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MATRIA

[ENG]

Ramona lives with her husband, with whom she barely communicates, and works in a canning factory run by a tyrant manager. Faaced with the challenges presented by her daily routine, Ramona tries to take refuge in the relationship that unites her to her daughter and granddaughter.

 

[GAL]

Ramona vive co seu marido, con quen apenas se comunica, e traballa nunha fábrica de conservas gobernada por unha encargada tirana. Ante os desafíos que lle presenta a súa rutina diaria, Ramona trata de refuxiarse na relación que lle une á súa filla e a súa neta.

Digital | Color | 21 min. | Spain | 2017

Cast
Ramona Francisca Iglesias Bouzón
Pilar Pilar Fragua
Encargada Eulogia Chaves
Marido Ramón Martínez
Filla Marta Resille
Neta Sara Dios

Crew
Written & Directed by Álvaro Gago

Produced by Álvaro Gago
Cinematographer: Lucia C. Pan
Art Director: Alba Aguiar
Editor: Álvaro Gago
Sound: Xavi Souto
Distribution: Marvin&Wayne

Factsheet
Producción: Sombriza Films & Ringo Media
Country: Spain
Language of the original version: Galician
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Shooting Format: Alexa mini 1.66:1
Sound Format: Dolby 5.1
Location: Galicia, Spain

WATCH BEHIND THE SCENES

Director's Statement

[ENG]

The local is what nourishes us. I’ve been surrounded by extraordinary women since I was born. Common to all are adjectives like determined, caring, passionate, generous. Simple women with complex lives, which prevents them from being transparent. Sensitive women who, faced with the difficulties of their living environment, have the need to protect themselves. They are, from a cinematographic point of view, very interesting characters. Intricate characters, full of nuances, uncomfortable in their relationship with their context and of difficult emotional access.

 

Matria is a film about a defective everyday heroine. I didn’t want to portray her from a panegyric point of view. My intention was to document her reality under the illusion of a fiction veil. An adverse reality that doesn’t have an apparent ending in the film, because Matria is a continuous tragedy engraved with fire in the routine.

However, the intention is to leave the audience with the feeling that there is room for possibility and illusion. She’s alone, the circumstances are not favorable, but she doesn’t lose hope, which resides in her own determination and dignity, and in the love that unites her to her family. Matria, if anything, is trying to be a humanist film, and there is no humanity without hope.

 

Her dignity is given to her, to a great extent, by the work she performs. The film seeks to deepen the notion of work as a source of honor and glorification. All these heroines are hardworking women. Their dedication and effort bring out values such as honesty, ambition, humility and empathy. Work also causes Ramona to lead an intense rhythm of life. She can’t afford to stop. She doesn't have time to think too much. When watching the film we are faced with a torrent of energy and emotions and I tried to convey that as best as I could.

 

It was my responsibility to make this film. It was my duty to give voice to these silenced women who endure and pull forward, but who also need to feel cared for and loved.

 

[GAL]

Levo rodeado de mulleres extraordinarias dende que nacín. Comúns a todas, son os adxectivos: determinada, apaixoada, xenerosa. Mulleres sinxelas con vidas complexas, o que impide que se mostren transparentes. Mulleres sensíbeis que diante das dificultades do seu entorno vital, teñen a necesidade de protexerse e esconderse. Son, polo tanto, dende un punto de vista cinematográfico, persoaxes moi interesantes. Persoaxes complexas, con moitos matices, incómodas na relación coa súa cortorna e de díficil acceso emocional.

 

Matria é un filme sobre unha heroina cotidiana defectuosa. Non quixen retratala dende un punto de vista panexírico. Sempre cos pés na terra, a miña intención foi a de documentar a súa realidade baixo a ilusión da ficción. Unha realidade tráxica que non ten un aparente final no filme, pois Matria é unha traxedia continua grabada con lume na cotianidade e na rutina. A pesar de todo, a intención era a de rematar coa sensación de que hai espazo para a posibilidade e a ilusión. Está soa, o contexto non é favorable, pero non perde a esperanza, que reside na súa determinación e dignidade, e no amor que lle une á sua familia. Matria, se pretende algo, é ser un filme humanista, e non hai humanidade sen esperanza.

