‘Jokes and Cigarettes’ Director David Trueba to Helm ‘Siempre es Invierno,’ Adapting His Novel ‘Blitz,’ as Atresmedia Unveils Spanish Star-Studded Slate
SAN SEBASTIAN — In a talent laden presentation, Atresmedia Cine announced on Tuesday at San Sebastian “Siempre es Invierno,” the upcoming film from celebrated helmer David Trueba. The film will be an adaptation by Trueba of his own novel “Blitz,” a story about an unexpected love affair between a man in his thirties and a woman in her sixties.
Following a fruitful experience with Trueba’s previous comedy “Jokes and Cigarettes,” (“Saben Aquell,“) Atresmedia Cine, the film arm of Atresmedia Corporación, one of Spain’s top two commercial broadcast network groups, wanted to do more. “At Atresmedia, we knew we wanted to continue supporting his films and make his next movie. We went to lunch with him and [producer] Edmon [Roch] and said, ‘David, what do you want to do?’” Jaime Ortiz de Arti?ano, managing director at Atresmedia Cine, said on stage at a room in the luxuriant Maria Cristina Hotel at San Sebastian.
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Trueba admitted that adapting “Blitz” was something he had long resisted, “I had refused to make movies out of my novels or let others do it.” he said. “But I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m betraying many things I held onto, so it felt necessary to betray this too.”
The director added that the love story’s exploration of emotional vulnerability and societal taboos about relationships between older women and younger men remains a relevant subject. “We live in a completely sexist world. There’s no issue when an older man is with a much younger woman, but when the roles are reversed, it still shocks people. It’s seen as something to comment on or even criticize, as if there are underlying reasons for it,” Trueba remarked.
Atresmedia Cine is teaming up with Ikiru Films, Siempre es Invierno AIE, La Terraza Films, and Wrong Men for production, with BTeam Pictures set to handle distribution.
David Trueba came to international attention with his debut film “The Good Life” in 1996, selected for Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight. He has since built a stellar career with films like Cannes title of “Soldiers of Salamina” and “Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed,” the latter winning six Goya Awards, including Best Picture.
Earlier in proceedings top directing talent took to the stage showing off their upcoming Spanish theatrical wares, Arantxa Echevarría with Luis Tosar starrer “Infiltrada,” Jon Garano accompanying a trailer for “Marco” and Martin Cuevo presenting comedy “?Quién es Quién?.” joined on stage by star Elena Irureta who is in San Sebastian to pick up this year’s Zinemira Award.
The event closed with actors Andrea Ros (“Zorros”) and Patrick Criado (“Nights In Tefia”) announced to topline “Karateka,” Se?or y Se?ora co-founder Aritz Moreno’s third feature.
They were joined by Olympic Gold medallist Sandra Sánchez and husband-coach Jesús del Moral, “I started doing karate at the age of six because there was a summer cinema near my house, where they showed kung fu movies, as we called them back then. To be here now, knowing they’re going to make a movie about the life of Sandra… It’s surreal!” she said, thrilled.
In addition to Atresmedia Cine and Se?or y Se?ora, Apaches Entertainment and Belgium’s Wrong Men will co-produce, securing financial support from the Spanish ICAA film agency, Basque tax incentives and Belgium’s tax shelter scheme.
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