Shoots / Productions in Progress
The most notable shoots of the season in Spain
‘UNTITLED’ (Imagen superior Oliver Vegas)
LUCÍA ALEMANY
Since the first week of October, director Lucía Alemany has been shooting a film about footballer Alexia Putellas, a fiction feature inspired by the origins and early years of the two-time Ballon d’Or winner and 2023 world champion.
Filming is taking place in various locations in Catalonia and Valencia. The film stars Madicken Mauri-Sandaker and Emma Masoliver as Alexia, Roger Casamajor as Jaume and Marina Salas as Eli.
The film tells a story of overcoming adversity and family love, and, according to director Lucía Alemany, ‘Alexia’s story is inspiring for an entire generation.’
Cinematographer Thais Català AEC is responsible for the photography and has chosen an ARRI ALEXA 35 camera and ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime lenses to portray the story.
The film, whose title has yet to be revealed, is a production by Lazona, Lacima, You First Originals and Odessa Films.
‘ABRIL, HOY NO ES INVIERNO’
MABEL LOZANO
During the first week of October, filming was announced for ‘Abril, hoy no es invierno’, Mabel Lozano’s feature directorial debut, based on her short film of the same name.
The cast of ‘Abril, hoy no es invierno’ includes Michelle Jenner, Luis Tosar, Antonio de la Torre, Javier Gutiérrez, Rossy de Palma, Xavi Sáez, Inés Rodríguez, Ángela Boix, Zaida Alonso and Blanca Valletbó.
Director Mabel Lozano, who until then had focused her career on documentaries and projects committed to human rights, describes her first fiction feature as follows: ‘(…) It is a beautiful story about people whose strength is titanic, about resilience in extreme conditions, about admirable, heroic women; a film based on a true story that deserves to be told so it can reach the widest possible audience.’
Written by Eva Pauné and Mabel Lozano, the film draws on a true story to construct a fictional account of the barriers to communication and access to justice faced by women with disabilities in situations of violence and abuse.
Experienced cinematographer Juana Jiménez AEC is in charge of photographing this social thriller with an ARRI ALEXA Mini LF camera and LEICA R lenses.
‘Abril, hoy no es invierno’ is being filmed on locations in Guadalajara, Madrid and the Canary Islands. Secuoya Studios, Mafalda Entertainment, Festeam Comunicación y Eventos, S.L. and Álamo Producciones Audiovisuales are responsible for the production.
‘LO VENT’
MARCEL BARRENA
In mid-September, we learned that filming was under way on Lo vent, the new project from director Marcel Barrena, featuring actors Eduard Fernández, Nora Navas, Greta Fernández, Francesc Orella and French actor Williams Bulambo.
Shot entirely in Catalan on Buda Island, within the Ebro Delta Natural Park, Barrena describes his film in these words: ‘A story about resistance, legacy, the home we build and love for the land. About people from worlds they believed were opposed but who, together, find the strength to fight for what seems impossible.’
Inspired by the book ‘Delta’ by Gabi Martínez, Marcel Barrena, Mireia Vidal and Coral Cruz have written a screenplay telling the story of Mateo, a traditional rice farmer who remains deeply attached to Buda Island, a place threatened with destruction by rising sea levels.
Cinematographer Isaac Vila AEC, who also shot ‘El 47’ with Barrena, has chosen the ARRI ALEXA 35 camera and Hawk Class-X anamorphic lenses for this production.
‘Lo vent’ is being produced by Imagina and will be distributed by A Contracorriente Films. The project also has the participation of Movistar Plus, RTVE and 3Cat.
‘ESTO NO ES FINLANDIA’
AINA CLOTET, CELIA GIRALDO AND SARA FANTOVA
In mid-October, we learned that the second season of ‘Esto no es Finlandia’ was being filmed. The series, created and written by Aina Clotet, Valentina Viso and Daniel González, is shooting at various locations around Barcelona.
Consisting of six 40-minute episodes and directed by Aina Clotet, Celia Giraldo and Sara Fantova, the series stars Aina Clotet, Marcel Borràs, Pol López, Tomás del Estal, Nora Navas, Nausicaa Bonnín and Violeta Sanvisens.
Director Aina Clotet describes the project as follows: » ‘Esto no es Finlandia’ explores its distinctive blend of drama, tension and comedy in greater depth, taking an ironic yet empathetic look at the conflicts arising from new family models, the gap between expectations and reality, and the insatiable search for a Nordic ideal that does not exist, either there or here.»
For this project, which combines comedy and drama, cinematographer Gris Jordana is shooting with an ARRI ALEXA 35, a set of ZEISS Super Speed 1.3 prime lenses and a selection of zooms: ARRI Alura, Angénieux EZ1 S35 30–90 mm and Angénieux EZ2 S35 15–40 mm.
‘RATA’
ORIOL PÉREZ ALCARAZ
At the end of the third week of October, filming was announced for ‘Rata’, a dark comedy directed by Oriol Pérez Alcaraz, who is adapting the French film ‘Radin!, directed and co-written by Fred Cabayé.
