As a passionate admirer of Spanish cinema, I can’t help but feel inspired by the remarkable journey of Maria Zamora, the visionary producer who has been championing emerging and predominantly female filmmakers for two decades. Her tireless dedication to fostering talent and her unwavering commitment to social issues are truly commendable, especially in these uncertain times when we all need a stabilizing force like her.
This year at the 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival held on September 21st, Spanish film producer Maria Zamora of Elástica Films, known for supporting new and predominantly female directors throughout her 20-year career, was honored with the annual National Cinematography Award.
At their side for the introduction were filmmakers Elías León Siminiani, Paula Ortiz, and Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun. (In this version, I’ve used “at their side” to convey the idea of being present alongside someone during an introduction.)
Siminiani, who collaborated with Zamora on two documentaries over the course of ten years, remarked: Her career has soared to new heights, reminiscent of a hot air balloon ascending. Following our collaboration, she swiftly earned accolades such as the Berlinale Golden Bear for ‘Alcarràs,’ the San Sebastian Golden Shell for ‘O Corno,’ a Goya for ‘Libertad,’ and a Cannes Directors’ Fortnight award for ‘Creatura,’ he joked.
Ortiz, a well-respected filmmaker with several Goya nominations under his belt, stated, ‘In these turbulent periods, we truly could use someone as steady as Maria,'” as he discusses the upcoming premiere of their co-production with Prime Video, “La Virgen Roja,” on September 22 in San Sebastian.
Prior to bestowing upon her the distinguished honor, encompassing a cash prize of €30,000 ($33,500), Urtasun highlighted Zamora’s achievement of crafting, over the span of two decades, an expansive collection of elective affinities. He mentioned that she has developed a singularly special relationship with the directors she collaborated with, and this productive exchange has resulted in outstanding feature films, which have garnered recognition at prominent international film festivals.
He praised her for “constantly taking risks and prioritizing the social value of the cinematic act.” For this reason, he emphasized, “in our cinema, like in the films bearing María Zamora’s signature, we have an excellent guide to better understand the present.”
Furthermore, Urtasun highlighted the increasing involvement of women in Spain’s film industry. Speaking directly to Zamora, he commented: “Your work has played a crucial role in bringing the skills and dedication of numerous other women into the limelight, shattering long-standing injustices, quietude, brutality, and prejudice that unfortunately persist. This is a task we all share, and one that we are mindful of at the Ministry of Culture.
Following the ceremony, Zamora made it clear to EbMaster that she was far from content to bask in her success. She has two films lined up for production: “Yo no moriré de amor,” a co-production with Solita Films based in Madrid, which is set to be filmed in Madrid in January, and “Corredora,” produced by Distinto Films, to be shot in Barcelona in April.
As a native of Valencia and long-time resident of Madrid alongside my producing partner/husband Enrique Costa, I’ve developed a strong desire to capture more stories within the beautiful cityscape of Valencia. Over the past few years, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with several talented Catalan filmmakers, and I look forward to continuing these creative partnerships.
Director Carla Simon has recently completed “Romería,” marking the third installment of her trilogy that started with “Summer 1993” in 2017. Following this, she plans to delve into the flamenco musical project she announced last year at San Sebastian.
Approximately a decade back, I deliberately chose to collaborate with up-and-coming female directors in the film industry,” she stated, further noting that she had supported around ten debut films to date.
Meanwhile, she’s busy inviting everyone to drinks.
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2024-09-22 13:16