 

A dignidade dálla, en gran medida, o traballo. O filme pretende profundizar na noción do traballo como fonte de honorabilidade e glorificación. Todas estas heroínas son moi traballadoras. A súa dedicación e esforzo traen consigo valores como a honestidade, a ambición, a humildade ou a empatía. O traballo tamén é o causante de que Ramona leve un ritmo de vida intenso. Non se pode permitir parar. Non ten tempo para pensar demasiado. Estamos ante un torrente de enerxía e emocións, e así busquei que se sentise no filme.

 

As narrativas mais atraíntes veñen dadas polo interés que suscitan as persoaxes. É imposible contar unha boa historia ser persoaxes e situacións críbeis e suxestivas. Aquí, o material cru existía e non estaba moi explorado. Sentía que facer este filme era a miña responsabilidade. Sentía que era o meu deber darlle voz a estas mulleres silenciadas que soportan e tiran para diante, pero que tamén necesitan sentirse coidadas e queridas.

Festivals & Awards

Sundance Film Festival, 2018 - Short Film Grand Jury Prize

IndieLisboa Int. Independent Film Festival, 2018 - Best Fiction Short Film

Valladolid Int. Film Festival (Seminci, 2017) - Best Spanish Short Film

24fps International Short Film Festival, 2018 - Silver Medal & Best Actress

Hollyshorts Film Festival, 2018 - Best International Short Film

Concorto Film Festival, 2018 - Special Mention

Festival Cinéma Méditerranéen Montpellier CINEMED, 2018 - Special Mention

Maremetraggio Shorts International Film Festival, 2018 - Best Short Film

ALCINE (Festival Int. de Alcalá de Henares, 2017) - Best Film & Best Actress

Festival Int. de Aguilar del Campoo, 2017 - Best Film & Best Actress

Semana de Cine de Medina del Campo, 2018 - Best Short Film (Panorama Section)

Ljubljana International Film Festival, 2018- Best Short Film

Mostra de Cinema Llatinoamericà de Lleida, 2018 - Best Short Film

Sardinia Film Festival, 2018 - Best Short Film & Medaglia del Presidente della Repubblica

Festival de Cans, 2018 - Best Film, Best Actress & Audience Award

Pančevo Film Festival, 2018 - Best Short Film & Best Actress

Still Voices Short Film Festival, 2019 - Best International Short Film

Certamen Internacional de Cortometrajes Ciudad de Soria, 2018 - Best Spanish Short Film

FICBueu - Festival Internacional Cortometrajes, 2018 - Best Galician Short Film & Audience Award

Ikuska, Muestra Internacional de Cortometraje de la Bahía de Pasaia, 2018 - Best Short Film

Festival Primavera do Cine de Vigo, 2018 - Best Short Film

Festival de cine de l'Alfàs del Pi, 2018 - Second Prize, Best Directing & Audience Award

Festival de Curtmetratges de Manlleu, 2018 - Best International Short Film

Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente de Elche, 2018 - Best Short Fiction Film

Festival de Cine Solidario de Guadalajara FESCIGU, 2018 - Best Short Film

Festival de Cine Int. de Cartagena 2017 - Best Director

FASCURT - Festival de curtmetratges del Masnou, 2018 - Best Short Film

Festival Ibérico de Cine de Badajoz, 2018 - Best Short Film & Best Actress

VIA XIV - Festival Int. de Cortometrajes de Verín, 2017 - Best Director

Festival de Cine de Arnedo Octubre en Corto, 2018 - Best Short Film

IbizaCineFest, 2019 - Best Spanish Short Film

Concurso Nacional de Cortometrajes CreatRivas, 2018 - Best Short Film

Festival Internacional de cine de Incuna, 2018 - Best Short Film

Semana de Cine de Melilla, 2018 - Third Prize

Festival de Cortometrajes "Villamayor de Cine", 2018 - Best Film & Best Actress

Festival de Cine de Madrid PNR - Plataforma Nuevos Realizadores, 2018 - Special Mention

