The Fabulous Late Eva Norvind Gets Tribute in NYC

Cinema Tropical, Deutsches Haus at New York University (NYU), and Scandinavia House, have announced a tribute to the late Eva Norvind, aka Ava Taurel, with two special film screenings: Didn’t Do It for Love on Tuesday, June 12; and Born Without / Nacido sin on Wednesday June 13, in New York City.

Born in Norway to Russian prince Paul Chegodayef Sakonsky and Finnish sculptress Johanna Kajuanus, Eva Norvind was a larger-than-life figure, an unconventional and controversial sexual pioneer whose life incredibly intersected with many random places and very unusual facets: from becoming Mexico’s Marilyn Monroe; to studying film and human sexuality at NYU; and ultimately becoming New York City’s most famous dominatrix. Norvind died at the age of 62, on May 14, 2006, drowning in the waters of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The special tribute features a screening of Didn’t Do It For Love, the documentary film that renowned German filmmaker Monika Treut made about Eva’s life, as well as Born Without / Nacido sin, the documentary film that Norvind directed and that was completed by her daughter Nailea Norvind after Eva’s sudden death. The film, which went on to win the Best Documentary Award at the Mexico City (FICCO) and Vancouver Film Festivals, tells the story of handicapped Mexican street musician José Flores.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Deutsches Haus and Scandinavia House, two not-so-obvious partners for Latin American cinema, to pay tribute to the astonishing Eva Norvind, who among the numerous hats she wore, had a random yet powerful participation in Mexican cinema”, says Carlos A. Gutiérrez, Director and Co-Founder of Cinema Tropical.

For complete information, click here.

TRIBUTE TO EVA NORVIND

Presented by Cinema Tropical in partnership with NYU's Deutsches Haus and Scandinavia House.
Additional support by the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York

The late Eva Norvind, aka Ava Taurel (born in Norway to Russian prince Paul Chegodayef Sakonsky and Finnish sculptress Johanna Kajuanus), was a larger-than-life figure, an unconventional and controversial sexual pioneer whose life incredibly intersects with many random places and very unusual facets: from becoming Mexico’s Marilyn Monroe; to studying film and  human sexuality and at New York University (NYU); and ultimately becoming New York City’s most famous dominatrix. Norvind died at the age of 62, on May 14, 2006, drowning in the waters of Oaxaca, Mexico.

This special tribute presented by Cinema Tropical, the Deutsches Haus at NYU and Scandinavia House, features a screening of Didn’t Do It For Love, the documentary film that renowned German filmmaker Monika Treut made about Eva’s life, as well as Born Without, the documentary film that Norvind directed and that was completed by her daughter Nailea after Norvind’s sudden death.

The film, which went to win the Best Documentary Award at the Mexico City (FICCO) and Vancouver Film Festivals, tells the story of handicapped Mexican street musician José Flores.

Special thanks to Nailea Norvind, Paul Marchant (First Run Features), and María Elena Cabezut (Mexican Cultural Institute of New York).

Tuesday, June 12, 6:30pm - Deutsches Haus at New York University
42 Washington Mews / http://deutscheshaus.as.nyu.edu / (212) 998-8660
Free admission with RSVP to deutscheshaus.rsvp@nyu.edu. Please note that space at Deutsches Haus is limited, please arrive ten minutes prior to the event.

DIDN'T DO IT FOR LOVE
Directed by Monika Treut, Germany, 1997, 80 min. In English and Spanish with English subtitles.
With: Eva Norvind, Jan Baracz, Rene Cardona Jr., José Luis Cuevas, Nicolá Echevarría, Juan Ferrara, José Flores, Juan José Gurrola.

A fascinating look into the incredible life of sexual revolutionary Eva Norvind, alias Mistress Ava Taurel, born Eva Johanne Chegodaieva Skonskaya, the daughter of a Russian prince and a Finnish sculptress in Trondheim, Norway. The film recounts the phases in her adventurous life-story: from the early success as a showgirl in Paris and Québec, as a Nordic Marilyn Monroe in the Mexican B-movies of the sixties, and finally, as the most famous dominatrix in New York during the Eighties. Eva Norvind studied Forensic Psychology to be able to help sexual offenders as well as a way of searching for the dark secret of her own sexuality. It is the story of an odyssey through the wilderness of sexuality that has not yet reached its destination.
Screening followed by discussion with special guests actress Naian Daeva (Eva's granddaughter) and Mexican writer/film critic Naief Yehya.

Wednesday, June 13, 7pm - Scandinavia House
58 Park Avenue (at 38th Street) / www.scandinaviahouse.org / (212) 779-3587
Admission: $10

NACIDO SIN | BORN WITHOUT
Directed by Eva Norvind, Mexico, 2008, 86 min. In Spanish with English subtitles.
With: José Flores, Graciela Flores, Nicolás Echevarría, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Nailea Norvind.

“José Flores was born without arms and with stunted legs that render him only three feet tall, but his outsized personality makes his physical attributes the least interesting thing about this complex man. A Mexico City street musician, doting husband, and father of six (with a seventh on the way), Flores navigates the world with few concessions to his disability and with an unbridled appetite for life. As unconventional as he may seem, his history is even more unexpected; charismatic from an early age, he has been a respected occasional actor in Mexican art cinema, including appearances in Alejandro Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain (1973) and the seminal Cabeza de Vaca (directed by Nicolás Echevarría, 1991). Flores is also, improbably, a bit of a ladies’ man. Directed by Norvind, and completed by her daughter after Norvind’s death, this intimate portrait doesn’t shy away from some of the more salacious details of Flores’ life.” – Los Angeles Film Festival.
Screening followed by discussion with special guest actress Naian Daeva (Eva's granddaughter).

