streaming platform in September. The 10-episode series, starring Chilean-American actress Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly, is the latest installment in the global NCIS franchise. The series picks up after Ziva's presumed death, when Tony left the NCIS team to raise their daughter. Years later, Ziva was discovered to be alive, leading her to complete one final mission with NCIS before reuniting with Tony and their daughter in Paris. Since then, Tony and Ziva have been raising their daughter, Tali, together. However, their family life is disrupted when Tony's security company is attacked, forcing them to go on the run. Paramount+ teases the premiere of "NCIS: Tony & Ziva, starring Michael Weatherly as Tony Dinozzo and ... More Cote De Pablo as Ziva David. The NCIS couple's return to the screen via the new series - first announced in February 2024 - took 10 years to materialize. "We're beyond excited to finally share Tony and Ziva's next chapter with the incredible fans around the world who never stopped believing this day would come,' say de Pablo and Weatherly, the stars and executive producers of the series. 'Returning to these roles together on screen after more than a decade has been an unforgettable journey packed with lies, spies, danger, desire… and self-driving murder cars. (Don't worry, that last one will make sense soon.) This is one wild ride you won't want to miss.' NCIS: Tony & Ziva will debut on Thursday, September 4, with three episodes. The series will be available exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Latin America, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Japan. New episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on October 23.
