OUTSTANDING SPANISH PARTICIPATION IN THE BCN FILM FEST 2024

Belén Rueda, Ariadna Gil, Enric Auquer, Macarena García, Jaime Lorente, Irene Escolar, Alberto San Juan, Clara Segura, Maria Rodríguez, Emma Vilarasau, Blanca Suárez, David Verdaguer, Malena Alterio, Alex Brendemühl, Mireia Vilapuig, Laura Conejero, Alberto Ammann, Arturo Valls, Manuela Vellés, Luis Bermejo, Jordi Coll, Pep Anton Muñoz and Àsia Ortega, some of the main characters of the BCN FILM FEST

The Barcelona-Sant Jordi International Film Festival, BCN FILM FEST, will kick off on 18 April with the screening of CASA EN FLAMES, a dramatic comedy that will be the opening film of this eighth edition. 

In this new edition of the festival, as in the previous one, the programme includes a large number of Catalan and Spanish productions.

Below is information on all the films that will be added to the programme:

CASA EN FLAMES by Dani de la Orden
Opening Film / World Premiere

Dani de la Orden ("Hasta que la boda nos separe", "El mejor verano de mi vida"), directs CASA EN FLAMES, a choral dramatic comedy shot in Catalan about a family that reveals its darkest and most hidden corners in a weekend encounter, starring Emma Vilarasau, Enric Auquer, Maria Rodríguez Soto, Alberto San Juan, Clara Segura, Jose Pérez-Ocaña and Macarena García. The screenplay is by Eduard Sola, with whom De la Orden returns after their collaboration in "Barcelona, nit d'estiu" and "Barcelona, nit d'hivern".

Synopsis

Montse is very excited because she is about to spend a weekend with the whole family in her house in Cadaqués, on the Costa Brava. She has been divorced for a long time, her ex has a new partner, her children have grown up and have been living their lives without paying any attention to her, but nothing and nobody can spoil Montse's spirits; she has been waiting for this moment for too long, she has been dreaming about it for too long: this weekend will be an ideal weekend... even if she has to burn everything to do it.

CASA EN FLAMES is produced by Sábado Películas and Playtime Movies in co-production with 3Cat, Atresmedia Cine and ElioFilm with the collaboration of ICAA and ICEC and the participation of NETFLIX, 3Cat and Atresmedia.

ALUMBRAMIENTO by Pau Teixidor
Official Selection / World Premiere

ALUMBRAMIENTO is the second feature film directed by Pau Teixidor ("Purgatorio").  The film is inspired by true events and tells the story of Lucía, a teenager who becomes pregnant in Spain in 1982. Starring Sofía Milán ("Amar es para siempre"), in her first film role, the film brings together a promising cast of young actresses and María Vázquez ("Matria") among other veteran actresses and actors. The script is written by Teixidor himself with Lorena Iglesias ("La tumba de Bruce Lee").

Synopsis

Spain, 1982. Lucía enters Peñagrande, a reformatory for pregnant teenagers. There she will forge a strong friendship with her companions and will discover that they want to take from her what she does not yet have: her own child.

ALUMBRAMIENTO is produced by Aquí y Allí Films, Minoria Absoluta, Alumbramiento AIE and Avanpost.

ESCANYAPOBRES by Ibai Abad 
Official Selection / World Premiere

Ibai Abad ("The girl from the song") directs ESCANYAPOBRES, the free western adaptation of the novel of the same name by Narcís Oller, starring Àlex Brendemühl ("Creatura", "Petra") and Mireia Vilapuig ("Selftape") alongside Quim Àvila ("Girasoles silvestres") and Laura Conejero ("Caricies").

Synopsis

The end of the 19th century. The arrival of the train to an isolated village brings the longed-for progress, but also Oleguer, a shady usurer with shady business dealings. When he expropriates the farmhouse of Cileta and her family, the young peasant girl will do everything she can to recover the house. Even if this means following in the usurer's dark footsteps.

ESCANYAPOBRES is a catalan original version production by Abacus, Mayo Films and Nakamura Films in co-production with 3Cat with the collaboration of the Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals (ICEC), the Institut Valenciá de Cultura, À Punt Mèdia and Crea SGR.

CAÍDA LIBRE by Laura Jou
Official Selection / World Premiere

CAÍDA LIBRE is the second film by Laura Jou, whose first work "La vida sense la Sara Amat" was presented at the BCN Film Fest in 2019. Produced by J.A. Bayona and starring Belén Rueda ("El orfanato"), Manuela Vellés ("Culpa") and Irene Escolar ("Competencia oficial"), it is an emotionally tense and complex film about the limits of power and sacrifice.

Synopsis

Marisol is the national rhythmic gymnastics coach, methodical, demanding and authoritarian. The World Championships are approaching and she is pinning all her hopes for the gold medal on Angelica, the team's most promising newcomer. Two weeks before the final, Marisol discovers that her husband is having an affair with a much younger woman with whom he is expecting a child. But Marisol does not contemplate failure.

CAÍDA LIBRE is produced by Ejercicios del equilibrio AIE, Corte y Confección, Suspense Entertainment, with the participation of RTVE, Movistar Plus+, 3Cat, with the financing of ICAA, ICO, Triodos Banc, the support of ICEC, and the participation of Crea SGR.

