Producer Carla Sospedra Salvadó, Director Sergi Pérez Discuss Their ECAM Incubator Project ‘Memorial,’ Starring ‘The Room Next Door’s’ Victoria Luengo

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for exploring the human condition through film, I find myself intrigued by the upcoming Spanish feature “Memorial.” The project, led by Sergi Pérez and Anna Cammany, promises to delve deep into grief, a theme that resonates profoundly within me.


A museum caretaker grapples with every aspect of grief as depicted in the forthcoming Spanish film “Memorial,” directed by Sergi Pérez. This film has been chosen to be part of Madrid’s 7th Annual ECAM Incubator, which is one of Spain’s most esteemed international co-production forums.

The project, authored by Pérez and Anna Cammany, is developed by Carla Sospedra Salvadó, EAVE and Berlinale Talents Alum and her production company Edna Cinema (known for “Mamífera”), along with other producers such as Jofre Ferré and Ander Sagardoy at Sumendi Filmak from Barcelona (“Betiko Gaua”), Alex Lafuente at B Team Pictures in Madrid (“Reinas”), and Jerome Vidal at Noodles Production in Paris (“Robot Dreams”).

Sospedra played a significant role in the pre-production of Carla Simon’s Berlinale title “Alcarràs,” which won the Golden Bear. Additionally, she produced Isabel Coixet and Laura Ferrés’ 2022 San Sebastian standout film “El techo amarillo,” Bélen Funes’ “Sara a la Fuga,” and Simon’s 2020 short “Correspondencias” (co-directed with Dominga Sotomayor). Furthermore, she has collaborated with Elena Trapé (“Palabras, mapas, secretos y otras cosas”), Liliana Torres (“Mamífera”) and Alba Cros (“Otherness”).

The story “Memorial” delves into deep mourning through its main character, Manel, who must relocate an item he cherishes to a foreign museum following the death of his partner. It portrays a wide range of feelings from simple sorrow to anger and bewilderment, sparing no emotion in its depiction, even if it may seem uncomfortable or challenging.

In a conversation with EbMaster, Sospedra explained an interesting parallel in the project: just as we preserve art for posterity, so too do we keep the memories of our departed loved ones alive. The film’s protagonist attempts to fill the emptiness caused by absence using objects as a means to reconnect with that person. Sospedra enjoys creating movies that tackle overlooked subjects and spark conversations, ultimately breaking down stigmas while revising our perspective on the world, offering solace to some viewers.

Producer Carla Sospedra Salvadó, Director Sergi Pérez Discuss Their ECAM Incubator Project ‘Memorial,’ Starring ‘The Room Next Door’s’ Victoria Luengo

Pedroz, whose 2015 debut film “The Longest Way Home” received a Gaudi award for best movie, which was followed by a successful festival run, has created a heartfelt tribute to transience and the heavy emotional impact that loss can have on a vulnerable mind.

In this tale, we delve into the theme of memory, emphasizing the relentless struggle to maintain its presence rather than letting it slip away, a near-desperate urge not to forget. This way, we don’t lose the powerful sense of ‘absence as presence’, which even in its absence, remains significant. Pérez explained this idea. The character chosen, a museum curator, adds distinctiveness and uniqueness, not just for his involvement in the art world but also because he serves as the most fitting symbol for the conservation of collective memory.

He added, “Jacques Derrida stated that the caretaker is responsible for preserving art, yet they also decide what remains and what gets discarded since not everything suits the archive; in essence, the caretaker is the one who must preserve while also forgetting. The conundrum and uniqueness of our tale stem from this: how can this figure, who has flawlessly embodied this saying, continue to uphold it when it comes to their own memories?

The term ‘Memorial’ encompasses more than just remembering the deceased, it also highlights the struggle to uphold relationships that persist despite hardship, as Laia, Manel’s daughter, endeavors to comfort him during his grief with varying results. Hidden truths surface, causing the narrative to take sudden, disjointed leaps.

Pérez contemplated, “There’s a tale that portrays tender care and parent-child affection which will help us empathize with the complex and troubled sides of our main character’s sorrow. Ultimately, despite the protagonist’s seemingly illogical journey being the focus, we want viewers to comprehend Manel’s actions as a deeply emotional expression of love. The role of the daughter serves a dramatic purpose, revealing family ties, even for this antagonistic character who gradually comes to acknowledge and appreciate – in its full extent – her father’s choices.

The project, participating at the Mallorca Talent Lab, Atlantida Film Fest, Abycine Lanza, and Impulso CMM Abycine Lanza Proyectos in 2023, is scheduled for filming in autumn 2025. Actors Vicky Luengo, renowned for her role in Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Room Next Door,” and Eneko Sagardoy, who shone in “The Giant,” have been confirmed to feature in the production.

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2024-09-27 20:20