Mastercard Festival Selection
Madrid / Film Programme
28 November – 1 December 2024
Curated by Francesca Noia and Federico Passi (Black Light Film) for Mastercard
EMILIA PÈREZ
Jacques Audiard
Followed by a Q&A with director Jacques Audiard and actress Karla Sofía Gascón
Cannes Film Festival 2024, Winner Jury Prize and Best Female Performance to Ensemble Cast: Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz. / France Submission for International Oscar
“a life-affirming blood-and-guts carnival of a movie that ranks highly among Audiard’s best, and boldest, work” – The Film Verdict
“Un musical-narcotorrido-trans tan delicado como brutal, brillante en cada uno de sus gestos“ El Pais
“Con Emilia Pérez es como si la Bella y la Bestia estuvieran encerradas en el mismo cuerpo. Cuando empieza la película, ella es Manitas, una mujer que está encerrada en una vida que no le pertenece. Pero se encuentra en un punto de su vida en el que tiene la oportunidad de dejar esa vida atrás, una vida de la que ya no quiere formar parte. Manitas creció en un mundo en el que los padres preferían que sus hijos fueran delincuentes en lugar de “maricones”. Así es. Por eso está atrapado en ambos aspectos: en la delincuencia y en una masculinidad con la que no se identifica.” – Karla Sofía Gascón
“En realidad, se trata de una historia sobre la redención: ¿Cambiar de género te ayuda a ver la violencia masculina desde una perspectiva diferente? Para ser sincero, la verdad es que no lo creo. El personaje de Emilia bien podría asumir esa creencia, pero aun así ella sigue atrapada en la violencia. Lo que es virtuoso en sí mismo es el recorrido vital que la aleja de ese ciclo de violencia. Al final, ya sea muerto o vivo, habrás aprendido algo por el camino.” – Jacques Audiard
Rita, an underrated lawyer working for a large law firm more interested in getting criminals out of jail than bringing them to justice, is hired by the leader of a criminal organization.
(France, 136’, Musical, Thriller, Drama) Dir. Jacques Audiard, cast: Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez
28 November 2024 | Palacio de la Prensa Cine Sala 1 / 18:30
GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS
Shuchi Talati
Followed by a Q&A with actress Kani Kusruti
Transilvania Film Festival 2024, Winner best film of the festival
Sundance Film Festival 2024, World Cinema Audience Award
“immensely lived-in performances” – Variety
“Talati’s work with her young cast is first-rate; this sensitively handled coming-of-age picture deservedly won an audience prize at Sundance earlier this year.” – The Guardian
“a sensitive and distinctive take on the fraught dynamics between mothers and daughters” – Collider
“For sure. In many cultures, and certainly in India, we have clearly prescribed roles. There’s comfort in that, and there’s also a kind of entrapment. For girls and women, there are many more prescriptions, and much harsher punishment if they step out of the box. That was the seed of what I wanted to do with both Mira and Anila, the daughter and the mom. They’re both trying to push against what’s allowed. Mira is supposed to be the good girl, the rule-follower, and she’s exploring another identity with this boy. And the mom too. Many young mothers are relegated to an asexual, supporting role in life, and come to feel like: well, what about me? I knew women in my life, who were transgressing in various ways, and often they’re not written about.” – Dir. Shuchi Talati
In a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas, 16-year-old Mira discovers desire and romance. But her sexual, rebellious awakening is disrupted by her mother who never got to come of age herself.
(India/France, 2024, 119’, Drama) Dir.: Shuchi Talati / Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron
29 November 2024 | Palacio de la Prensa Cine Sala 1 / 15:30
SIMON DE LA MONTAÑA
Federico Luis
Followed by a Q&A with director Federico Luis
Cannes Int. Film Festival 2024, Winner Critic’s Week Grand Prize
“Provocative debut weighs what constitutes Disability” – Variety
“subtle, though-provoking piece” – Screendaily
“a masterfully crafted debut that delves into the complexities of coming-of-age within the disabled community with both sensitivity and nuance.” -Film Fest Report
“It’s a movie that seeks to create a perspective on human capability. And tries to challenge common and ordinary ideas about what a person can or can’t do. Is the protagonist really disabled? That’s the question I hope viewers ask themselves, as well as the other characters, but most significantly, himself. Simón’s character is a fantastic construction that gathers concerns, insights, passions, and obsessions around this question.
