The Festival de Málaga has paid tribute to production manager Manuela Ocón with the Ricardo Franco - Spanish Film Academy Award, an award that annually recognises the careers of film professionals whose work is essential to making films possible.

During the event, the production manager also met with the director of the Festival de Málaga, Juan Antonio Vigar, to share her reflections on her career, the evolution of the audiovisual sector, and the challenges she has faced.

During the conversation, Ocón explained what production management entails, defining it as the management of the human, technical, and financial resources necessary to bring an audiovisual project to fruition. In her case, she emphasised that each film or series is a unique process, without previous models to replicate, which requires approaching each production almost like a research project, from scriptwriting to its arrival on screen. "Each project requires finding the right team, locations, and resources for that specific story," the honouree pointed out.

The producer also reflected on budget management in the audiovisual industry, an aspect that demands balance and constant adaptability. In her opinion, limited resources can also become a creative stimulus. "Managing that scarcity also reveals the virtue of wanting to achieve the best possible results," she stated.

Ocón also dedicated part of her speech to discussing training and generational change in the sector, encouraging young people to explore the many opportunities offered by the audiovisual industry. "This professional world is very broad, and there are many different jobs. The important thing is to open the doors that come your way, because you never know what might be behind them."

During the event, she also praised the growth that Andalusian cinema has experienced in recent decades, both in the number of professionals and in the volume of activity.

However, she warned of the current challenges facing the sector, especially regarding tax incentives and the need to strengthen industrial conditions to retain talent in the region. “Andalusia is already a renowned filming location, but now we need to continue generating talent and ensure that it doesn't leave,” she stated.

Throughout the discussion, Ocón recalled some of the most demanding projects of her career, including the series La peste, which she considered one of her greatest professional challenges due to its complexity and scale. She explained that working on big-budget productions allows for research and development processes that are more difficult to undertake in smaller-scale projects, although she acknowledged that, regardless of the size of the production, “there's always a need for a little more.”

The day culminated tonight with the award ceremony at the Cervantes Theatre, presented by actor and comedian Alex O'Dogherty. The ceremony reviewed the honouree's career through various audiovisual pieces showcasing some of the most outstanding projects of her career.

During his remarks, O’Dogherty highlighted the fundamental role that production professionals play in the creative process of filmmaking. "Behind every shot and every scene of a film lies a silent art, armed with logic, patience, and audacity: film production," he noted.

The tribute brought together on stage several of the collaborators and professionals who have shared their journey with the producer, including director Alberto Rodríguez, producers Belén Sánchez and Gervasio Iglesias, casting directors Eva Leira and Yolanda Serrano, and producer Domingo Corral.

During the speeches, Eva Leira recalled her first collaborations with Ocón: "Twenty years ago we shot 7 vírgenes together. You make the impossible possible, and after so many productions, you continue to transmit passion, enthusiasm, and incredible respect for your team.”

Gervasio Iglesias highlighted her ability to bring balance to filming and production processes. “You’ve always been that perfect point of balance, that calm that makes you know that, with you there, everything will be alright,” he noted, also highlighting her approach to working with closeness and respect for the entire team.

For her part, Yolanda Serrano recalled one of the shoots they shared, during which numerous difficulties arose. Many times, even when a shoot is well-prepared, a thousand things can happen. In that case, everything that could go wrong, did. But we had our commander: we looked at her from afar and thought, ‘We’re saved.’ She always gives us peace of mind and security.”

Domingo Corral emphasised her vision for audiovisual production and her commitment to storytelling: “You are a truly outstanding production manager because you deeply believe in the power of stories to transform and move us, and you pour your heart and soul into every project.”

Belén Sánchez highlighted Ocón's ability to unite teams and bring out the best in each professional: "You are a reflection of everything good about production work: that force that unites the team and makes us all work in the same direction."

Finally, director Alberto Rodríguez, who has known Ocón since adolescence, emphasised her connection to cinema and to the people who make films possible: "I think, above all, it's your love for cinema, which translates into the love you have for the people who make films.  The great thing about having you on a production is that you make them better."

The highlight of the gala came with the presentation of the award by the president of the Film Academy, Fernando Méndez-Leite, before giving way to the honoree's speech.

Visibly moved, Manuela Ocón thanked the Festival de Málaga and the Film Academy for the recognition and dedicated the award to all the professionals she has worked with throughout her career. “I consider this award a tribute to all the colleagues who have helped me in my work.”

The producer made special mention of José Antonio Félez, with whom she shared numerous projects: “With him, I learned that honesty at work is not incompatible with taking on great challenges.”

In her acceptance speech, Ocón also highlighted the role of the feminist movement within the audiovisual sector and the work of women in film. She also stressed the need to improve tax incentives for filmmaking in Andalusia to prevent productions from relocating to other regions.

With this recognition, the Festival de Málaga celebrates the career of a key production manager in the development of contemporary Spanish cinema and highlights an essential profession for bringing stories to the screen.