29/03/2023 - The movie is the writer's first time directing a feature film, which will be a horror flick as part of The Fear Collection series starring Leonor Watling and Pablo Derqui

Anatema is the third title of The Fear Collection after Veneciafrenia [+see also:
trailer
film profile], shenanigans in the Italian city of Venice directed by Álex de la Iglesia (and the driving force behind this series), and Venus [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], by Jaume Balagueró, with Ester Expósito as the feisty protagonist. But this new release marks the debut of writer and screenwriter Jimina Sabadú, as one of the objectives of this label, among others, is to open up opportunities for new directors in the fantasy genre to direct projects.

The film, with an original script by the director herself and the filmmaker from the Canary Islands Elio Quiroga (La estrategia del pequinés [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), stars Leonor Watling (recently seen in Staring at Strangers [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Félix Viscarret
film profile]), Pablo Derqui (Los renglones torcidos de Dios [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Keren Hapuc, Jaime Ordoñez, Mauro Brussolo, Mariano Llorente, Manuel de Blas, and Xoan Forneas. Filming is currently taking place in locations in Madrid and the surrounding area, as well as in the Basque Country, over a total of six weeks.

According to the synopsis, Juana (played by Watling) is a nun with a strong character, marked by a paranormal experience. A mysterious assignment from the Archbishopric will lead her to an old church in old Madrid, built on a network of passages of unknown origin. She will soon discover that in the depths of the building there is something older than the legends that are told about that place... and the Evil that dwells there has begun to infect the outside.

According to Jimina Sabadú, "Anatema is a story of gothic terror with its roots in ancestral Madrid, of passages and lost architectures. Since I drink, eat and breathe scary movies, it is a dream to set my film in this disturbing, sinister and fascinating underworld. Also, to have the film director who I have most enjoyed as a producer is an honour and, of course, a great responsibility."

Jimina Sabadú (Madrid, 1981) is, among other things, a teacher and media columnist; she has also written screenplays for television programmes, series and the films Faraday and Dance Machine. She has also directed the medium-length film La Pájara and the short films La siesta del ángel and Fiat Homo. She defines herself on social media as "director when I can, scriptwriter when they let me, writer always and forever". Her books published to date are Celacanto (Lengua de Trapo Prize), Los supervivientes, La conquista de Tinder and Las palmeras.

Anatema is produced by Pokeepsie Films (Banijay Iberia) in association with Sony Pictures International Productions, with the participation of Amazon Prime Video and will be distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia. After its theatrical release, it will be available on Prime Video.

(Translated from Spanish by Vicky York)