Ribadedeva en Corto, 2018 - Best Actress

Curtas Armandiña, 2018 - Best Short Film

Ponferrada International Film Festival, 2018 - Special Mention

Filmserè - Festival Internacional de Curtmetratges de La Florida, 2019 - Best Film & Best Actress

Getafe On Air International Film Festival, 2018 - Audience Award

Rural Int. Film Festival, 2019 - Best National Short Film

Festival du film court "Partie(s) de Campagne", 2018

International Best of Short Films Festival - La Ciotat, 2018

Festival Nacional de Cortometrajes Ciudad de Ávila - AVILACINE, 2018

Festival Resistances, 2018

Almagro International Film Festival, 2018

FestImatge - Festival de la Image de Calella, 2018

Le Court Nous Tient, 2018

Yerevan Short Film festival, 2018

Premio Internacional de Cortometrajes de la Universidad de La Laguna, 2018

Semana de Cine de Cuenca, 2018

Festival de Cortometrajes "Cortada" de Vitoria-Gasteiz, 2018

Dotdotdot - Open-Air Short Film Festival, 2019

Redline International Film Festival, 2019

Corto & Fieno - Rural Film Festival, 2018

Goya Awards - Nominated Best Fiction Short Film

Mestre Mateo Awards (Galician Film Academy) - Best Live Action Short Film

Clermont-Ferrand Int. Short Film Festival, 2018

AFI FEST - Los Angeles, 2018

MESSAGE TO MAN International Documentary, Short and Animated Films Festival, 2018

