The strong presence of films by Catalonia-based talent at the Berlinale this year marks the beginning of a stellar 2022 for Catalan films.
For the first time, two Catalan films are screening in Competition: Carla Simon’s Alcarras and Isaki Lacuesta’s One Year, One Night. Dane Komljen’s Afterwater plays Forum and Gerard Ortin’s Agrilogistics has been selected for Berlinale Shorts.
A further two projects at the European Film Market — 20,000 Species Of Bees by Basque newcomer Estibaliz Urresola (co‑produced by Barcelona-based Inicia Films) and Picadero by Berlinale regular Isabel Coixet — are a promise of what is to come from Catalan filmmakers, both emerging and established.
The Beasts (post-production)
Dir. Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Sorogoyen’s new film, following hit miniseries Riot Police, is set in rural Galicia and revolves around a long-settled French couple. Barcelona-based Arcadia Motion Pictures — also behind the filmmaker’s Venice 2019 title Mother — is producing with Le Pacte, Cronos Entertainment and Caballo Films. Contact: Latido Films
Bora Bora (post-production)
Dir. Albert Serra
Benoit Magimel, Sergi Lopez and Cécile Guilbert star in Serra’s latest following Freedom, which premiered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2019. Set on an island in French Polynesia, the film combines a love story with international politics. Serra’s Andergraun Films produces. Contact: Films Boutique
Cork (post-production)
Dir. Mikel Gurrea
This debut feature from Gurrea, whose short film Heltzear impressed at Venice in 2021, is about a young couple, about to have a baby, who move to the country to run a cork business. Rising actors Vicky Luengo and Pol Lopez star. Cork is produced by Barcelona-based Lastor Media, with Malmo Pictures and Irusoin. Contact: Ariadna Dot, Lastor Media
Duo (completed)
Dir. Meritxell Colell
Duo is the second film from Colell, who premiered Facing The Wind in the Berlinale’s Forum in 2018. The new feature is a road movie, shot between Argentina and Chile, about two dancers on tour. Both their journey and relationship are put to the test by the challenging landscape of the Atacama desert. Colell is also taking part in Berlinale Talents. Contact: Latido Films
Manticora (post-production)
Dir. Carlos Vermut
Vermut has been busy these past two years, writing Paco Plaza’s horror The Grandmother (a San Sebastian premiere in 2021) and writing and directing Manticora. The film, a Bteam and Aqui y Alli production, is described by Vermut as a story of “love and monsters in modern times”. Contact: Film Factory Entertainment
Matria (post-production)
Dir. Alvaro Gago
Gago’s first feature expands on his short film that won the grand jury prize at Sundance in 2018. Gago, one of Screen’s inaugural Spain Stars of Tomorrow in 2021, wanted to further explore the story of a woman who combines her job in a canning factory with her exhausting daily routine at home. Maria Vazquez plays the lead. Contact: Jan Naszewski, New Europe Film Sales
Motherhood (post-production)
Dir. Pilar Palomero
Palomero’s second feature follows the well-received Schoolgirls (winner of four Goya awards) and is the story of a 14-year-old girl who falls pregnant. It is produced by Bteam and Inicia Films as a Spain-France co-production with Paris-based Les Films du Worso. Contact: Elle Driver
Stories Not To Be Told (post-production)
Dir. Cesc Gay
Gay returns to the episodic, intimate stories he first explored in 2003’s In The City, with five tales revolving around situations people find themselves in that they don’t want to tell anybody about. Gay is working again with producer Marta Esteban of Impossible Films and co-writer Tomas Aragay. Stories Not To Be Told has an all-star Spanish cast led by Maribel Verdu, Antonio de la Torre and Jose Coronado. Contact: Filmax
Unicorns (post-production)
Dir. Alex Lora
The feature debut of experienced shorts and documentary director Lora, Unicorns is produced by Valerie Delpierre of Inicia Films, one of the most active Barcelona-based producers on the festival circuit, with Jaibo Films. Marta Vivet, Pilar Palomero, Maria Minguez and Alex Lora. wrote the script about a woman determined to explore her sexuality and in search of the perfect relationship. Greta Fernandez stars. Contact: Filmax
The Volunteer (completed)
Dir. Nely Reguera
This political drama starring Carmen Machi tells the story of a retired woman who travels to Greece to volunteer in a refugee camp. Reguera’s second film, following Maria (And The Others), is produced by Fasten Films, Bteam Pictures and Homemade Films. Contact: Fasten Films
Wild Flowers (completed)
Dir. Jaime Rosales
Rosales is a Cannes regular with films including Beautiful Youth and Solitary Fragments. His latest film Wild Flowers follows a young mother falling in love with a man with whom she starts an intense but tortuous relationship. It stars Anna Castillo and Oriol Pla, and is produced by A Contracorriente Films, Fresdeval Films, Luxbox and Oberon Media. Contact: Film Factory Entertainment
(All images courtesy of Catalan Films)
