Award-winning commercials director/producer Albert Uria—co-founder of Spain’s top commercial production company, Garage Films (www.garagefilms.net)—enters the U.S. film market with festival sensation and his documentary directorial debut, “New York Showcase” (www.nyshowcase.info)—a film that poses the question: Is it worth sacrificing everything for a dream? Uria also presents, in association with Zanskar and FullEmotions Entertainment, “Beyond 360.” The documentary, directed by Luis Goyanes, features a female duo risking their lives to pursue the dream of living as professional athletes—and to break a world record as the first female crew to circumnavigate the globe non-stop.
The 2012 Beverly Hills Film Festival (www.beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com) features the World Premiere of “Beyond 360” Thursday, April 26th at 3:30 p.m. at the Real D Theater (formerly Clarity Theater) at 100 N. Crescent Drive in Beverly Hills, California. The film will also have a European World Premiere at the Malaga Film Festival in Spain on the same day.
“Beyond 360,” directed and produced by Luis Goyanes, stars U.K. sailing champion Dee Caffari and Spaniard Anna Corbella, as the only female crew in a race dominated by men. As these two women risk their lives to pursue their dreams, the film reflects issues, such as, what it takes to succeed and the true definition of success. Caffari has already broken world records—the first and only female skipper to circumnavigate the globe three times, solo—but now faces her greatest challenge: finish in the top 5 or lose everything. Caffari teams up with Corbella, who is attempting her first non-stop circumnavigation, as well as her dream of becoming a professional sailor. Upon completion, they will set the record as the first female crew to sail around the world non-stop. The film is produced by Albert Uria, Gabriela Gutiérrez Dewar, María Ruiz Calzado, and in association with Garage Films.
Albert Uria says, “My passion is directing and producing films that question society and study the human condition. In both ‘NY Showcase’ and ‘Beyond 360,’ the audience will witness the capacity of the human spirit, people fighting to reach goals, and what success really means to an individual.”
In “NY Showcase,” big dreams die hard. Is it worth sacrificing everything for a dream? Who is right? The one who chooses common sense or the one who chooses the passion of pursing the dream?
The seniors at Otterbein College (Ohio), one of the nation’s leading performance art schools, have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform in front of casting agents at an annual Showcase held in New York City. After four years of hard work, $120,000.00 investment, and a lifetime of dreaming, the students have 2 and a half minutes to prove that they have what it takes to be signed by a manager or agent. The ones who are signed will enter the professional world of Broadway through the front door; the rest will have to keep fighting as anonymous actors.
“NY Showcase” has been making the festival rounds and has already garnered accolades at four events: 2012 Mammoth California Film Festival, 2012 Accolade Competition in La Jolla, CA, as a Silver Lei Winner at the 2012 Honolulu Film Festival, and a Silver Palm Award winner at the 2012 Mexico International Film Festival.
Uria adds, “I have always been fascinated by the ‘American Dream’ and the human struggle to succeed.”
Uria began his career in London, working with the best fashion photographers at the time, and collaborating with various filmmakers in the world of film and advertising production. He spent the next ten years as an advertising director, working for virtually every multi-national agency and winning awards in renowned advertising festivals. His enthusiasm and passion for discovering new talent let him to produce five short films, some of which he directed, and he received prizes in national and international festivals.
Along with his brother and executive producer, Oriol Uria, he then founded Garage Films, a production house with offices in Barcelona, Madrid, New York, and coming soon to Los Angeles. In 2010, Garage Films was awarded the prize of “Best Production House of the Year” in Spain, for the second consecutive year.
