Amenábar

The power of storytelling

A tribute to the great Spanish filmmaker, an extensive and detailed account of his filmography.

Ever since the release of his first feature film, Tesis (1996), Alejandro Amenábar became the enfant terrible of the Goya Awards, the highest recognition delivered by the Spanish Academy of Motion Pictures, a distinction that ensures quality, large audiences and a box-office success. After all, Amenábar has directed three of the greatest blockbusters in the history of Spanish cinema to an enormous audience and critical acclaim, both home and internationally —including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for The Sea Inside, amongst many other prizes and public recognitions. Amenábar is arguably one of the greatest living directors working in the Spanish film industry, and is widely regarded as the best Spaniard filmmaker abroad.

Pau Gómez, a film journalist, and a close acquaintance to Amenábar, takes us on a journey through the entire filmography of the filmmaker. For the first time, Alejandro Amenábar opens himself up and details the nuances of every single film he has ever made. Amenábar is the first work to finally bring together the director’s complete filmography, and to include an enthralling conversation with the enfant terrible, allowing the reader to dive into his productions in full depth.

It wasn’t until I started making films that I discovered the importance of teamwork. At the end of the day filmmaking is a collective art where every production department is equally important, and where the work ethos of each professional can improve the rest. I quite enjoy it when my collaborators, no matter what their involvement in the film, challenge me with ideas and propose to me new things.