Barcelona-based Filmax has secured the Spanish and international rights to “The Teacher Who Promised The Sea,” starring Laya Costa, best actress winner at the German Lula Awards for Sebastian Schipper’s bank robbery “Victoria.”
Directed by Patricia Font, winner of the Goya Award for Best Short Fiction (“Café para llevar”), “The Teacher,” recently concluded production, will be presented to buyers via a promotional reel.
Produced by Minoria Absoluta, Lastor Media, and Filmax, the feature is based on the book of the same name by Francesc Escribano. It shows on the big screen the real-life story of Anthony Benigues, the Catalan teacher who rocked a rural village in the province of Burgos in 1935, introducing progressive teaching methods from France, based on encouraging students to express themselves, and buying the print press that allowed their ideas to be published.
In this small village, bound together by centuries of illiteracy, he proves to be a controversial figure – and the target of repression once the Spanish Civil War breaks out.
Benajes plays Enrique Oker, winner of Best Newcomer Goya (“An Eye for an Eye”). Costa, who plays a woman who searches for her grandfather in a mass grave and discovers the tragic story of his teacher Benagues, also came out with Best Actress at this year’s Malaga festival for her performance in Alauda Ruíz de Azúa’s youth – the mother-drama “Lullaby” that won multiple awards in Malaga.
“We have a real gem on our hands here. We are excited to bring this film to viewers, which has been very emotional, but at the same time it will touch the hearts of the audience,” said Evan Diaz, Head of International Affairs at Filmax.
The film was shot over a period of six weeks on location around Barcelona and in Prevesca in the province of Burgos. It is produced with the support of ICAA, ICEC, Spanish and Catalan film agencies and with the participation of public broadcasters TVE and TV3.
The US film market runs from 1 to 6 November.
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