Malaga Competition Contender ‘Jone, Batzuetan,’ Unpacked by Director Sara Fantova, a New Talent to Track

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At the heart of this year’s Malaga Film Festival, premiering on March 15th, is “Jone, batzuetan” (“Jone, Sometimes”), Sara Fantova‘s first foray into feature filmmaking. This captivating piece competes fiercely in the official competition for the festival’s top honor, and as a movie critic, I can’t help but be drawn into its compelling narrative.

The coming-of-age tale situated in Bilbao, the Basque Country, penned by Fantova, Nuria Martín, and Núria Dunjó, is inspired by their own lives.

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The story about growing up in Bilbao, the Basque Country, was written by Fantova, Nuria Martín, and Núria Dunjó, and it’s based on events from their personal lives.

Although Fantova clarifies that it isn’t based on actual incidents or a personal experience from her past, it draws inspiration from the journals her father passed on to her, chronicling his own youthful times.

Fantova shared with EbMaster that it was the contents of those documents which first sparked the idea for creating the film. Essentially, what stayed true to that original inspiration are the scripted text passages narrated by Jone’s father through voice-overs.”

Or, more concisely:

“Inspiration from those documents led to the creation of the movie, and the resulting continuation of that influence can be seen in the voice-over narrations by Jone’s father.

Furthermore, even though the movie was based on actual events, such as the festivals of Aste Nagusia in Bilbao, the plot itself is entirely made up,” she explained. “The three of us were interested in examining a significant phase: when individuals start grappling with adulthood and need to learn how to manage both light and dark aspects.

As a film enthusiast, I find myself immersed in a captivating tale about a 20-year-old named Jone. In the heart of Bilbao’s Semana Grande, Jone navigates through the dual whirlwinds of her first love with Olga and her father’s rapidly progressing Parkinson’s disease. Balancing on a tightrope between the invincibility that love brings and the resistance to my father’s unconventional methods in dealing with his illness, this summer became a transformative journey for me. It was a poignant period in which I realized my transition from girlhood into the impending adulthood, a realization as profound as it was inevitable.

She observed that we portrayed this delicate equilibrium using motifs such as sickness and affection, or the juxtaposition of celebrations against home. In essence, Jone is learning to embrace pain and illness as integral aspects of life, all while navigating her initial romantic experiences.

Finding the perfect actress to portray Jone was one of Fantova’s most significant hurdles. In her quest for the ideal cast member, she explained that it wasn’t about finding a non-professional actress for this role. Instead, her casting director Amets Zulueta and she aimed to find the Jone they had all imagined collectively. To achieve this, they auditioned numerous candidates – from professional actresses to acting students, as well as individuals with no prior experience in acting. Fantova, a seasoned filmmaker known for her short film “No me despertéis” (which premiered at Valladolid’s 63rd Seminci and was part of the Rotterdam Film Fest, among others), made this decision to ensure they found the perfect fit for their vision.

Following several months of searching and feeling as though we hadn’t found the right candidate, Amets, who is the same age as Jone, sought advice from her friends. Fate intervened when one of Amets’ closest companions, Olaia Aguayo, decided to try out for the position. By her second audition, it was evident beyond any doubt—she was our Jone,” she recounted.

Hailing from a thriving connection between Basque and Catalan emerging artists, this movie is helmed by Fantova, a native of Bilbao who honed his skills at Barcelona’s prestigious Escac film school, which also nurtured the talent of J.A. Bayona. Notably, Fantova was chosen to direct three episodes of the popular Catalan TV series titled “This Is Not Sweden.

The movie is created by two up-and-coming production companies: Amania Films, run by director David Pérez Sañudo, a renowned filmmaker from the Basque Country (“Ane is Missing,” “The Last Romantics”), and Escac Estudios, spearheaded by Sergi Casamitjana. The latter has been producing films for decades, focusing on stories of young generations’ growth, passions, and struggles, made by Escac alumni.

As I delve into the captivating world of ‘Jone, batzuetan’, it’s fascinating to share that this film has been nurtured through significant developmental stages. In 2020, it was part of Malaga’s Mafiz WIP program, which included mentoring from the Basque Country Noka, Abycine Lanza, and later, Laboratorio Opera Prima last year. This journey has been instrumental in shaping the film we are about to experience.

In her own words, one of her main hurdles was obtaining financing for the project. She expressed that the creative aspect became challenging because she had to write within strict deadlines to meet specific grant or funding opportunities. This meant she never felt entirely free; instead, she was constantly waiting. The most difficult part, she noted, was this constant anticipation.

Interestingly, they financed the film only after shooting was completed. She described the entire process as lengthy but rewarding because she could share the experience with her friends at every stage—development, shooting, and editing. This collaborative effort, she emphasized, has been the most beautiful and enriching part of the process for her.

John Hopewell contributed to this article.

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2025-03-14 13:48