On Friday 21 March, the Documentary Special Sessions section of the Festival de Málaga hosted the screening of seven films that explore memory and identity through art and history.

‘Traslados’: the dark truth of Argentina's death flights

This afternoon, the Teatro Echegaray hosted the screening of 'Traslados', a documentary that sheds light on one of the darkest chapters of Argentine history: the death flights. Directed by Nicolás Gil Lavedra, the film looks at the extermination machinery implemented by the civil-military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983, offering a detailed and moving account of these events.

Through the testimonies of former detainees, relatives, journalists and specialists, 'Traslados' reconstructs the methodology of murder and disappearance of people carried out by the military regime. The narrative is enriched by extensive archival footage, animations and previously unpublished images, providing an in-depth understanding of the scale and impact of these crimes. The documentary deals with key moments, such as the discovery of the bodies of the French nuns Léonie Duquet and Alice Domon, and soldier Alfredo Astiz’s infiltration of the group Madres de Plaza de Mayo.

‘Traslados' is presented as an essential work for understanding and reflecting on the atrocities committed during the Argentine dictatorship, highlighting the importance of historical memory and the search for justice. "It is important not only to be here, but also that, among all of us, we continue to generate collective memory. This is what we most need today in countries like Argentina: to know objectively what happened", its director explained at a press conference.

‘Natividad Zaro. Out loud: reclaiming women's cinema'.

Member of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, director Vicky Calavia recovers the figure of Natividad Zaro in this documentary about the actress, playwright, translator, director and film producer. Friend and collaborator of Lorca, Azorín, Valle-Inclán and Forqué, among others, who described her as the Spanish 'Modesty Blaise', Natividad Zaro was a woman ahead of her time. Scriptwriter and producer of 'Surcos' (N. Conde, 1951) and 'Amanecer en puerta oscura' (Forqué, 1957), Zaro won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival.

At the Festival de Málaga, filmmaker Vicky Calavia, accompanied by Natividad Zaro's grandniece, told the audience about the research process for her film: "It was a very difficult task. Six years of documentation. As Natividad had no direct descendants, we didn’t find many records. In the archives of the National Library I discovered some very curious things that made me very excited. I would have liked to have had more images of her in motion. Natividad did very commendable things in what was a very hard time for women.
 
‘El canto de las manos’: Beethoven's opera 'Fidelio' in sign language

‘El canto de las manos' explores deafness through music by following Jennifer, Gabriel and José, three deaf musicians from Venezuela, as they face the challenge of performing Beethoven's 'Fidelio' for the first time in sign language under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. The film shows the isolation that the protagonists experience as deaf people, realising that music is not only their refuge, but their salvation and their hope. The presentation of the documentary in the Christine Picasso Auditorium was attended by the Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, the Councillor for Culture, Mariana Pineda, the director of the Festival de Málaga, Juan Antonio Vigar, as well as the director of the film, María Valverde, director; Gustavo Dudamel, Cristina Herrera and Martí Font Isern, producers; Jennifer Gonzalez, Gabriel Linarez and Jose Gabriel Abarca, protagonists of the documentary.

The documentary highlights the transformative power of music in the deaf community and how art can change the world. The year-long production took place between Venezuela and Los Angeles, and is a collaboration between Quinchoncho, founded by Gustavo Dudamel and María Valverde, and Spanish production company Forty Entertainment.
"For me it was really essential to be able to talk about these injustices experienced by a collective. We listeners have to break down barriers so we can all integrate together," said María Valverde, who is making her debut as a director with the documentary.

‘Mapa a Pandataria’: Salvation through Art

Directed by Javi Clarke, this documentary starring Cayetana Guillén Cuervo, Chevi Muraday and Elio Toffana follows the creative process of Pandataria, an innovative contemporary dance piece.

The film shows the challenges of premièring the piece at the Roman Theatre of Mérida, capturing the key moments of the artistic and personal process. ‘Mapa a Pandataria' features Chus Western, La Merce, Basem Nahnouh, Gemma Cuervo, Okuda San Miguel and El Langui, bringing different perspectives to the story.

Cayetana Guillén Cuervo stressed the importance of this work: "This project marks a pivotal moment in my life for different reasons. In this documentary we wanted to show how human beings like us have saved our lives and healed our wounds through the performing arts.

‘Mapa a Pandataria’ is now available on the CaixaForum+ streaming platform.

‘No somos marionetas’: breaking down barriers

Julio Espinosa brings to the big screen the inspiring story of Ezequiel Heras, a 25-year-old man with Down's syndrome who, from birth, has defied socially imposed exclusion to demonstrate that difference is just another way of being.

The documentary makes us see and understand that Ezequiel is different, but only in the sense that we are all different, even though from birth he has had to face illogical social exclusion and barriers. The filmmaker invites us to reflect on inclusion, respect and the need to break down imposed barriers. A story that moves and challenges us all.

"It is a pleasure to see this room packed on a Friday night to attend the presentation of this community project, a crazy project. I want to highlight the courage of the protagonists in wanting to bare themselves to the world in this personal, moving and vindictive story. A story also full of light and shade because Ezequiel is different but we are all different", said director Julio Espinosa at the presentation of the documentary in the Andalusian Tourism and Sports Hall.

‘The Wisdom of Wonder Eugènia Balcells Once and Again’

Filmmaker Luis Felipe Ruiz accompanies Eugenia Balcells, multi-award-winning Catalan artist, in her tireless evolution, discovering in this documentary her philosophy of life and work, where curiosity and the desire for knowledge intertwine in a hypnotic dance. An opportunity to discover her best-kept secret: the curve of life.

The artist enjoys great national and international recognition. "After being close to her and working closely with her for fifteen years, she inspired me to create a portrait and I began to look more closely at the character beyond the work", the director explained in Malaga. This documentary is a journey through the inspiring life and work of Eugènia Balcells, who at 81 years of age continues to work and actively create.

‘Lorca en La Habana’: Federico García Lorca's Cuban journey

Directed by José Antonio Torres Márquez and Antonio Manuel Rodríguez, this documentary explores Federico García Lorca's stay in Cuba in 1930 and his impact on the island's culture. Through fictionalised interviews and expert testimony, the film reconstructs the Granada-born poet's connection to Cuban music, poetry and theatre.

"Federico spends 89 days in Cuba. He arrives there and finds a familiar world, like Andalusia but liberal. He forgets that he is a poet, but he never forgets that he is a musician. He is captivated by the freedom, happiness and the Cuban Son", explained José Antonio Torres Márquez, co-director and scriptwriter.

Antonio Manuel Rodríguez, also director and scriptwriter, highlighted that the screening coincides with a special date: "On a day like today, 95 years ago, Lorca was in Havana evoking Malaga, exactly on a day like today, 21 March, World Poetry Day and the first day of spring".

Produced by Plano Katharsis Producciones in collaboration with Canal Sur Radio and Television, 'Lorca en La Habana' offers a unique look at one of the happiest periods in the poet's life.