The film world loves to spoof and send up its process, its traditions, and its various neurosis. And the new IFC Films comedy “Official Competition” narrows in on a meta, self-satirizing look at the film industry, the creative process, and the star-obsessed film festival industrial complex.
Penélope Cruz stars as the eccentric filmmaker alongside Antonio Banderas as the Hollywood heartthrob and Oscar Martínez as the radical theatre actor; the film follows renowned filmmaker Lola Cuevas (Cruz), who is tasked with making an iconic movie worthy of a legacy at the behest of an eccentric billionaire funding the film and only wanting the best of the best to work on it. If the ambitious film will be successful, everyone involved needs to be the best at what they do. The two actors meant to make this film a hit are Iván Torres (Martínez) and Félix Rivero (Banderas)—two men with massive talent and egos to match.
From the minds of Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat, “Official Competition” premiered at the 2021 Venice Film Festival and had a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival. Both screenings were well-received (and our review called the film a “joy to behold and a crowd-pleasing comedy”). Now, this clever film satire is set to have its U.S. premiere on June 12, 2022, during Tribeca, with a theatrical release to follow that Friday, June 17.
As we wrap up our coverage of one film festival, Cannes, and start to look ahead to another, Tribeca, now’s the perfect time to unveil the poster for “Official Competition” (which quotes our review), which we present exclusively, below.
