La Mirada - Jewels of Spanish Cinema
About Us
La Mirada, Jewels Of Spanish Cinema is a unique festival that aims to bring Australian audiences the best of Spanish Cinema. We are extremely fortunate to have one of cinema’s most celebrated filmmakers, the multi-award winning director Pedro Almodovar, as the curator of our Classics section. This is a rare opportunity for our audiences to delight in films selected by Spain’s most respected auteur.
The name ‘La Mirada’ was chosen since we could not find an English word to perfectly encapsulate the purpose of the event. ‘Mirada’ means gaze, but in Spanish it also has a more subtle, intimate meaning. It means ‘through somebody’s eyes’. And that is precisely our wish, to show the world through the eyes of Spanish speaking artists and audiences.
It is an invitation to be moved by the dreamlike experience of going to the cinema and immersing yourself in the fascination of the films, away from the domesticity that traps us when we watch movies at home.
We believe that language shapes our conscience and the whole way of perceiving and expressing realities. To enjoy diversity and to find affinities we are presenting four different sections with a variety of vibrant, intoxicating films.
For the Classics section, Pedro Almodovar has chosen five masterpieces, some of his favourite movies from the history of Spanish Cinema.
The New Releases section, all Australian premieres, will showcase the excellence of the Spanish film industry.
The Documentary section includes five very different films sharing a common purpose: to denounce injustice. Each exemplifies extraordinary quality and compelling ethical commitment, which won’t leave you indifferent.
Finally, a section of award-winning Short Films that reveals the promising work of these talented young film-makers.
With joy, tragedy, suspense, adventure, humour and romance, these movies will intrigue, amuse and stir all sorts of emotions in you. Explore our program and if you are not passionate about movies yet, we are sure you will be after enjoying these films.
Because we love movies and we love Spanish culture.
Rocio Garcia
Festival Director
We want to express our gratitude to all our partners and sponsors for their support.
La Mirada Inc. is a not for profit organisation. La Mirada 2007 was made possible thanks to the efforts of: Pedro Almodovar, Esther Garcia, Lola Garcia, Michael Weisler, Emma Miller, Rufino Ramos, Myke Christoffel, Andrew Narozny, Emily Wilson, Cyril Gaillard, Carl Breitkreuz, Limelight PR, Christina Chiam, Caridad Campoy, Andrea Rassell, Rocio Garcia and especially Ruby Rogers-Garcia. Thanks to all our volunteers.
Thanks to Pedro Almodovar, Agustin Almodovar, Jose Pablo Alzina, Cesar Andion, Lee Applenton, Elena Baranda, Victoria Bilogan, Joshua Brisbane, Tara Byrne, Aina Calvo, Jesus Cano, Mercedes Castro, Con Christopoulos, Tracy Condodorio, His Excellency Mr Antonio Cosano, Marina Diaz, Vanessa Doitschinoff, Patricia Echeverria, Alejandro Escobosa, Alberto Fadon, Bernard Fanning, Yolanda Ferrer, John Ford, Erin Free, Marino Garcia, Santiago Garcia de Leaniz, Pilar Gomez Guterrez, Pilar Gomez-Manso, Lavinia Gorse-Flint, Isabelle Griessbach, Manuela Guzman, Telmo Languiller, Fernando Lara, Manuel Llamas, Israel Lopez, Ascen Marchena, Silvia Martinez, Taya McColl, Graciella McNamara, Javier Mendez, Federico Palomera, Martin Paten, Andrea Portela, Irene Ramos, Jose Ramon Rodriguez, Chema Rodriguez, Tim Rogers, Nadine Rusch, Christina Sanchez, Susana Santos, Kent Steedman, Clare Stewart, Paz Sufrategui, Richard Suweda, Maria Sylveiro, Alex Taylor, Pilar Torre Villaverde, Nuria Triana, Miguel Utray, Eva Vernet, Jose Vicuña, Pina Virtuoso, Lyla Weisler, Tom Weisler, Ilana Werba, Geoffrey Widmer, Amy Woods, Alex Zolneciks, ACMI, Cecilia, El Deseo, the Spanish Consulate in Melbourne and to the Garcia Rodriguez family.
In order to make the website compatible with every browser, we have decided not to include the accents in all Spanish words. Please accept our apologies