DISCO, IBIZA LOCOMÍA by Kike Maíllo
Official Selection (Out of Competition) / Première catalana

Kike Maíllo ("Eva") directs this biopic about Locomía, one of the most popular and successful Spanish pop music phenomena of the late 80s and early 90s. Jaime Lorente, Blanca Suárez, Alberto Ammann, Alejandro Speitzer and Albert Baró head the cast of DISCO, IBIZA, LOCOMÍA. 

Synopsis

In Spain in the mid-80s, while the Madrid movida was starting and Ibiza was in full swing, Xavi Font, a misfit with artistic interests, helped by his soulmate Lurdes Iribar and his friend and lover Manolo Arjona, creates Locomía. Thanks to this, he will taste the sweetness of success at the same time that he will get to know the darkest side of the industry at the hand of the almighty producer José Luís Gil.

DISCO, IBIZA, LOCOMÍA is produced by Nadie es Perfecto PC in co-production with La Chica de la Curva, and SBD Films, with the participation of Atresmedia and NETFLIX.

LA CASA by Álex Montoya
 Official Selection (Out of Competition) / Première catalana

David Verdaguer ("Saben Aquell", "Uno para todos") stars in LA CASA, an adaptation of the prestigious comic of the same name by Paco Roca, a bittersweet reflection on the passage of time directed by Álex Montoya. Luis Callejo ("La espera"), Óscar de la Fuente ("El buen patrón"), Olivia Molina ("Mi otro Jon"), and Marta Belenguer ("Camera café, la película") complete the cast. 

Synopsis

After the death of their father, three siblings reunite in the family home where they spent their childhood summers. They have to decide what to do with the house, which will be more difficult than expected. 

Produced by Raw Pictures, Nakamura Films and Haciendo la casa A.I.E., the film is financed by the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales, the Institut Valencià de Cultura and the Instituto de Crédito Oficial, with the participation of RTVE, À Punt Mèdia and CREA SGR.

MALA PERSONA by Fer García-Ruíz
Cinema amb Gràcia / World Premiere

Fer García-Ruíz ("Derailed") directs this politically incorrect black comedy starring Arturo Valls ("Camera Café, la película"), the recent winner of the Goya Award for Best Actress Malena Alterio ("Que nadie duerma") and Julián Villagrán ("AzulOscuroCasiNegro") about a man who is ready to become the worst person in the world and be hated by everyone. 

Synopsis

Pepe is the best person in the world, until he discovers he has a terminal illness and has months to live. To spare his loved ones the suffering, he decides to become the worst person in the world and so keep them away from him so that they won't miss him when he dies.

MALA PERSONA is produced by Rodar y Rodar, Boavista Filmes and Mala Persona AIE with the participation of RTVE, 3Cat, ICAA and Films Factory.

THE QUIET MAID by Miguel Faus
Zona Oberta / Catalan Premiere

Miguel Faus directs his debut feature THE QUIET MAID, a portrait of a particular heroine of our times, a maid from a bourgeois family in a realistic and satirical drama starring Paula Grimaldo, Ariadna Gil ("Belle époque") and Luis Bermejo ("El rey"). The film is based on the short film Calladita, also directed and written by Miguel Faus.

Synopsis

Ana, recently arrived from Colombia, is a maid in a luxurious mansion where a wealthy family of art dealers spend their summer holidays. The young woman works from sunrise to sunset, without a contract, under the promise of more dignified conditions when the summer is over, as long as she is discreet and quiet. But through Gisela, the employee of the neighbouring house, Ana will discover that things don't work exactly as she has been told. She will also learn to have a bit more fun during her summer on the Costa Brava.

THE QUIET MAID is produced by Calladita Films, Potenza Producciones and Decentralized Pictures Foundation.

MONTSERRAT, INTEGRAL 107 by Biel Macià
Zona Oberta / World Premiere

Biel Macià directs this documentary about the adventure of two young climbers, himself and Enric Vilajosana, who take on the historic and spectacular challenge of climbing the 107 spires of the magical Montserrat massif in one week. 

Synopsis

Two climbers explore the magical massif of Montserrat with the aim of tracing a line that joins all the peaks of this mountain range. Climbing, abseiling, nights in the open and much study of the terrain is what they need to achieve this milestone never before achieved in history. After more than a year of preparation, they set out on the adventure of climbing the 107 peaks of Montserrat in a week.

MONTSERRAT, INTEGRAL 107 is produced by Shoji Films.

EL REI PERET by Esteve Rovira
Zona Oberta / World Premiere

As part of the 50th anniversary of his performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, Esteve Rovira directs this feature film based on the memories of the king of catalan rumba. Pep Anton Muñoz ("El cor de la ciutat") and Jordi Coll ("Merli. Sapere Aude") play the singer at different stages of his life in a film that focuses on the most unknown and exciting part of the artist's life.

Synopsis

Peret is a gypsy singer who, despite family opposition, becomes Spain's most international artist. Under pressure from his family and the regime, his individualistic character and vision lead him to abandon his career to devote himself to spreading the word of God. But Peret returns as the "king of the Catalan rumba", escapes the pressure of success and rescues the remains of his family.

EL REY PERET is produced by NewCo Audiovisual in co-production with 3Cat, in association with RTVE and with the support of the Departament de Cultura de la Generalitat de Catalunya.