Interview in Locarno
August 2008
After Dias de Santiago was screened at the International Film Festival of Rotterdam in 2004, your new film, Dioses, is part of the international competition at the Locarno Film Festival: is this a big step forward?
It is definitely very rewarding to achieve the same kind of exposure, in terms of the quality and standard of both events, with my second film as I did with my first one. Rotterdam and Locarno are both incredible opportunities for any film-maker.
What does Locarno represents for a young film-maker?
Locarno is probably, together with Rotterdam, the best place to be as a young film-maker. It takes care of small films and young film-makers in a very good way, and gives international exposure to the films.
The main advice Stephen Frears gave you is to be precise and find the meaning of each scene and stick to it. Can you feel the difference in Dioses?
Dioses is definitely a much more precise film than Dias de Santiago, my first film. I can see that it has been much better done; it has been written, shot and edited in a better way, with more precision, with a more rigorous style.
Has this precision become part of who you are now as a film-maker?
I don’t think my identity as a film-maker has been defined in any way yet, I am still willing to explore new ways to work. But at least now, thanks to Stephen’s influence, I think I am more in command of the degree of precision I look for in my work.
What are the next steps for the promotion of Dioses? Will it be screened at other festivals?
Yes, after Locarno it was screened at Toronto, San Sebastian and Biarritz. At Biarritz we won the Best Film Award.
What impact can this competition have in the making of your next film?
I doubt whether festivals make an impact on anybody’s next film. At least from the creative point of view, I doubt this. Maybe from the production side.
Can you give any information on the new script?
I have around four ideas, they are all very different, but I will decide on which one to commit to by the beginning of next year.