The director Beatriz Sanchis has presented ‘The Giants’ at the Mostra
The Valencian director Beatriz Sanchis returns home. In this case, for her first appearance at the Mostra de Valencia, which has been held until October 30. It has arrived with ‘The Giants’, a ‘western’ in which two women –played by two inexperienced actresses– meet to heal wounds. A kind of ‘Thelma and Louise’ shot between Mexico and the US that is the closing film of the festival, which today closes its 37th edition. Despite the fact that it has taken her more than eight years to present a new film –her previous film of hers was ‘Everyone is dead’–, Sanchis has not stopped directing. She has dedicated herself to advertising and is one of the directors of several episodes of the series ‘Nacho’, which delves into the life of porn actor Nacho Vidal.
–She went to Mexico, she has shot a ‘road-movie’ with amateur actresses, it is a kind of ‘western’ that could already be seen at the Malaga Festival… Is she a brave director when facing this project?
-It was a very risky film in every way. Above all, for working with inexperienced actresses, for not having any familiar faces in the film as I did in my previous film. I have felt much more naked shooting in English, in five cities, in two countries…
– Presenting it at the Mostra, at home, does it give more respect?
-For me it is very important. I studied here, at the Mostra I saw the films of many directors who are now references for me. Premiering it here is a desire to reconnect, like the return of the prodigal daughter, to connect with the audiovisual here and be known as a Valencian filmmaker.
–The festival has seen filmmakers such as Elena López-Riera, Avelina Prat, you… But it is the year of Carla Simón (‘Alcarràs’), Alauda Ruiz de Azúa (‘Five Little Wolves’), the rise of the directors obeys a fashion or are they here to stay?
I don’t think it’s a fad. You are becoming aware of certain things. There has been an awakening. The rise of female directors is not the result of a day. Something is being harvested that has been in the making for a long time. Policies have been carried out, highly criticized, that have made many producers bet on a cinema made by women. And the new generations see that possibility. When I started, my references were Isabel Coixet and Icíar Bollaín. Little by little, there are more mirrors in which the filmmakers can look at themselves. In addition, we are recognized as is the case of Carla Simón, who has won one of the most important awards in the world of cinema.
-It took years without presenting a film. Why?
–Making independent cinema is very complicated. I have had to dedicate myself to advertising to have the economic freedom that allows me to make the films I want to make.
– What is the route of ‘The giants’? Will we see it on the platforms? Should cinema and these multinationals coexist?
-Being Mexican, I don’t think it will be released in Spain. Platforms are a window that is doing very well for Spanish cinematography. We export our products. Both ways of consuming cinema are complementary.
–He has directed two of the episodes of the series on Nacho Vidal. How was the experience?
-It was like doing the military service. The series are another rhythm. The filming is faster, the demands are greater and it is a race against time. It is a very ambitious, thuggish and provocative series. I had a great time and I think people are going to like it a lot. It’s going to go very well.
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