Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal Present “They Shot the Piano Player” at TIFF 2023

The masterful duo of Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal treat audiences to a bold animated story of a music journalist (voiced by Jeff Goldblum) on a quest to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a young piano virtuoso.

They Shot the Piano Player [Dispararon Al Pianista]
Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal
Spain, France | 2023 | 103m | English, Portuguese, Spanish
SHOWTIMES:
Thursday, September 7 – 6:30 PM | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto | Press & Industry
Friday, September 8 – 3:00 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox Toronto | BUY TICKETS
Saturday, September 9 – 4:30 PM | Scotiabank Theatre Toronto | BUY TICKETS

They Shot The Piano Player, a Canadian Premiere, is an Official Selection at the upcoming 2023 Toronto International Film Festival [TIFF]. It is the much-awaited new animated project from Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal after their 2012 Academy Award-nominated Chico & Rita. Inspired by the films of François Truffaut and the vibrant notes of Bossa Nova.

Jeff is a New York music journalist that goes on a quest to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of young Brazilian piano virtuoso Francisco Tenório Júnior in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after a concert at the Gran Rex Theatre with guitarist, singer-songwriter Toquinho and legendary, beloved poet and lyricist Vinícius de Moraes.

They Shot The Piano Player is a celebratory origin story of the world-renowned Latino musical movement Bossa Nova, and it captures a fleeting time bursting with creative freedom at a turning point in Latin American history in the 60s and 70s, just before the continent was engulfed by totalitarian regimes.

Trueba and Mariscal created a fascinating documentary, which at the same time has all the excitement of a thriller, with a magical soundtrack showcasing jazz, samba, bossa nova. The film features the music of some of the greatest Brazilian composers and singer-songwriters: Vinícius de Moraes, Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, Toquinho, Milton Nascimento, Paulo Mora. Once again, the creator of Calle 54, Fernando Trueba pays hommage to the artists whose music and artistry are so dear to his heart.

The English version of the film features the voice of celebrated American actor and musician Jeff Goldblum.

_{They Shot The Piano Player Trailer}

Director: Fernando Trueba

Fernando Trueba is a Spanish film director and writer, as well as a music producer. Several of his films have screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, including Belle Epoque (1993), The Girl of Your Dreams (1999), and Chico and Rita (2010), which was directed alongside Javier Mariscal and Antonio [Toño] Errando. They Shot the Piano Player (2023), his latest collaboration with Mariscal, is his most recent film.

Director: Javier Mariscal

Javier Mariscal was born in Valencia. He’s known primarily as a visual artist, particularly as a painter, sculptor, and product designer. His directorial debut was an episode of The Cobi Troupe, an animated series based on Cobi, the mascot he created for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He co-directed Chico and Rita, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010, alongside Fernando Trueba and Antonio [Toño] Errando. They Shot the Piano Player (2023), his latest collaboration with Trueba, is his most recent film.