Palm Springs International ShortFest, 2018

Guanajuato International Film Festival, 2018

Encounters - Bristol Short Film and Animation Festival, 2018

Melbourne International Film Festival, 2018

Uppsala International Short Film Festival, 2018

LALIFF - Los Angeles Latino Film Festival, 2018

VIFF - Vancouver International Film Festival, 2018

Leeds International Film Festival, 2018

Traverse City Film Festival, 2018

NALIP Official Selection, 2018

International Eskisehir Film Festival, 2018

Cinema Jove - Festival Internacional de Cine de Valencia, 2018

Short Shorts Film Festival Asia, 2018

Galway Film Fleadh, 2018

Brussels Short Film Festival, 2018

Aspen FilmFest, 2018

TISF - THESS Int. Short Film Festival, 2018

Nashville Film Festival, 2018

Washington West Film Festival, 2018

ABYCINE - Festival de Cine de Albacete, 2018

DOKUFEST - International Documentary and Short Film Festival, 2018

Seattle Int. Film Festival, 2018

PRINDIE - Princeton Independent Film Festival, 2018

Festival de Málaga, 2018

Tehran International Short Film Festival, 2018

Las Palmas International Film Festival, 2018

Muestra Cinematográfica del Atlántico - ALCANCES, 2018

FIWOM - Film Festival for Women's Rights, 2018

CINESPAÑA Festival du Film Espagnol de Toulouse, 2018

Zubroffka Int. Short Film Festival, 2017

Kyiv International Short Film Festival, 2018

International Short Film Festival in Drama, 2018

D'A Film Festival Barcelona, 2018

Cinema Espagnol de Nantes, 2018

MAGMA - Mostra di Cinema Breve, 2018

La Guarimba Film Festival, 2018

Vilnius Int. Film Festival, 2018

Passaggi d'Autore: Intrecci Mediterranei, 2018

Cineuropa, Santiago de Compostela, 2017

SICA Semana Internacional de Cine de Autor de Lugo, 2018

Certame de Curtametraxes Armadiña, 2018

FMK - International Short Film Festival, 2018

Redondela en Curto, 2018

Festival Cinematográfico de Uruguay, 2018

Kortfilmfestivalen - Norwegian Short Film Festival, 2018

Fenêtres sur courts, 2018

Concurso de Cortometrajes K-Lidoscopi, 2018

SACO, Semana del Audiovisual Contemporáneo de Oviedo, 2018

Semana del Cortometraje de la Comunidad de Madrid, 2018

Festival International de Cinema de Menorca, 2018

Breus - Festival de Curts Europes, 2019

Fargo Film Festival, 2018

Other Screenings + Q/A

Lisboa – Centro Galego

Caminha – CineClube Locus Amoenus

Braga – Ciclo Cinema Luso-Galego

Braga – Cámara Municipal

Nigrán – Concello

Vigo – Cineclube Lumiere

Vigo – Auditorio do Concello

Vigo – Casa Galega da Cultura

Vigo – Marcote

Vigo – Teatro AFundanción - Ateneo de Vigo

Vigo – Instituto Politécnico

Vigo - Unión Comarcal de CCOO

Vigo - Biblioteca Juan Compañel

Redondela - Multiúsos da Xunqueira

Chapela - Multiúsos de Chapela

Pontevedra – Facultade de CCSS – Augal

Poio – Concello de Poio

Hio – CinemanoHio O Furatoxo

Meaño – IES Meaño

Vilagarcía – Cine Clube Adega

Cambados – Centro Socio Cultural

Vilanova – IES Vilanova

Vilaxoán – IES Armando Cotarelo Valledor

Illa de Arousa – Auditorio Municipal

Illa de Arousa – IES Illa de Arousa

Moraña – CPI Santa Lucia

Pobra do Caramiñal – IES Pobra do Caramiñal

Ribeira – Centro Cultural

Aguiño – CEIP Heroínas de Sálvora

Lalín – Biblioteca Municipal

Lalin – IES Laxeiro

Rodeiro – Casa da cultura (obradoiro de sensibilización)

Santiago de Compostela – Facultade de Filosofía da USC

Santiago de Compostela – Facultad de Ciencias da Comunicación da USC

Santiago de Compostela – Asociación de Veciños de Sar – Curtas na Rúa

Santiago de Compostela – ONDA

Santiago de Compostela – Museo do Pobo Galego

Santiago de Compostela – IES Xelmírez II

Santiago de Compostela – NUMAX

As Cernadas –Comunidad Terapéutica Proxecto Home

Negreira – Casa da Cultura

Ordes – IES Maruxa Mallo

Muros – IES Plurilingüe Fontexería

Muros – Fábrica de Sel

Melide – IES Melide

San Sadurniño – Concello – Día da Eliminación da Violencia contra a muller

As Pontes – Casa da Cultura

Baio – Premio Fouciño

Betanzos – Cines Alfonsetti

A Coruña – CGAI

A Coruña – Centro Ágora

A Coruña – Cubo de Normal

A Coruña – La salita de Juegos

A Coruña – Coordinadora Galega de ONGDs

Pontedeume – Atalaia Social

Sada – Sadamaioria

Arteixo – Casa da Muller

Ferrol – Campus de Esteiro

Ferrol – IV Encontro Audiovisual do Muíño do Vento

Cabreiros - Asociación de Veciños de Cabreiros

Vilaboa – Instituo de Estudos Chairegos (IESCHA)

Lugo – Cine Clube Valle Inclán

Lugo – Asociación de Veciños de Cabreiros

Muimenta – Asociación de Xogos Tradicionais

Monforte – FemForte

Sarria - Escolma de Cinema Galego

Sarria – Casa da Cultura (ciclo Ficciónate)

Ourense – Cineclube Padre Feijoo

Ourense – IES Otero Pedrayo

Celanova – Fundación Carlos Casares

Vilamarín – Vivir Vilamarín

Verín - IES Xesús Taboada Chivite

Viana do Bolo – I Encontro Feminista

Pasaia – Pasaiako Udala Berdintasun Saila

Barcelona - CoopP4Equality Projectes D'Innovació Social, SCP

Madrid – La Casa Encendida

Guadalajara – IV Jornadas Feministas: ‘Salud, Trabajo y Mujer’

Oxford – Center For Galician Studies

Paris – La Sorbonne

Bremen – Short O Ramas

New Zealand – New Zealand Film Comission

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