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Filmed through the prism of grief, documentary ‘Almudena’ is director Azucena Rodrigues’ ode to one of Spain’s renowned writers who was also a dear friend. The late Almudena Grandes was “the voice of her generation, exploring not only contemporary issues but dwelling as well in the memory of the Spanish Civil War,” said Latido’s Antonio Saura, who added: “This will be a must-see documentary for everyone interested in Spanish and world literature, and for Latido, an honor to bring to the world.”

Premiering March 15 in a special screening at the Malaga Film Festival, “Almudena” began as a project about Sara Gómez, a character from Grandes’ novel ‘Los Aires Dificiles,’ according to Rodrigues, whose credits include “Women in Prison,” starring Penelope Cruz. This led to her meeting with Grandes and the start of a lifelong friendship. In 1995, Rodrigues made a film adaptation of Grandes’ novel ‘Atlas of Human Geography...

San Sebastian — Is this the San Sebastián Catalan Film Festival? Always boasting a sterling presence at San Sebastián, Catalonia has a massive 27 titles this year, counting five projects in doc forum Lau Haizetara and including four of the five Spanish movies in main Competition and 10 in Made in Spain. Following a break-down of major section titles:

Main Competition

“Afternoons of Solitude,” (Andergraun Films, Ideale Audience, Lacima Producciones)

Albert Serra’s not at all obvious follow-up to Cannes competition player “Pacifiction,” a portrait of star bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey at work. The results remain to be seen. Serra has shot the disc feature “with respect and innocence, without prejudice nor provocation,” he tells Spain’s ABC Cultural.

“Glimmers,” (Inicia Films, Mod Producciones, Misent Producciones)

The latest from Pilar Palomero. A top-notch Spanish cast led by Patricia López Arnaíz and Antonio de la Torre drive the tale of a woman asked by...

José Luis López Linares’ “Goya, Carrière and the Ghost of Buñuel,” a portrait of French film great Jean-Claude Carrière, captured breaking down the paintings and personality of painter Francisco de Goya, has been acquired for international sales by Reservoir Docs.

In its earliest sales, the doc feature has closed the two biggest markets in Europe with reputed distributors, licensing France to Epicentre and Germany and Austria to Weltkino. Syldavia Cinema will distribute in Spain, Version Digital in Italy and Outsider Films in Portugal.

Launched in 2020 by Anais Clanet, Reservoir Docs will bring the documentary feature onto the market at next month’s Cannes Festival.

“Reservoir Docs has always been a key sales agent for theatrical art & culture docs and Jose Luis’ work fits perfectly,” said Clanet. “To me, Goya painted European conflicts in the late 18th and early 19th centuries but he didn’t only chronicle his times: Somehow, he was a visionary,...