I like making movies about love. I’m excited to film the desire of people who seem to be erased from the universe of pleasure (and its cinematic representation). I really like looking at alternative forms of affection, those that, without consciousness or plan, are conspiracies that intercept the dominant affective morality and set in motion another kind of love and another kind of madness.” – Director Federico Luis
Seeking change, 21-year-old Simon finds purpose by befriending two disabled children who teach him to embrace life’s joys. Together, they navigate a world not designed for them, inventing their own rules for love and happiness.
(Argentina/Mexico/Uruguay, 2024, 96’, Drama) Dir.: Federico Luis; Scn.: Federico Luis, Tomás Murphy, Agustín Toscano; Dop: Marcos Hastrup; Ed.: Tomás Murphy, Andrés Medina; Art: Nicolás Tavella; Cos.: Paula Ruiz Abalos; Cast: Lorenzo Ferro, Pehuén Pedre, Kiara Supini, Laura Nevole, Agustín Toscano, Camila Hirane
MEMORIES OF A BURNING BODY
Antonella Sudasassi Furniss
Followed by a Q&A with director Antonella Sudasassi Furniss, actress Sol Carballo and producer Manrique Cortés
Berlin Film Festival 2024,
Winner Panorama Audience Award
“Intelligent, resilient and incredibly sincere, the voices inhabiting this film show us that it’s never too late to reinvent ourselves and to finally take back control of our destiny” – Cineuropa
“a heartfelt exploration of female sexuality in older age” – Screen Daily
“I carry the weight of being the daughter of warriors, of strong and brave women, but also of abused and ill-loved women. I am a daughter of the patriarchy and a granddaughter of rape, the most silenced sin of all. I never dared to ask my grandmothers if my grandparents raped them, if they could decide, if they could enjoy their bodies, their sexualities. It was simply the cross that they had to carry. A cross that they did not ask for, but that was imposed on them as children. A cross that weighs, that hinders. Until they said enough.” Antonella Sudasassi Furniss
Ana, Patricia and Mayela grew up in Costa Rica when sexuality was taboo. Their voices are embodied by a single 65-year-old protagonist who revisits intertwined memories, secrets and desires, giving voice to unspoken past experiences.
(Costa Rica/Spain, 2024, 90’, Drama, Memorias de un cuerpo que arde) Dir.: Antonella Sudasassi Furniss / Cast: Sol Carballo, Paulina Bernini Víquez, Juliana Filloy, Liliana Biamonte, Juan Luis Araya, Gabriel Araya, Leonardo Perucci, Cecilia Garcia Perez
29 November 2024 | Palacio de la Prensa Cine Sala 1 / 21:00
ALL SHALL BE WELL
Ray Yeung
Followed by a Q&A with actress Patra Au
Berlin Film Festival 2024, Nominated Panorama Audience Award
Winner Teddy Award for Best LGBTQ+ Picture
“Beautifully written and performed” – Indiewire
“A feat of filmmaking and performance” The New York Times
“ALL SHALL BE WELL is a story about the aftermath when a partner in a long-time committed relationship suddenly passes away without leaving a will. Many unexpected and unanticipated issues arise. ALL SHALL BE WELL is set in Hong Kong and is centered on a lesbian couple, but the scenario is universal and highly relatable. Most people have experienced the death of a beloved family member, which often leads to a period of uncertainty and chaos following that event. When it comes to the rights of the surviving partner, there are many concerns that must be resolved to ensure that the loved one’s final wishes are respected while at the same time, protecting the bonds of the family. When there is no will left behind, the legal status/rights of the survivor change, and this often leads to misunderstandings and disagreements among different members of the family. The difference in opinions could originate from tradition, religion, money and legal status and legal rights.” – Dir. Ray Yeung
Angie and Pat have been together for over four decades but, after Pat’s unexpected death, Angie finds herself at the mercy of Pat’s family as she struggles to retain her dignity and the home that both had shared for over thirty years.
