How would you present ‘Unseen’?

María Algora (M.A.): It’s a socially-driven short film with fantastic elements; a drama with touches of humour and magical realism. The story deals with the taboo surrounding suicide: Ane, Carmen’s daughter, discovers on her 30th birthday that her father didn’t die in the way she had been told as a child. This revelation changes Ane's life.

Mikel Bustamante (M.B.): It’s a story about family secrets and the taboo surrounding the suicide of a family member. Shame, fear, and guilt are brought to the forefront in an attempt to heal a wound that is very difficult to close.

How did the idea for this short film come about?

M.A.: The idea came about from a conversation with Mikel, where I explained how I found out at the age of 16 about the suicide of a family member. My whole life, I had grown up with the story that their death was the result of a domestic accident, and in the most casual way, during a family meal, my aunt let it slip. It was a shock for me, and from that moment on, I started talking a lot with my father to understand and unravel the family taboo.

M.B.: We thought it was a very interesting scene as an initial idea, one from which we could delve deeper and understand the characters, and it eventually led to the journey of reconciliation between mother and daughter.

You will experience the world premiere of your work in Málaga. What does it mean to you to premiere at such a prestigious festival?

M.A.: If two years ago, when we started developing the project and, at the same time, Mikel was premiering ‘Lullaby’ in Málaga, someone had told me that we would return here with ‘Unseen’, I would have thought it was an almost impossible dream. When we received the news, it was an immense joy. I see it as a recognition and a hug for the work and love that the entire team has put into telling this story.

M.B.: It’s an honour and a privilege. Bringing the short film to life has required a lot of hard work and effort, and being able to premiere it in Málaga is the dream reward. Also, personally, it’s a festival where I have incredible memories from 2022, when ‘Lullaby’ premiered and received an amazing reception. So, for me, it’s a dream to return to Málaga, especially with my own production and such a personal story.

What are your expectations for your participation there?

M.A.: I’m really looking forward to sharing the story with the audience and seeing how they feel about the journey that Ane and Carmen go on: whether they connect with the story, whether they take any reflections home with them... On the day of the premiere, part of the team will be with us: Andrea Martínez, the director of photography; Rakel Muniain, the production manager; Juantxu Álvarez, the producer; and the actor who plays my dad and composed the original song, Manuel Minaya. Also, I’m really excited that my parents will be there with me; they are very excited about the project, and the story touches them personally. Whatever happens, I know it will be a special night.

M.B.: To enjoy the festival, meet lots of people, watch other films, and also for our story to reach and move the people it’s meant to reach.

Considering this is the world premiere, are you feeling nervous about how it will be received by both the audience and the critics?

M.A.: On one hand, there's a mixture of nerves and anticipation about how the audience and the press will react. On the other hand, when I think about it, I feel that the work is already done, and we are proud of the film and the creative process that led to the final result. It’s truly been a beautiful journey. For me, I have to practise trust and let go of any expectations. I trust that the story will reach those it’s meant to.

M.B.: They’re good nerves. I think we’ve told a story that was very important to both María and me; it’s a topic that resonates deeply with us, and we know it strikes a chord with many others too. Personally, the fact that we were able to portray it in the short film with no other aim than to speak about it openly and without fear makes me feel more at ease with whatever criticism comes our way.

Once Málaga is over, what path do you plan to take with the short film?

M.A.: On a national level, after Málaga, the short film will try to reach as many places as possible. I would love to travel with it and host discussions. I think the topic we address sparks a lot of conversation. Hopefully, we’ll be presenting it in Euskadi soon; we’re really looking forward to bringing it here. On an international level, we’re working with our distributor to secure a strong premiere outside of Spain. We’re keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for some good news soon.

M.B.: The ideal journey would be one where the short film is seen by many. Hopefully, we’ll be at many national and international festivals, and also on various screens of all kinds, so that such a hidden topic in our society can be brought to the forefront.

Do you believe that your participation there could help you get closer to other festivals?

M.A.: I think that other festivals always look at the pieces selected in Málaga with affection. So, we hope that our time at the festival will help other festivals take notice of our story.

M.B.: Hopefully. The Málaga Film Festival is a prestigious window, and we’re hoping this will give ‘Unseen’ a strong push.

Looking ahead, what other projects do you have on the go?

M.A.: We’d like to continue growing with our production company, Bedmar Films, and writing stories that move us and connect us with our more creative side. We have several projects in mind, but they’re still in the early stages. We always try to balance our acting careers with the productions we create ourselves.

M.B.: For a few years now, we’ve been wanting to dive into making a feature film, and we have some ideas in development. I suspect that will be our next step, and hopefully, it will be.