INTERVIEW: María Martínez Bayona Debuts Feature at Cannes

For a young Spanish director to make her first feature film in English with a Euros 8 million ($9.4m) budget—more than double the Spanish average—and with internationally renowned actors like Rebecca Hall, Noomi Rapace, Gael García Bernal and Beanie Feldstein is unusual. For her film to be invited to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival is even more out of the ordinary.

But that’s precisely what Maria Martínez Bayona has achieved with her debut feature, The End of It, invited to screen in Cannes Première this month. The Catalan screenwriter and director, who is based in London, has garnered attention with her short films Mia, Wake and Such Small Hands. Now, she is premiering her first feature-length film on the biggest international stage.

AWFJ spoke by Zoom with Martínez Bayona (no relation to fellow Catalan director J.A. Bayona) prior to the festival, which runs May 12-23. Interview edited for length and clarity.

Read the full interview at AWFJ.org.