Pere Portabella (1929, Figueres, Spain) is known as one of the most acclaimed Spanish film directors and producers. After Franco's death, he followed a political career. With 'Vampir-Cuadecuc' he put in 1970, the demands of "nuevos cines" - the cinema supported by the Franco regime - aside. Filmed on the set of Jess Franco's "Count Dracula" (starring Christopher Lee and Herbert Lom) 'Vampire-Cuadecuc' can be best described as an 'avant-garde making-of', where the behind-the-scenes footage is used to bring an equally tragic and funny story about vampirism.
Ben Rivers went to work in a similar way with the recent 'A Distant Episode'. He was filming on the set of the London artist Shezad Dawood and refers not only to Portabella's 'Vampire-Cuadecuc' by using the same method, but also by returning to the electronic soundtrack written by Carles Santos.
Programme:
Pere Portabella
- Vampir - Cuadecuc (ES, 1970, 66', b&w, 16mm)
Ben Rivers
- A distant Episode (GB, 2015, 18', b&w, 16mm)