Madrid Film Fest SHOCKS Industry With Bold Move!

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The ECAM Forum, a leading international co-production market, has unveiled its primary schedule for its upcoming second installment, taking place from June 10th to 13th at the historic Matadero location in Madrid.

As a movie enthusiast, I was privileged to attend the grand unveiling of an exciting initiative within the film industry, masterminded by the esteemed ECAM film school in Madrid. This momentous occasion took place at the Spanish Pavilion during the Cannes Film Festival. Notably present were Ignasi Camós, head of ICAA, and delegates from the Community of Madrid and Madrid City Council, integral allies to this event.

Following an impressive debut in 2024 that catapulted numerous productions into their world premieres at various festivals like Hanami in Locarno, Ariel and Gods of Stone in Rotterdam, and Los Tortuga in Toronto, the upcoming lineup for Films to Come (development projects) and Last Push (post-production films) for 2025 promises to be just as appealing. This year, there’s an exciting new addition – a selection of international projects making their debut for the first time.

Alberto Valverde, the ECAM Forum coordinator, stated that our goal is to boost Spanish cinema on a global scale and draw overseas talent to Spain for work opportunities. He believes that showcasing a curated selection of films and bringing international rising stars together with promising Spanish projects creates a more effective means to market these movies.

This year, we received a staggering number of 267 submissions for international feature projects – that’s over twice as many as in 2024! To maintain excellence, an esteemed panel of global industry experts carefully selected these projects. These chosen projects will then be showcased to over 300 professionals.

The group responsible for selecting upcoming films is made up of film producers Zsuzsanna Kiraly from Flaneur Films in Switzerland, Agustina Chiarino from Bocacha in Uruguay, Carla Sospedra from Edna Cinema in Spain, and programmer Lison Hervé from Les Arcs Industry Village.

Out of a total of 202 submissions, we chose fifteen diverse projects – some from Spain seeking international collaborations, while others are international projects looking for partnerships with Spanish producers and financiers. These co-production ventures involve countries like Spain, France, the UK, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Estonia.

As a cinephile, I’m excited to share that five films from this year’s ECAM Incubator program are guaranteed selections: “The (Big) Rip,” “Face of Grace,” “Bai, Bai,” “The Eels’ Dilemma,” and “I Breath Fire.” These are the ones I can’t wait to catch on the big screen!

Notably, the 15 chosen projects have been assigned to female directors following three rounds of discussions, a point emphasized by Valverde.

Notable films to keep an eye out for are:

1. “A Decorous Woman” by Natalia Luque, featuring the renowned Chilean actress Catalina Saavedra.
2. “Nacimiento” directed by Francisca Alegría, who won a Sundance prize and is known for “The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future.”
3. The hybrid film “Hospital of Irremediable Desires” by Maryam Tafakory, whose 2023 short “Mast-del” was screened at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
4. “Since You’ve Been Gone” directed by María Herrera, who won a Goya for “Arquitectura emocional 1959.”
5. “Zuria,” the debut feature of acclaimed producer Leire Apellaniz (“The Sacred Spirit”), who has been recognized twice by EbMaster as one of Spanish Producers to Watch.

The group responsible for making decisions in The Last Push is composed of programmers such as Gaia Furrer (Venice Days), Violeta Bava (New York Film Festival, Venice Film Festival), Pamela Bienzobas (Locarno Film Festival), and the writer/scholar Violeta Gil.

From a pool of 65 submissions, the last eight titles that underwent post-production hail from twelve different co-production regions, such as Spain, Argentina, Peru, France, Germany, and Romania.

Notable projects aiming for festivals, sales, and additional funding are the five-nation collaboration titled “Milk Teeth,” a second feature by Romanian director Mihai Mincan who previously directed “To the North”; the Colombian documentary “Before the Fire” by Ángel Giovanni Hoyos, which was previously presented at IDFA and CPH:DOX; and debut features from promising newcomers Irati Gorostidi Agirretxe with “Anekumen” and Claudia Estrada Tarascó with “Wolf Grrrls.

The best project will receive a €15,000 ($16,700) cash prize from the Comunidad de Madrid.

Speaking about the trends observed on ECAM Forum’s primary storytelling platforms, Valverde stated: “The range of topics encompasses an array of narrative and artistic techniques, featuring comedies, genres, science fiction, documentaries, and classic literature adaptations. The chosen projects exhibit a dedication to pushing genre limits and innovative storytelling, reflecting a high regard for creative daring and individual authorship. It’s wonderful to notice a large number of debut and sophomore films with an exceptionally bold vision, supported by producers who possess both domestic and international expertise. I genuinely believe that this selection is noteworthy, providing an opportunity to uncover fresh voices.

