GOYA’S GHOSTS

MILOS FORMAN’S GOYA’S GHOSTS BEGINS FILMING IN SPAIN SEPTEMBER 5

Production began September 5, 2005 in Spain on Milos Forman’s historical drama Goya’s Ghosts, starring Javier Bardem (The Sea Inside), Natalie Portman (Star Wars, Closer) and Stellan Skarsgård (Good Will Hunting). Milos Forman directs and Saul Zaentz produces.

Goya’s Ghosts starts off in Spain in 1792 and tells the story through the eyes of the great Spanish painter Francisco Goya of a group of people caught up in a time of political convulsion and historical change. The action takes place from the later years of the Spanish Inquisition through the invasion of Spain by Napoleon’s army to the ultimate defeat of the French and restoration of the Spanish monarchy by Wellington’s powerful invading army.

JAVIER BARDEM is Brother Lorenzo, an enigmatic, cunning member of the Inquisition’s inner circle who becomes involved with Goya’s teenage muse, Ines (NATALIE PORTMAN), when she is falsely accused of heresy and sent to prison. STELLAN SKARSGÅRD plays Francisco Goya, the celebrated painter renowned for both his colorful court paintings and his grim depictions of the brutality of war and life in Spain.

Goya’s Ghosts, a Xuxa Production S. L., in association with Kanzaman Films is directed by Milos Forman and produced by Saul Zaentz from a screenplay by Forman and Jean-Claude Carriere (Birth). Paul Zaentz is executive producer. Co-producers are Denise O’Dell and Mark Albela.

Forman and Zaentz previously collaborated on the Academy Award winning films One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest received nine Oscar nominations, winning five statuettes include Best Picture and Best Director. Amadeus was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and received eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Forman’s most recent film is Man on the Moon. He has also directed The People vs. Larry Flynt, Ragtime and Hair, among other productions. Saul Zaentz’s most recently produced The English Patient swept the Academy Awards for 1996 with 12 nominations and nine Oscars.

Jean-Claude Carriere collaborated with Milos Forman on Valmont and Taking Off. He is author of more than 100 screenplays including Luis Bunuel’s The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and That Obscure Object of Desire.