This Fasten Films production for Netflix will shoot in different locations around Madrid and features Paco León, Miren Ibarguren and Alícia Falcó in its cast.
‘Rata’ has a screenplay by Eric Navarro and Natalia Durán, is directed by Oriol Pérez Alcaraz and has Claudia Calviño as executive producer, with production handled by Gaël Nouaille and Adrià Monés.
The film tells the story of Federico, a miser whose perfectly controlled life is thrown into disarray when Laura (Alícia Falcó), the daughter he never knew he had, appears. Determined to wreck his money-saving system and set him up with Valentina (Miren Ibarguren), Laura will show him that some things are priceless.
Cinematographer Andreu Ortoll is photographing this remake with an ARRI ALEXA 35 camera, a set of Cooke S8 lenses and an Angénieux Optimo Ultra 24–290 mm zoom.
‘RAFAELA’
ALBA LOZANO
In mid-October, we learned that filming was under way on ‘Rafaela’, Alba Lozano’s feature directorial debut.
Set in Bilbao in 1889, the film revisits the life of Rafaela Ybarra, a woman from Bilbao’s upper bourgeoisie who decided to use her social position and wealth to protect and educate vulnerable young people.
Produced by Baleuko, 11 Varas, 100 Acres and La Claqueta PC, in co-production with the Belgian company Caviar, Rafaela stars Loreto Mauleón, Nerea Sanz and Miguel Garcés. The main cast also includes Arnatz Puertas and Ekia Izco.
According to director Alba Lozano: ‘I am interested in exploring the need to defend our ideals, but also to question our own privilege. Although the story takes place at the end of the nineteenth century, I find contemporary issues in it.’
For this historical drama, cinematographer Aitor Mendilibar has chosen to equip the ARRI ALEXA 35 camera with ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime and ZEISS Supreme Prime lenses, together with an Angénieux Optimo 24–290 mm zoom.
‘ALGUNAS CANCIONES RUIDOSAS’
SERGI PÉREZ
In mid-October, we learned of the filming of ‘Algunas canciones ruidosas’, a documentary by Kevin Castellano and Edu Hirschfeld that traces the history of the Uruguayan rock band Los Mockers and follows its surviving members as they record new songs. It is a co-production between Spain’s Inaudita and Uruguay’s La Suma.
Cinematography is by Sara Gallego Grau AEC, who is working with a Sony FX6 and IronGlass Soviet MKII lenses. In addition, some shots filmed at the Pasarela Valencia recording studio were captured on 16 mm Double-X stock with a Bolex camera fitted with ZEISS Super Speed lenses.
Sixty years ago, Los Mockers released their only LP, now considered a cult record that helped shape the birth of rock in the Río de la Plata region. Twenty-five years ago, the cult film 25 Watts, by Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll, also made history in Uruguay and revived Los Mockers’ songs for its soundtrack. That is the starting point for this documentary.
‘As friends, directors and musicians, we completely identify with the story of Los Mockers because, rather than perpetuating the usual clichés about rock bands, it tells the story of five friends fighting for a shared dream,’ say directors Edu Hirschfeld and Kevin Castellano.
‘LA SUERTE DE LOS OTROS’
JOSÉ DAVID DÍAZ
In the second week of October, we learned that filming was under way on ‘La suerte de los otros’, the first fiction feature directed by producer and filmmaker José David Díaz.
It is a dark comedy with thriller elements that follows a night in which four seemingly ordinary characters unexpectedly find themselves faced with an opportunity that could change their lives.
The screenplay is by José David Díaz, Adrián Pino and Álvaro G. Urbina, while Blue House is handling production.
The principal cast is led by Doncho Montero, Beneharo Hernández, Nira Díaz and Luifer Rodríguez. Also appearing are Adrián Pino, Gregor Acuña-Pohl, Mila Fernández, Dani Mantero, Ignacio de la Puerta, José Chía, Lukas Acuña and Joaquín Olivan.
Cinematography is by Daniel Moreno García, who is shooting with an ARRI ALEXA 35 and Coral Anamorphic Second Reef lenses on locations in the Canary Islands and Andalusia.
‘MIRANDA COMPULSIVA’
CHLOÉ WALLACE
At the end of the second week of October, filming was announced for the series ‘Miranda Compulsiva’, directed by Chloé Wallace and produced by Espotlight Media and Sony Pictures Television.
The eight-episode series is written by Marta Suárez, Laura Belloso and Carmen Jiménez. Starring Susana Abaitua and Nao Albet, it tells the story of a woman who becomes entangled in a series of complications when she decides to launch her own website offering services to uncover unfaithful partners and locate missing people.
Cinematography is by Beatriz Sastre AEC, who has chosen to shoot with an ARRI ALEXA 35 and ARRI/ZEISS Master Prime lenses, Cooke Anamorphic lenses and ARRI Signature zooms.
The series is scheduled to premiere on HBO Max Spain in 2027.
