Exciting news! Catalina Sandino Moreno has signed for a new project - and it is actually a two film project. Variety has just reported the following:

Colombian actress Catalina Sandino Moreno, Oscar-nommed for “Maria Full of Grace,” has been added to the cast of Steven Soderbergh’s two film project about Latin American revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara, which begins shooting July 25 in Spain.

Entitled “The Argentine” and “Guerrilla,” the two Spanish language-pics have a combined budget of around $70 million. Benicio del Toro toplines as “Che.”

Other thesps attached include Julia Ormond, Germany’s Franka Potente and Cuban Jorge Perugorria, as well as Spanish actors Jordi Molla, Oscar Jaenada, Eduard Fernandez and Ruben Ochandiano.

U.S.-based Guerrilla has teamed with Spanish production houses Telecinco Cinema and Morena Films to co-produce. Wild Bunch handles international sales.

Shooting begins in Spain’s central Castille La Mancha region and will continue in other locations in Madrid and Andalusia for nine weeks.

There is no word yet on who Catalina is going to play. The project has been in the works for quite some time now. Apparently it was first announced back in November 2005 as one film but also starring Benicio del Toro. Before the script was finished (which was originally written by del Toro and Terrence Malick) the team shot some scenes for about a week at the UN in January 2006 in an effort to get in ahead of a planned refurbishment at the buildings. A little later Julia Ormond joined the cast and last October the film was split in two.

Check out the IMDb listings for the films: The Argentine and Guerilla.

‘The Hottest State’ will be screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival (running August 15-26)! Screening dates:

Thursday, August 16, 2007, 21:30
Friday, August 17, 2007, 17:10

For more information check out the film’s page at the official Festival site. It will get a Gala presentation, but no word on whether Catalina Sandino Moreno will be attending. Let’s hope so

More stills from Catalina Sandino Moreno’s upcoming film ‘The Hottest State’ have been released.

003 The Hottest State - Stills

This site has a trailer for ‘The Hottest State’. Go have a look! It looks amazing and I wish I’d be able to see this film soon… I’ve added captures to the gallery (blurred dimensions from the video corrected)

Other fantastic gallery additions include donations from Rikka and Sana. Enjoy!

40 The Hottest State - Trailer
01 i-D, June 2007 scan by Rikka
03 2004 Unknown - Session 05 contributed by Sana
03 2004 Unknown - Session 06 contributed by Sana
01 2004 Unknown - Session 07 contributed by Sana
02 2005 Unknown - Session 01 contributed by Sana
18 2005 Unknown - Session 02 contributed by Sana

The cast & crew of ‘The Hottest State’ enjoyed the New York premiere of the film yesterday. I’ve added some pictures of Catalina Sandino Moreno together with Ethan Hawke, Mark Weber and Sonia Braga. Mariana has also sent in a new portrait session - it was also taken yesterday during an interview for ‘The Hottest State’.

003 Portrait Session - The Hottest State
012 ‘The Hottest State’ New York Premiere

I have added screencaptures of another project of Catalina’s: Paris je t’aime, segment Loin du 16ème.

100 Paris je t’aime Screencaptures
048 Paris je t’aime - Making Of
012 Paris je t’aime - Trailer

I’ve added new scans featuring Catalina Sandino Moreno.

01 Venice - July 2004
04 Cut (Japan) - October 2005
02 Elle (France) - November 22, 2006
04 Stella Magazine - April 29, 2007 (article)