Apart from the upcoming Films to Come and Last Push projects, we’ll also showcase a fresh lineup of short films that welcome submissions from filmmakers based in France, Greece, the Czech Republic, Chile, and Colombia. These will be exhibited alongside our top-tier series in progress, all taking place in Madrid.

Previously mentioned, due to a fresh collaboration between ECAM Forum and Conecta Film & Entertainment, a French representation is scheduled to visit both Spanish marketplaces.

Renowned French director Bertrand Bonello is set to conduct the keynote masterclass at this year’s ECAM Forum on June 12, a joint venture with Cineteca Madrid and Filmadrid Festival.

Last year’s gathering of over 300 people included prominent sales companies such as Goodfellas, MK2, Co-production Office, Film Boutique, along with programmers from renowned film festivals like Sundance, Berlinale, Rotterdam, Zurich, Marrakesh, and Series Mania.

Keep an eye out for more information about the upcoming program, particularly regarding the series being produced, as we approach the ECAM Forum.

Last Push

“Anekumen” (Irati Gorostidi Agirretxe, Spain)

Produced by Leire Apellaniz and Carmen Lacasa for Señor y Señora (“The Sacred Spirit”).

The upcoming debut film of Agirretxe, selected for Next Step Critics’ Week, delves into a socially conscious drama focusing on factory workers in San Sebastián during a strike in 1978. The emerging director aims to explore the concept of collectivism, highlighting the political implications of personal and private experiences. She has nurtured her script at workshops such as FIDLab and Locarno Residency. With support from ICAA, the project has already been pre-sold to RTVE and EITB.

“Balearic” (Ion de Sosa, Spain, France)

Produced by Umbracle Cine, Apellaniz y de Sosa, Jaibo Films, La Fabrica Nocturna Cinéma

After the genre-blending “Mamántola” (San Sebastián Zabaltegi 2023), de Sosa moves into survival drama territory with “Balearic.” In this movie, three aggressive dogs corner a group of young people in a pool at an expensive house they’ve illegally entered, while neighbors gather closeby to kick off summer celebrations. De Sosa describes it as a two-part film that tells a parable-like story about how we change as we age. The cast includes Christina Rosenvinge, Luka Péros, and Maria Llopis.

Prior to the Fire” (Originally titled “Antes del Fuego”, by Ángel Giovanni Hoyos from Colombia and Germany, produced by Séptima Films and Parabellum Films)

Hoyos’ second documentary is showcased at both the IDFA’s Producers Connection and CPH:DOX Forum. This film delves into themes of colonialism and identity, focusing on the tale of a Mapuche community in southern Argentina as they strive to reclaim their ancestral territory.

Last night, I triumphed over the city of Thebes.” (“Anoche obtuve la victoria en la ciudad de Tebas.”)

This film, titled Filmika Galaika, was developed by DVEIN Films from Spain, Filmika Galaika Productions, and Bando à Parte from Portugal. It received funding from ICAA, AGADIC, ICA, RTVE, TVG, RTP, and Ibermedia.

EbMaster has recognized Azorín as one of the 10 Spanish directors to keep an eye on in 2022. This movie offers a unique dual-timeline storyline that unfolds within Roman baths, where a contemporary boy and a 1st-century Roman soldier have a shared bathing experience, contemplating their respective vulnerabilities. The film has been part of Rotterdam Darkroom, Venice Gap Financing Market, Ikusmira Berriak, ECAM Incubadora, and Las Residencias de la Academia de Cine.

“Milk Teeth” (“Dinti de lapte”, Mihai Mincan, Romania, France, Denmark, Greece, Bulgaria)

Produced by deFilm, in co-production with Strom Pictures, Studio Bauhaus and Screening Emotions.

After receiving the multi-award-winning film “To the North” (Venice Orizzonti 2022), Mincan’s second feature is based during the final days of Ceaușescu’s rule in Romania. A ten-year-old girl serves as the sole witness to her sister’s enigmatic vanishing and must summon the strength to mature in a crumbling world. The production was granted the Torino Film Lab 2023 Production Award.

