15/11/2023 - Upcoming films by Carla Simón, Óliver Laxe, Alejandro Amenábar, Icíar Bollaín and Gerardo Herrero are among the 25 feature films to receive support from the country's Ministry of Culture

Director Carla Simón, whose project Romería has been selected (© Fabrizio de Gennaro/Cineuropa)

On 8 November, the ICAA (Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts) published the definitive list of general production grants for the first procedure of the year 2023, to which 50 films were submitted and from which 25 titles will finally benefit. In total, more than 30 million euros will be distributed: €28,012,000 from the Cinematography Protection Fund of the expenditure budget of the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts, plus 2,000,000 euros to the budgetary implementation of the Programme to promote, modernise and digitise the audiovisual sector.

All the beneficiaries of these grants have demonstrated the cultural nature of their content, their connection with the Spanish cultural reality or their contribution to the enrichment of the cultural diversity of the cinematographic works shown in Spain. Films directed by women (six in total) and animated films also received special recognition, with two animated feature films receiving the maximum amount (€1,400,000): Buffalo Kids (produced by Little Big Boy AIE and Atresmedia Cine), directed by Pedro Solís and Juan Jesús García Galocha “Galo”; and Superthings. Rivals Of Kaboom La Película (Castelao Pictures and Tandem Films), by Víctor Manuel Sevilla Galindo.

Most of the films receive 1,200,000 euros each: Romería, the next film from Carla Simón; After, the new film by Óliver Laxe; El cautivo (Mod Producciones), a historical drama by Alejandro Amenábar about the years the writer Miguel de Cervantes spent in prison, the famous author of Don Quijote de la Mancha, which is scheduled to be filmed next year; Soy Nevenka, the new drama by Icíar Bollaín, which she has co-written with Isabel Campo, about the case of Nevenka Fernández; Raqa (Tornasol), currently being filmed by Gerardo Herrero; La sospecha de Sofía (José Frade Producciones Cinematográficas) and AP-6: Infierno en la Autopista, both by the very active Daniel Calparsoro; Los últimos románticos, the new film by David Pérez Sañudo after Ane is Missing [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Pérez Sañudo
film profile]; Políticamente incorrectos (Espantapájaros Films A.I.E. and LaZona), a feature film already shot by Arantxa Echevarría, who still has Chinas [+see also:
trailer
film profile] in Spanish cinemas; Nosotros, by Helena Taberna, also in production (read more); Los Aitas, by Borja Cobeaga; Menudas piezas (Menudas Piezas, A.I.E. and Telecinco Cinema), by Nacho G. Velilla; Mi amiga Eva, a comedy by Francisco Paula Gay Puig; Muga, a thriller by Asier Urbieta; Infern Glaçat, an action film by Fernando Trullols; Campamento Garra de Oso, by Laura Mañá; ¿Es el enemigo?, a biography of the comedian Miguel Gila by Alexis Morante; and Cuerpo Escombro, by Curro Velázquez and starring Dani Rovira.

David Trueba’s recently released film Jokes & Cigarettes (Ikiru Films), and Javier Fesser’s Championext [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which has grossed 12 million euros at the Spanish box office since its release last summer, will receive the same amount.

Finally, Carolina África's debut film Verano en diciembre, currently being filmed and starring Carmen Machi, Vicky Luengo and Bárbara Lennie, will receive €1,100,000; Carlos Solano's Leo & Lou will receive €1,072,000; and Miguel Ángel Lamata's El árbol y el ruiseñor will receive €1,040,000.

The ministerial resolution document (in Spanish) disclosing all the recognised titles, with their assessments, production companies and A.I.E., substitutes, categories and disqualified, can be viewed here.

(Translated from Spanish by Vicky York)