The dramatic thriller Broken Glass in the Pool, directed by Valencian filmmaker Ruth Caudeli Martí from a screenplay by Javier Artigas, is currently halfway through filming. It tells the story of a lonely teenager and a group of kids with no apparent connection who develop a toxic relationship through a case of catfishing. This fraudulent practice involves creating a false online identity, often using photos and information from other users, to manipulate or defraud a victim in emotional or financial relationships. “Cyberbullying, especially among younger generations, takes many forms today (some less widely known than others). It is important to shed light on them. By portraying certain circumstances and issues in images, we focus attention on them in order to raise awareness and encourage reflection," said the film's director.

The film stars newcomers selected through a training course organised by the company Dacsa Produccions, developed specifically for the casting by the acting studio Set de Cinema and led by Silvia Santamaria and the director herself. The screenwriter, director of photography Daniel Moreno, and co-producer Xavier Crespo were also involved in the process. “We were searching for a degree of extreme truth, which meant breaking away from the mould of familiar faces. This approach led us to broaden our horizons and move beyond traditional casting methods, and give opportunities to new talent who might not otherwise have access to this type of project," continues the filmmaker.

The talented young actors discovered through the course include Natalia Lasort, María Guerra, Joel Montalt, Julieta Betancor and Helios Martos. They are joined by the young Catalan actor Mauro Vélez (Las irresponsables) and two established Colombian actresses: Flora Martínez (known for her leading role in Rosario Tijeras) and Camila Jurado (series Distrito salvaje). Filming will take place over four weeks, primarily in Torrent, as well as in Valencia and in locations affected by the DANA storm of 29 October 2024 in the province, such as the MN4 Cinemas in Alfafar. The feature film is shot almost entirely in Valencian, highlighting the normality of multilingualism in Spanish audiovisual media: “As a Valencian-speaking director, I feel a responsibility to tell a story set in our region in Valencian,” concludes Caudeli Martí.

Ruth Caudeli Martí is a queer director, screenwriter and producer. She has written and directed the Colombian feature films ¿Cómo te llamas? (2018), Segunda estrella a la derecha (2019), Leading Ladies (Special Mention from the Zonazine Jury at Malaga Film Festival to the entire cast in 2021) and Petit mal (premiered at Tribeca in 2022). Her next feature film, La misma estación, is in post-production, alongside her first documentary project, Mírame.

Broken Glass in the Pool is produced by Xavier Crespo of Dacsa Produccions, in collaboration with Óscar Darío Guarín of Colombian company PFM Producciones. The project is supported by the Valencian Institute of Culture and has the participation of TVE and À Punt. Spanish company Soul Pictures will handle international sales, and distribution in Spain will be managed by 39 Escalones.