C'theque Spanish fest to fete Saura

'Tango' helmer honored, 27 movies screened at Egyptian

By NICK MADIGAN

A tribute to veteran director Carlos Saura, whose latest film "Tango" was nominated for a foreign-language film Oscar, will highlight the American Cinematheque's sixth annual Recent Spanish Cinema series.

Saura will join the series on its first two days (Friday and Saturday) to unveil new 35mm prints of "Carmen" (1983) and "Raise Crows" (1975). Ten more Saura films will screen during the series.

Presented in collaboration with the Spanish Society of Authors, Composers & Publishers and Fundacion Autor, among others, the series will be presented at the Cinematheque's new home, the Egyptian Theater's Lloyd E. Rigler auditorium in Hollywood.

Event, which wraps March 13, will include a special showcase of Spanish women filmmakers.

This year's series includes 27 movies -- 15 of them new releases -- and a program of short films. Among the features are Santiago Segura's "Torrente: The Dumb Arm of the Law," Spain's biggest box office hit ever; Alex de la Iglesia's "Perdita Durango," starring Rosie Perez and Javier Bardem; the comedy "Things I Left in Havana," helmed by Manuel Gutierrez Aragon ("Demons in the Garden"); and the erotic thriller "Between Your Legs," from Manuel Gomez Pereira ("Mouth to Mouth").

Confirmed attendees include actors Carmelo Gomez ("Tierra," "Between Your Legs") and Aitana Sanchez Gijon ("A Walk in the Clouds").

For more information, call [phone].