In Today’s episode we travel to Vilanova in Galicia to chat with Alvaro Gago about his films, the desire to return home, cinema as a collective effort, ideas on global cinema and working with natural actors. We do it as Alvaro prepares to start the shooting of his first feature “Matria”, following the award winning short of the same name that went on to get the Grand Jury Prize in Sundance 2018.


The influence of Cuban film school EICTV or teachings of Abbas Kiarostami in his cinema becomes obvious, and we discuss how to get “the real” out of natural actors. Being editor and director we discuss tempo with Alvaro and how to allow the rhythm of everyday life enter in the film, long takes and working with non-professional actors like the great Francisca Iglesias Bouzón (Matria).


We also about the ethics and politics behind making films, team-building, collective effort and working with his network of supporters including women like casting director Analia Alonso, director of photography Lucia C. Pan or producer Mireia Graell.