'Orphanage' Scores

Hey, Matt Dentler from the SXSW Film Festival here again. The fourth of five secret screenings at Fantastic Fest, happened last night. It was the U.S. Premiere of Juan Antonio Bayona's The Orphanage, which I knew I had to bring to Fantastic Fest after watching it at Cannes in May. Shortly after the screening last night (which received some rave reviews), Bayona and screenwriter Sergio Sanchez were relieved things went so well but still a little nervous because Thursday morning was to bring the news of which Spanish film would represent the country for this year's Oscar consideration. Sure enough, it was announced today that The Orphanage will indeed be Spain's submission for the Oscar foreign-language category. The film opens in Spain next month, and in the U.S. by the end of 2007 thanks to Picturehouse.