Spanish movie director Pedro Almodovar canceled his appearances this week at promotional events for his new movie "Julieta" following intense interest in the offshore company he owned with his brother years ago, Almodovar's production company said Wednesday.
The director nixed planned interviews and a photo shoot ahead of the debut of "Julieta" in theaters across Spain Friday, his El Deseo company said in a statement and emailed comments to The Associated Press.
The statement did not directly blame the revelation of the director's previous offshore company via leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm, but strongly suggested that was the reason by saying the events were called off due to attention on matters unrelated to the movie.
"Julieta" is Almovodar's 20th movie. Actors in the movie including Emma Suarez, Adriana Ugarte, Rossy de Palma, Daniel Grao, Inma Cuesta and Michelle Jenner did do their planned interviews to promote the film, the Europa Press news agency reported.
Agustin Almodovar, the director's brother and business manager, on Monday blamed his inexperience for the decision to set up an offshore company aimed at expanding their international film business.
Spain's El Confidencial digital publication reported as part of the release of leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm that the two brothers were listed as the agents of a British Virgin Islands company from 1991 to 1994.
Agustin Almodovar said in a statement he launched the company but shut it down "because it did not fit with the way we worked."
He also apologized for the "damage my brother's public image is suffering, caused only by my lack of experience in the first few years of our family business."
Agustin Almodovar said he and his brother have met all of their tax obligations.