(Hong Kong, 2024, 96’, Drama, Cong jin yihou) Dir.: Ray Yeung / Cast: Patra Au, Lin-Lin Li, Tai
TOXIC
Saulė Bliuvaitė
Followed by a Q&A with producer Justė Michailinaitė
Sarajevo Film Festival 2024, selected
Winner Golden Leopard for Best Picture, Best First feature, Locarno Film Festival.
“stood out in the Competition for the youthfulness and rigor of its gaze” Variety
“a film with to hold viewers’ attention from beginning to end” Cineuropa
“El debut de la directora lituana fue el gran descubrimiento de esta 77ª edición del festival suizo al quedarse con la máxima distinción de la Competencia Internacional, el galardón al mejor primer largometraje y el premio ecuménico, entre otros.” OtrosCines.com
“TOXIC follows the lives of young girls navigating through toxic landscapes, toxic beauty standards, and toxic relationships. As I myself grew up in a bleak industrial area, I was living with the thought of escaping – not just from my surroundings, but also from my body. I was very thin, trying to enroll in modeling agencies around my town, but I was constantly told some parts of my body were too big to fit the standard. I kept pursuing it, seeking validation in places where I couldn’t find any. This film is based on my own experiences as a 13-year-old girl and on the events that unfolded around me at that time. The core subject of this film is the human body. It explores the ways we relate to our bodies and deal with our imperfections.” – Dir. Saulė Bliuvaitė
Dreaming of an escape from the bleakness of their hometown, two teens form a unique bond at a local modelling school, where the promise of a better life pushes girls to violate their bodies in increasingly extreme ways.
(Lithuania, 2024, 96’, Drama,) Dir.: Saulė Bliuvaitė / Cast: Vesta Matulyte, Ieva Rupeikaite, Egle Gabrenaite
MANAS
Marianna Brennand Fortes
Followed by a Q&A with director Marianna Brennand
Venice Film Festival 2024, Winner Best Film, Giornate degli Autori
“A film that leaves you stunned – for the story it tells, for how it tells it and for the piercing performances of its actors.” – Cineuropa
“A great debut by a very talented director” – Walter Salles
“It was during a documentary research in the remote villages of the Amazon rainforest that I met women who had endured immense trauma since a tender age, suffering sexual abuse inside their homes while also being sexually exploited at commercial barges with hardly any chance to escape. Unfortunately, most of us women have a story of abuse, be it of sexual, moral, or psychological violence, that has left deep scars and trauma.
The Me Too and other women’s rights movements have encouraged and allowed us to break the silence and expose abusers around the world. But what about these invisible women we do not even know exist? Through “Manas”, I wanna give voice to these women and girls who would never be heard otherwise honoring the stories they shared with me. I see cinema as a compelling vehicle for social and political transformation and hope Manas we’ll be able to mobilize viewers’ empathy breaking the enormous taboo surrounding this difficult reality that affects all of us women.” – Director Marianna Brennand
Thirteen-year-old Marcielle lives on Marajó Island in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Determined to change her destiny, she decides to confront the violent system that governs her family and the women of her community.
