ELENA MARTÍN (Barcelona, 1992) is a filmmaker, film writer and actress. At the University of Massachusetts Catalan Film Festival she will talk about her experience with her first film Júlia Ist, her final project for her degree in Audiovisual Communication from the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. Elena Martín acts as director, co-screenwriter, executive co-producer and lead actress in the film. The film achieves a solid portrait of Júlia, a Catalan student majoring in Architecture during her experience studying abroad in Germany. You can watch the official trailer here. More information about Elena Martín can be found here.

SERGI LÓPEZ (Vilanova i la Geltrú, 1965) is an actor. He is known for his work in numerous films in Spain, France, Italy, Japan and United States, such as Dirty Pretty Things, Pan's Labyrinth, Map of the Sounds of Tokyo, and La vida lliure, among many others. At UMass he will answer questions about La vida lliure (dir. Marc Recha). For the official trailer, click here. After his presentation in English from 3-4, Sergi will continue with us from 4-5 for a masterclass (delivered in Spanish). Feel free to stay with us.

CARLA SIMÓN (Barcelona, 1986) is a film director. She received a degree in Audiovisual Communication from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a master's degree from the London Film School. During her time in London she directed the documentary Born Positive and the short film Lipstick. At Umass Carla Simón will answer your questions on her first feature film, Estiu 1993, an autobiographical tale about her expereince when, at the age of six and upon the death of her parents, she moved to live with her uncle and his family in Garrotxa in northern Catalonia. The film received over thirty awards, such as the Debut Film at the Berlin Film Festival. The film was chosen as Spain's nominee for Best Foreign Film at the 90th Academy Awards (the second film in Catalan to be nominated for the award ever). You can see the trailer here.

MERITXELL COLELL (Barcelona, 1983) is a filmmaker and film editor. Colell graduated in Audiovisual Communication from the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, and then studied cinema at the Universidad del Cine in Buenos Aires. She first worked as a film editor. At Umass she will talk about her first feature film, Con el viento (2018) that was presented in competition at the Berlinale 2018 in the Forum section. You can watch the film trailer here.
 

Register for the Festival here.

The Festival is sponsored by Institut Ramon Llull, Catalan Studies at UMass Amherst, and Spanish and Portuguese Program at UMass Amherst.