Spotlight on Female Directors

Supported by the Embassy of Spain in Australia

The festival is celebrating the talent of female directors from Spain and Latin America with a selection of 11 films directed by women. From well-known established directors such as Icíar Bollaín and Gracia Querejeta to fresh new voices like Lila Avilés, these films represent the strong directing talent of some of the most exciting Spanish and Latin filmmakers.

New Spanish Cinema

Peret: The King of Gypsy Rumba

Peret, yo soy la rumba

Paloma Zapata

Hailed as the “King of Rumba” for his fusion of flamenco song with Latin American rhythms, this documentary spanning six decades captures the magic that was Peret.

Documentary

New Spanish Cinema

Ana By Day

Ana de Día

Andrea Jaurrieta

When a doppelganger appears in the life of a dissatisfied woman, she takes this opportunity to escape and discover a new life in this inviting and dangerous thriller.

Drama

New Spanish Cinema

Carmen & Lola

Carmen y Lola

Arantxa Echevarría

Bilbao-born writer-director Arantxa Echevarría and her exceptional non-professional cast deliver an empathetic portrayal of forbidden love in a repressive society that is altogether inspiring, necessary and beautiful.

Drama / Romance

New Spanish Cinema

Crime Wave

Ola de Crimenes

Gracia Querejeta

This romping comedy-thriller stars Maribel Verdú as a well-to-do woman who is desperately trying to conceal the murder of her ex-husband at the hands of her son, with hysterically catastrophic outcomes.

Comedy / Thriller

New Spanish Cinema

Hopelessly Devout

Mi Querida Cofradía

Marta Díaz de Lope Díaz

Director Marta Díaz de Lope Díaz’s debut sees a host of eccentric characters deliver a fresh and funny perspective on female empowerment and patriarchy in the church.

Comedy

Cine Latino

Break

Recreo

Jazmín Stuart, Hernán Guerschuny

Candid and contemporary with moments of profound intelligence Break is at once a dynamic comedy and tender drama that shines a refreshing light on anxieties about middle age.

Comedy / Drama

Cine Latino

Florianópolis Dream

Sueño FlorianÓpolis

Ana Katz

Argentine writer-director Ana Katz invites her audience to immerse themselves in the idyllic coastal scenery of Brazil as a middle-class family embarks on a bright, breezy and bittersweet holiday.

Comedy

Cine Latino

The Chambermaid

La Camarista

Lila Avilés

Premiering to great acclaim at Toronto and London Film Festivals, director Lila Avilés’ striking and compelling debut feature portrays the life of a chambermaid at a luxurious Mexico City hotel.

Drama

Cine Latino

The Good Girls

Las Niñas Bien

Alejandra Márquez Abella

Director Alejandra Márquez Abella presents this gorgeously mounted and beautifully played feature that is at once a scathing and glamourous depiction of the wives of upper-class men in 1982 Mexico.

Comedy / Drama

Cine Latino

The Longest Night

La Mala Noche

Gabriela Calvache

Director Gabriela Calvache delivers this bold and affecting feature debut about the real-world issues of human trafficking and the mafia which preys on the victims.

Drama / Thriller

Cine Latino

Yuli

Icíar Bollaín

An extraordinary biopic of the legendary Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, the first black dancer to perform some of the most famous ballet roles.

Drama / Biography