Summer of international recognition: Jonás Trueba’s film “You Have to Come and See It” wins the Special Jury Prize in Karlovy Vary, after Wanda Films’ documentary “The Hidden Eye” triumphed at Sunny Side of the Doc and Mago Audio Visual Production’s animated series “La Orquestita” won at the Pulcinella Awards organized by RAI in Italy.

On July 9, the prestigious Karlovy Vary International Film Festival awarded its Special Jury Prize to “You Have to Come and See It,” a film directed by Jonás Trueba, who also produced it alongside Javier Lafuente at his company Los Ilusos Films.

“You Have to Come and See It” is a simple story that tells the reunion of two couples of friends. According to the Karlovy Vary jury, the film “conveys deep and existential feelings in short format.”

On the back of his victory, Jonás Trueba's career continues to garner the recognition of the European industry, consolidating the international projection of his cinematography. After the César nomination for “The August Virgin” in France and the good reception of “Who's Stopping Us” at the San Sebastian Festival and the Goya Awards, Trueba was recognized for his work at the La Rochelle Film Festival in France.

The triumphant journey has continued with the Special Jury Prize at Karlovy Vary, where Trueba already competed three years ago with “The August Virgin,” winning both the Fipresci Award and a Special Jury Mention.

In Spain, “You Have to Come and See It,” released in theaters by Atalante on June 17, has become one of the best releases in terms of average per copy. “Going to the movies has become a small act of resistance, a poetic gesture, a leap of faith,” Trueba recently commented on the matter.

Sunny Side of The Doc

Elsewhere, the documentary “The Hidden Eye,” produced by José María Morales for Wanda Films and directed by Carlota Nelson, was chosen as Best Project in the Arts&Culture category at Sunny Side of The Doc, a leading event in the documentary industry, which held its 33rd edition from June 20 to 23 in the French town of La Rochelle.

This Wanda production accompanies the legendary photographer Cristina García Rodero on her travels. At 72 years of age, she continues to work tirelessly, willing to sacrifice everything to remain true to herself, her creative freedom, and her independence.

Last Tuesday, June 21, the Arts&Culture pitch sessions took place, where Morales and Nelson were in charge of presenting the “The Hidden Eye” to audience members, including representatives of television networks, platforms, and international distributors.

The documentary, currently being filmed in Spain, already has the support of RTVE, the Ministry of Culture, the Castilla-La Mancha Film Commission, Televisión de Castilla la Mancha, and Development Assistance from the Autonomous Community of Madrid. It is scheduled for theatrical release in 2023.

“At the production level, the story needs the support of different countries. This is why we are working to establish partnerships with those countries where Cristina's work is well known, such as the United States, Portugal, France, Germany, and Italy, among others,” says Morales.

The strengths of the project include the international and critically acclaimed work of García Rodero, Carlota Nelson's recognition as an author and director, and her sensitivity when presenting characters, as shown in her first documentary, “Anclados” (Anchored) (2010), also produced by Wanda. Additionally, the documentary offers a story of universal interest, in collaboration with international partners.

Recognition of “La Orquestita” in Italy

Furthermore, in early June, the animated series “La Orquestita” (The Little Orchestra), by Spanish company Mago Audio Visual Production, won Best TV Pilot at the Pulcinella Awards within the Cartoons on the Bay Film Festival, which held its 26th edition in the Italian city of Pescara.

This event was the brainchild of Italian public television channel RAI to support and show the current outlook, development, and new trends within the media and entertainment.

“La Orquestita” is a series that celebrates music and combines educational content with entertainment. It is a co-production with the participation of Chucho Estudio (Uruguay) and Apus Estudio (Peru) and the Spanish operators RTVE and Televisió de Catalunya, as well as Pakapaka in Argentina and Señal Colombia. The Barcelona-based company Goldbee is in charge of distribution.