“The Art of War” (“El arte de la guerra”, Grecia Barbieri, Gonzalo Benavente Secco, Peru)

This documentary, titled “The Art of War,” is brought to you by Autocinema, in partnership with Animalita and Micula Studio. It delves into a previously undiscovered archive related to an ’80s fanzine known as The Art of War, offering a multilayered portrait that intertwines reality with artistic depictions of Peru during the ’80s and ’90s. Barbieri describes it as a sensory exploration of various manifestations of violence.

The film titled “Wolf Grrrls” was produced in Spain and Belgium by Alba Sotorra, Novak Prod, and Vampire Films, with the original title being “Salen las lobas“, as directed by Claudia Estrada Tarascó.

Tarascó’s first film showcases the indomitable spirit of girls in juvenile detention facilities. It narrates the story of a misjudged teenage girl who intends to break free, along with her new companions, to participate in a trap music competition. This project was awarded the Filmin Prize at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Lab.

Tarascó’s first film focuses on strong-willed girls living in juvenile detention centers. It tells the story of a teen who feels misunderstood and wants to escape with her new friends to take part in a trap music contest. This project won an award called Filmin Prize at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Lab.

“Please, leave my room just as it is; I prefer it this way.”

In 2019, Ceroi purchases a secondhand camcorder originating from France, only to find that the previous owner hadn’t erased his recordings despite Ceroi’s efforts to reach him. Fast forward to several years later, after turning these videos into a movie, Ceroi stumbles upon a hint about the man’s possible location. The productions of this film were handled by Un Puma, Pionera Cine, and La Casa de al Lado.

Films to Come

Ainhoa Bolaños’ work, titled ‘Strange Creatures’, was produced by Charli Bujosa Cortés under the banner of Mansalva Films (Spain)

The Beautiful One,” a production by María Paz González and Gema Juárez Allen under María una Vez (Chile) in collaboration with Gema Films (Argentina), is penned by Francina Carbonell.

“Nacimiento” (“Nativity”) by Francisca Alegría, produced by Giancarlo Nasi, Quijote Films (Chile)

1. Identify the song “Desde que tú te has ido”
2. Identify the artist: María Herrera
3. Identify the producer: Emi Fort, Avalon (Spain)
“Since You’ve Left”
The song “Since You’ve Left” is by Spanish singer María Herrera, produced by Emi Fort at Avalon (Spain). It tells a story about longing for a lost love and dealing with their absence.

The Incurable Wishes Hospital” by Maryam Tafakory, directed by Daniella Shreir (United Kingdom, France)

This new title maintains the original’s meaning while making it more accessible and natural in English. It conveys the idea that the hospital is a place for individuals with desires that cannot be cured or fulfilled, as suggested by the original title.

Ingrid Pokropek’s ‘The Illusions’, co-produced by Juan Segundo Álamos, under the banner of 36 Caballos (Argentina)”

“‘The Illusions’ – a production by Ingrid Pokropek with collaboration from Juan Segundo Álamos, under the label 36 Caballos, Argentina

The piece titled “Zuria,” created by Leire Apellaniz, is produced by Nahikari Ipiña, under the auspices of Señor y Señora and Sayaka Producciones, hailing from Spain.

The Graceful Lady”
Produced by: Rodrigo Diaz
Production Company: Tomsa Films and Madre Content (Chile, France)
Original “Señorita de buena presencia” (“A Decorous Woman”) by Natalia Luque.

“Canción Animal” (“Animal Song”) by Nerea Castro, produced by Katixa De Silva, CSC Films (Spain)

‘Painting’ titled by Paula Moreno Vergara, in collaboration with Esteban Hoyos García, was produced by Esteban Hoyos García, Marianne Ostrat, Selva Producciones and Alexandra Film (Colombia and Estonia).

“El (gran) desgarro” (“The (Big) Rip”) by Rai María, produced by Cristina Hergueta, Garde (Spain)

The Countenance of Grace” by Anna Martí Domingo and Laura Santos Martí, under the direction of Mayca Sanz and Laura Rubirola, from Allegra Films and Nocturna Pictures (Spain)

The song ““Bai, Bai”“, composed by Alba Esquinas, was produced under the supervision of Alejandro González Clemente at Mubox Studio and Solita Films, based in Spain.

The Dilemma of the Eels” by Elena Molina, directed by Montse Pujol Solà, from Guspira Films (Spain)”

or

“El dilema de las anguilas,” a film by Elena Molina and produced by Montse Pujol Solà of Guspira Films (Spain)

In the work titled ““I Breathe Fire”“, produced by David González Marcelo, Tatiana Villacob, and La Filmahora from Spain, Carmen Jiménez is the artist.

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2025-05-19 15:20