In Unprecedented Year, Mexico Wins Top Honors in All of Cannes' Main Sections

Mexican cinema received some of the top awards in the 65th edition of the Cannes Film Festival which comes to a close today, having received prizes in the Official Selection, A Certain Regard, Critics' Week and Directors' Fortnight sections of the festival. In the awards ceremony today, the Official Selection jury headed by Italian director Nanni Moretti gave the award for Best Director to Carlos Reygadas for his controversial film Post Tenebras Lux (pictured right).

The film premiered in the festival to mixed reviews and even booing, but nonetheless impressed the Cannes jury. Reygadas had received the Grand Jury Prize in 2007 for his previous film Luz silenciosa / Silent Light and he becomes the third Mexican filmmaker to receive this award, after Luis Buñuel received if for Los Olvidados in 1951, and Alejandro González Iñárritu in 2006 for Babel.

As was previously reported, Después de Lucía / After Lucía (pictured left), the second feature film by Michel Franco won the A Certain Regard section, the first time a Mexican production won this award. Additionally, Mexican co-production film Aquí y Allá by Spanish helmer Antonio Méndez Esparza which tells the story of a Mexican migrant in the US going back to live in his hometown, was awarded the main prize at the Critics' Week section.

And even though the Directors' Fortnight section of the festival doesn't give out official awards, the Chilean-Mexican co-production No by Pablo Larraín and starring Gael García Bernal received the Art Cinema Award at Cannes’ 44th, the unofficial prize that's considered the most important of the section. Larraín's film was one of the most cherished films in this edition of the French festival, which is considered by many the most important film showcase in the world.

As TropicalFRONT previously informed, this edition of Cannes had the biggest Latin American representation in recent memory. The Palm d'Or, the festival's top award, went to Austrian director Michael Haneke's film Amour, making it the second time he wins the award.

 

Mexican Film by Michel Franco Tops A Certain Regard at Cannes

The Mexican film Después de Lucía / After Lucía (pictured), the second feature film by Mexican director Michel Franco won the top prize of the A Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, making it the first time a Mexican film wins the main prize since it was created in 1998.

The film starring Tessa Ía, Hernán Mendoza and Gonzalo Vega Sisto, tells the story of Roberto and his teenage daughter Alejandra set off from Vallarta for a fresh start in Mexico City. Alejandra finds her feet more easily than Roberto but soon after she becomes a victim of escalating bullying at school.

This prize comes on the heels of the other major award for the Mexican co-production film Aquí y Allá by Spanish director Antonio Méndez Esparza that won the top prize of the Directors' Fortnight section at Cannes.

Mexican Co-production Film AQUÍ Y ALLÁ Wins Cannes Critics' Week

The Spanish-American-Mexican co-production film Aquí y allá (pictured) by Spanish director Antonio Méndez Esparza won the Grand Prize in the Critics' Week parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival, it was announced today. The film starring Pedro de los Santos and Teresa Ramírez tells the story of Pedro, a man who returns to his village in Guerrero, Mexico after years of working in New York City. The main prize consists of a cash prize of 10,000 euros.

Other prizes announced today in the 51st edition of the Critics' Week section include the ACID/CCAS Distribution Support given by Main Fund of Social Activties (CCAS) and the Association of Independent Cinema for its Distribution to the Argentine film Los salvajes / The Wild Ones by Alejandro Fadel consisting of a cash prize of 4,000 euros to the director and 4,000 to the French distributor of the film.

Additionally, the Brazilian short film O Duplo / Doppelganger by Juliana Rojas received a Special Mention from the jury. Organized by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics, Critics' Week is devoted to first and second films.

The 2012 Edition of the Cine Fest Petrobras NY Gets Cancelled

Inffinito Foundation announced today the cancellation of the 2012 edition of the Cine Fest Petrobras Brazil-NY Festival, which was scheduled for June 10-16 at the Tribeca Cinemas in Manhattan, due to the withdrawal of their title sponsor.

In an announcement, the company said that, after 12 years, the Brazilian oil company withdrew its sponsorship with less than a month before the start of the 10th edition of the annual festival that focuses on recent Brazilian film production.

Created in 1995 by Adriana L. Dutra, Cláudia Dutra and Viviane B. Spinelli, Inffinito produces a clutch of film festivals under the banners of “Brazilian Film Festival” and “Cine Fest Brasil” in ten cities around the world, including Miami, London, Madrid, Rome, Vancouver and Buenos Aires. The New York festival was the only one of the Inffinito circuit that was branded under Petrobras.

Nonetheless, the company confirmed that the annual event at Central Park Summerstage will take place on June 9 as originally planned, with the performance by the soul singer Sandra de Sá followed by the screening of Walter Carvalho’s documentary film Raul, the Beginning, Middle and End / Raul - o início, o fim e o meio about the South American rock musician Raul Seixas.

Inffinito also said that this year's film selection, programmed by Clelia Bessa, Jorge Peregrino, Maria Arlete Gonçalves, Paula Baker and Ruth Albuquerque, will be transferred to the Brazilian Film Festival of London, running September 21-25, and that the 10th edition of the New York festival will be postponed for June 2013.