Spanish Titles to Track at Cannes, Including New Films by Alejandro Amenábar, Alberto Rodriguez and Isaki Lacuesta
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New films by Julio Medem, Alejandro Amenábar, Alberto Rodríguez, Isaki Lacuesta, Jonas Trueba and Oliver Laxe join a brace of smart thrillers in a rich Cannes lineup from Spain.
“8,” (Julio Medem)
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Medem (“The Red Squirrel,” “Julia and Sex”) returns towhat he does best: a love story transcending time and space and a poetic critique of recent history, according to sales agent Latido Films. “Fariña’s” Javier Rey and “La Mesías” Ana Rujus star as the lovers. Morena Films produces.
Sales: Latido
“As Neves,” (Sonia Méndez)
After a magic mushroom-fueled party, teens in a snowbound Galician village discover one of them is missing. The film was well-received at the Malaga festival.
Sales: Begin Again Films
“Barren Land,” (Albert Pintó)
From a director on “Money Heist” and “Berlin,” this suspense thriller captures how the drug trade devastates friendships and lives in Andalusía’s Cádiz. Film sports a great cast: Luis Zahera (“The Beasts”), Karra Elejalde (“While at War”) and Jesús Carroza (“Prison 77”).
Sales: Film Factory Entertainment
“Birds Flying East,” (Pau Durá)
Durà’s film has stood out as one of this year’s top feel-good Spanish features, carried by strong performances by Luis Zahera and Javier Gutiérrez (“Below Zero”).
Sales: Filmax
“The Captive,” (Alejandro Amenábar)
Captured by Moorish corsairs and held for ransom, which nobody pays, Miguel de Cervantes’ creativity blooms. Mod Producciones produces.
Sales: Film Constellation
“Fraternity,” (Juan Gautier)
A Sitges Pitchbox winner billed as a psychological thriller about university campus hazing.
Sales: Begin Again Films
“The Gentleman,” (Luis Gabriel Beristáin)
A revenge thriller starring Ron Perlman and Damián Alcázar (“Narcos”), helmed by seasoned Mexican cinematographer Beristáin and produced by Spain’s Esto También Pasará (“Ferocious Wolf”).
Sales: Film Factory
“The Major Tones,” (Ingrid Pokropek)
A 2024 Berlinale Generation title and directorial feature debut of Argentina’s Pokropek, producer of “Trenque Lauquen.” “Tones” follows teenage Ana, who begins to receive morse code messages via a metal plate fixed in her arm after an accident.
Sales: Bendita Film Sales
“Memories of a Burning Body,” (Antonella Sudasassi Furniss)
This year’s Berlin Panorama Audience Award winner explores repressed female sexuality. Film has racked up promising early sales led by France (Nour Films) and Benelux (Mooov).
Sales: Bendita Film Sales
“My Friend Eva,” (Cesc Gay)
A 50-year-old woman wants to fall in love one more time, leaving her husband and children to do so. Backed by Gay’s career-long producer Imposible Films.
Sales: Filmax
“The Other Way Around,” (Jonás Trueba)
Playing Directors’ Fortnight and led by Trueba regulars Itsaso Arana and Vito Sanz, film centers on a couple of 15 years announcing a party to celebrate their break-up.
Sales: Memento Intl.
“Rapa,” (Alejandro Enríquez)
A documentary portrait of the threats to Galicia’s mountain horses and, with it, the economy and identity of Sabucedo, the village famed for its Rapa das Bestas round-up of wild horses.
Sales: Feelsales
“Raqqa: Spy vs. Spy,” (Gerardo Herrero)
Two of Spain’s most courted actors “Money Heist’s” Álvaro Morte, “Elite’s” Mina El Hammani star as undercover agents in ISIS enclave Raqqa in this espionage thriller. Tornasol produces.
Sales: Latido
“Rita,” (Paz Vega)
Vega stars in and makes her feature writing-directing debut about the final summer of innocence for a young girl who begins to question her father’s authority.
Sales: Filmax
“Saturn Return,” (Isaki Lacuesta, Pol Rodríguez)
A big winner at March’s Malaga Festival, this crowd-pleasing biopic is inspired by Spanish indie rock band Los Planetas.
Sales: Latido Film
“Stories,” (Paco Sepúlveda)
Featuring Maggie Civantos (“Locked Up”) and Aura Garrido (“A Private Affair”), film follows 11 stories marking the stages of life from birth to final goodbyes.
Sales: Feelsales
“They Will Be Dust,” (Carlos Marqués-Marcet)
Buzzy fiction feature about an elderly couple resorting to a voluntary assisted dying organization in Switzerland. Ángela Molina and Alfredo Castro star. “Alcarràs” producers Lastor Media and Kino Produzioni (Italy) produce with Alina Film (Switzerland).
Sales: Latido
“Los Tigres,” (Alberto Rodríguez)
One of the biggest packages at this year’s Cannes, “Tigres,” a heist thriller and character study of a man sensing his time has passed, is co-produced by Jean Labadie’s Le Pacte.
Sales: Film Factory
“Undercover,” (Arantxa Echevarría)
A crime thriller inspired by the real-life story of Spain’s only police officer to successfully infiltrate the Basque separatist organization ETA. Carolina Yuste and Luis Tosar topline. Bowfinger Intl. Pictures and Beta Fiction Spain produce.
Sales: Film Factory
“Untitled,” (Oliver Laxe)
Sergi López stars as a father searching for his daughter at Moroccan desert raves. Another Movistar Plus+ auteur event. title, here co-produced by the Almodóvar brothers.
Sales: The Match Factory
“The Virgin of the Quarry Lake,” (Laura Casabé)
This psychological thriller follows a girl who uses witchcraft to ensure the loyalty of her summer fling. Backed by Mr. Miyagi Films.
Sales: Filmax
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