(Brazil/Portugal, 2024, 101’, Drama) Dir.: Marianna Brennand Fortes / Cast: Jamilli Correa, Fátima Macedo, Rômulo Braga, Emily Pantoja, Samira Eloá, Enzo Maia, Gabriel Rodrigues
MY SUNSHINE
Hiroshi Okuyama
Followed by a Q&A with producers Masa Sawada and Antoine Jouve
Cannes Film Festival 2024, Un Certain Regard, Official Selection
“a deceptively sweet little heartwarmer that eventually cuts deeper” – Screendaily
“Nothing feels haphazard or anything less than picture-perfect” – Variety
“Like the best films, My Sunshine becomes a part of us and never lets go” Toisto.net
“In ‘Jesus’, my first feature film, I drew on my own childhood experiences. It was an opportunity to realize that I have many childhood memories, but they are fragile and tend to fade day by day. Since then, I’ve made commercials, music videos, and TV movies, but my passion for cinema is strong. I want to use the lingering scents of childhood for this new film. […] My ambition is to create a simple, poetic film without being explanatory. I want to bring staging to everything that appears on screen and through this, I hope the viewer can remember the emotions of their childhood as a treasure for the present.” – Dir. Hiroshi Okuyama
On a small Japanese island, life revolves around the changing seasons. Winter is time for ice hockey at school, but Takuya isn’t too thrilled about it. His real interest lies in Sakura, a figure skating rising star from Tokyo, for whom he starts to develop a genuine fascination. Coach and former champion Arakawa, spots potential in Takuya, and decides to mentor him to form a duo with Sakura for an upcoming competition.
(Japan, 2024, 90’, Drama, BOKU NO OHISAMA) Dir.: Hiroshi Okuyama / Cast: Keitatsu Koshiyama, Kiara Takanashi, Sôsuke Ikematsu
SOULEYMANE’S STORY
Boris Lojkine
Cannes Film Festival 2024
Winner Jury Prize and Best Actor, Un Certain Regard
“Non-professional Sangare is magnetic throughout” – Screen Daily
“a thrilling, moving and edifying humanist film” – Cineuropa
“an amazing central performance that feels worthy of his Cannes win” – Letterboxd
“A realistic and very humanistic look at one immigrant’s gruelling daily life in Paris” The Hollywood Reporter
“I kept thinking about these cycled messengers, so I wondered: what if I filmed Paris as a foreign city whose codes we don’t know, where each policeman is a threat, where the inhabitants are hostile, scornful, distant? From the suburban housing projects to the Haussman-style buildings in the center, from McDonald’s restaurants to office blocks, from shelters to suburban train cars, I filmed my own city, sometimes a stone’s throw away from my place, but from a radically different angle. In the film, “the other” is us: the worker who orders a burger, the passer-by who’s been bumped into and who curses on food deliverers, the civil servant standing in front of Souleymane.” – Director Boris Lojkine
As he pedals through the streets of Paris to deliver meals, Souleymane repeats his story. In two days, he has to go through his asylum application interview, the key to obtaining papers. But Souleymane is not ready.
(France, 2024, 95’, Drama, L’histoire de Souleyman) Dir.: Boris Lojkine / Cast: Abou, Nina Meurisse, Alpha Oumar Sow, Emmanuel Yovanie, Younoussa Diallo, Ghislain Mahan
THE WITNESS
Nader Saeivar
Followed by a Q&A with Director Nader Saeivar
Winner Orizzonti Extra Audience Award, Venice Film Festival 2024
“powerful, emotional, infuriating and hopeful” – Loud and Clear
“a reflection on personal integrity” – ScreenAnarchy
“celebrates the Woman, Life, Freedom movement” – Cineuropa
“The Witness is a reflection of the current condition of Iranian society, showing the way the government rules and how the people must obey these policies even at the risk of their dignity. This story shows that in the face of a repressive regime, people striving to maintain their dignity and humanity are often deleted while the truth has to be destroyed.” – Dir. Nader Saeivar
In Iran, Tarlan, a retired dance teacher, witnesses a murder committed by a prominent government figure. When the police refuse to investigate, Tarlan must choose between yielding to political pressure or risking her reputation and livelihood to seek justice.
(Germany/Austria, 2024, 96’, Drama, Shahed) Dir.: Nader Saeivar, wr. Jafar Panahi, Nader Saeivar; Ed.: Jafar Panahi, Cin.: Rouzbeh Raiga / Cast: Maryam Boubani, Nader Naderpour, Abbas Imani, Ghazal Shojaei / Producers: Said Nur Akkus, Silvana Santamaria (ArtHood Films) / Arash T. Riahi, Sabine Gruber (Golden Girls Film) / Coproducers: TimurSavci/EmreOskay (Sky Films) Seyda Akkus