Héctor Olivera

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Héctor Olivera

Born April 5, 1931 (1931-04-05) (age 77),
Olivos, Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
Flag of Argentina
Occupation Film Director, Producer,
and Screenplay Writer.

Héctor Olivera (born April 5, 1931 in Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a film director, producer and screenplay writer.

He works mainly in the cinema of Argentina, but has done a lot of work in the United States.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

He began his career when he was seventeen as a second assistant director and founded his own production company in 1956 at age twenty-five. He has produced over 100 features.

In the United States he is known for two of his films: Night of the Pencils (1986) and Funny Dirty Little War (1983).

After completing a Funny Dirty Little War he directed five films for Roger Corman, including: Cocaine Wars (1985), Barbarian Queen (1985), and Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (1985), Two to Tango (1988), and Play Murder for Me (1990).[2]

He has occasionally received criticism for his choice of projects. While he has been recognized for delivering poignant political messages in some of his films he has also directed much more commercial fare. Argentine film historian Tamara Falicov addressed Olivera’s track record in an article about American and Argentine co-productions in the eighties and nineties.

Tamara Falicov addresses Olivera’s track record in an article addressing American and Argentine co-productions in the eighties and nineties.

“Olivera stated in an interview that these more politically engaged films were in a sense "subsidized" by the more popular genres that he and Ayala produced. In order for Argentine film to survive, Olivera believes, it must conform to an industrial model as well as serving as a vehicle for cultural production. This model thus far has been successful, as Aries is one of the few remaining Argentine film studios still in production.”[3]

[edit] Festival juries

In 1988 he was selected as a member of the jury for the feature films official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1998 he was selected as a member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival that selected the "Golden Bear."[4]

[edit] Filmography

  • Ay Juancito (2004)
  • Antigua vida mía (2001)
  • Una sombra ya pronto serás (1994)
  • El caso María Soledad (1993)
  • Play Murder for Me (1990)
  • Two to Tango (1988)
  • La noche de los lápices (1986), aka Night of the Pencils
  • El mago del reino perdido (1985)
  • La muerte blanca (1985), aka Cocaine Wars
  • Barbarian Queen (1985)
  • Wizards of the Lost Kingdom (1985)
  • Buenos Aires Rock (1983)
  • No habrá más penas ni olvido (1983), aka Funny Dirty Little War
  • Los viernes de la eternidad (1981)
  • La nona (1979)
  • El canto cuenta su historia (1976)
  • El muerto (1975)
  • La Patagonia rebelde (1974)
  • Las venganzas de Beto Sánchez (1973)
  • Argentinísima II (1973)
  • Argentinísima (1972)
  • Los neuróticos (1971)

[edit] Awards

Wins

Nominations

  • Moscow International Film Festival: Golden Prize, for Night of the Pencils, 1986.
  • Berlin International Film Festival: Golden Berlin Bear, for Funny Dirty Little War, 1985.
  • Fantasporto: International Fantasy Film Award, for Los viernes de la eternidad, 1981.
  • Berlin International Film Festival: Golden Berlin Bear, for La Patagonia rebelde, 1974.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Héctor Olivera at the Internet Movie Database
  2. ^ Film Festivals web site.
  3. ^ [Tamara L. Falicov "U.S.-Argentine Co-productions, 1982-1990: Roger Corman, Aries Productions, ‘Schlockbuster’ Movies, and the International Market " Film & History 2004 Vol.34, Iss. 1; pg. 31-38]
  4. ^ Cannes Film Festival web site.

[edit] External links

Languages