Spanish hunk and Hollywood star Antonio Banderas caused a furore Friday night as he presented his new movie "Summer Rain" at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.

Prior to the premiere of the movie, to which he is a director, Banderas was swarmed by mainly female fans and was more than happy to linger for a few minutes to sign autographs.

Summer rain (El camino de los Ingleses), Bandera's second feature film as director, is a lushly romantic, beautifully crafted portrait of coming of age in southern Spain in the 1970s.

Banderas said his work with Pedro Almodovar, exploring territory much darker and weirder than the world of smooth ladies' man of his Hollywood career, has been his best teacher.

In "Labyrinth of Passion" (1982); "Matador" (1988); "Law of Desire" (1987); "Women on the Verge of Nervous Breakdown" (1988); and "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" (1990), Banderas was cast as obsessive, charming and dangerous young men.

"We did five movies in the 80s that were a turning point for me, even though they were not well received," Banderas said.

"This is the price you should pay to gain your creative freedom," he added.

Banderas is in Bulgaria with Morgan Freeman to shoot their movie "The Code", where the two play artful jewellery thieves, who have set their sight on Faberge eggs, owned by a NY collector of Russian origin.

"We are working with excellent professionals in Bulgaria. I thank everyone and especially Sofia," Banderas said.

The shooting of the crime drama, which is production of the US moviemaker Nu Image, started two months ago in New York. The movie is being directed by Mimi Leder ("The Peacemaker", "Pilot", The Tunnel").

A total of 12 Bulgarian actors play together with the two Hollywood stars, Deyan Donkov, Zahari Baharov and Velizar Binev among them.

Banderas will stay in Bulgaria until the end of the shooting in December.

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