Ventura Pons
Encyclopedia
Ventura Pons Sala (born July 25, 1945, in Barcelona
, Catalonia
) is a Catalan
movie director
.
After a decade as a theatre director, Ventura Pons directed his first film in 1977, Ocaña, an Intermittent Portrait
, which was officially selected by the 1978 Cannes Film Festival
. With eighteen feature films, sixteen of which were produced by his own company Els Films de la Rambla, S.A., founded in 1985, he has become one of the best-known Catalan film directors.
His work has been shown at the best international film festivals, most notably at the Berlin International Film Festival
for many consecutive years.
He began his movie career making comedies about local customs (The Vicary of Olot and What's your bet, Mari Pili?, for example). Since 1995 he has chosen to adapt dramatic and comic texts of Catalan writers like Quim Monzó
(What It's All About), Josep Maria Benet i Jornet
(Actresses, Amic/Amat), Sergi Belbel
(Caresses, To Die (or not)), Lluís-Anton Baulenas
(Anita Takes a Chance, Idiot Love), Jordi Puntí (Wounded animals), Ferran Torrent (Life on the edge) and Lluïsa Cunillé (Barcelona (a map)).
In 1995 he was awarded the National Cinema Prize by the Government of Catalonia
, which also awarded him the Creu de Sant Jordi
in 2007.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
) is a Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
movie director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
After a decade as a theatre director, Ventura Pons directed his first film in 1977, Ocaña, an Intermittent Portrait
Ocana, an Intermittent Portrait
Ocana, an Intermittent Portrait is a 1978 Spanish documentary film directed by Ventura Pons. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* José Pérez Ocaña - Himself* Camilo - Himself* Guillermo - Himself...
, which was officially selected by the 1978 Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. With eighteen feature films, sixteen of which were produced by his own company Els Films de la Rambla, S.A., founded in 1985, he has become one of the best-known Catalan film directors.
His work has been shown at the best international film festivals, most notably at the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
for many consecutive years.
He began his movie career making comedies about local customs (The Vicary of Olot and What's your bet, Mari Pili?, for example). Since 1995 he has chosen to adapt dramatic and comic texts of Catalan writers like Quim Monzó
Quim Monzó
thumb|Quim MonzóQuim Monzó , is a contemporary Catalan writer of novels, short stories and discursive prose, mostly in Catalan. In the early 1970s, Monzó reported from Vietnam, Cambodia, Northern Ireland and East Africa for the Barcelona newspaper Tele/eXprés...
(What It's All About), Josep Maria Benet i Jornet
Josep Maria Benet i Jornet
Josep Maria Benet i Jornet is a Catalan Spanish playwright and screenwriter.In 1997 was awarded with the Creu de Sant Jordi by the Catalan government.-Theatre:* Una vella, coneguda olor...
(Actresses, Amic/Amat), Sergi Belbel
Sergi Belbel
Sergi Belbel i Coslado is a Catalan-Spanish playwright, and as of 2005 the director of the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya.-Career:...
(Caresses, To Die (or not)), Lluís-Anton Baulenas
Lluis-Anton Baulenas
Lluís-Anton Baulenas is a Catalan novelist and playwright.Among his works are the novels Rampoines 451 , Noms à la sorra , which was a finalist for the Sant Jordi Prize, Alfons XIV , also a finalist for the Sant Jordi Prize, El fil de plata , which was awarded the Serra...
(Anita Takes a Chance, Idiot Love), Jordi Puntí (Wounded animals), Ferran Torrent (Life on the edge) and Lluïsa Cunillé (Barcelona (a map)).
In 1995 he was awarded the National Cinema Prize by the Government of Catalonia
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
, which also awarded him the Creu de Sant Jordi
Creu de Sant Jordi
The Creu de Sant Jordi is the highest civil distinction awarded in Catalonia . It was established by the Generalitat de Catalunya autonomous government by virtue of the Decret 457/1981 de 18 de desembre in 1981.. The medal was designed by goldsmith Joaquim Capdevila.-Recipients:*List of...
in 2007.
Filmography
- 2010: A thousand morons (Mil cretins)
- 2009: A la deriva
- 2008: Strangers (Forasters)
- 2007: Barcelona (un mapa)
- 2006: Life on the edge (La vida abismal)
- 2005: Wounded animals (Animals ferits)
- 2004: Idiot love (Amor idiota)
- 2002: El Gran Gato
- 2001: Food of LoveFood of LoveFood of Love is a 2002 Spanish/German film based on the 1998 novel The Page Turner by David Leavitt. The screenplay was written by Ventura Pons who also directed the feature....
(Menja d'amor) - 2000: Anita Takes a Chance (Anita no perd el tren)
- 1999: To Die (Or Not) (Morir (o no))
- 1998: Beloved/Friend (Amic / Amat)
- 1997: CaressesCaressesCaresses is a 1998 film by Ventura Pons, originally titled Carícies in Catalan.-Synopsis:Barcelona is the scenario for eleven entwined stories sharing the same characters. The movie deals with a variety of intimate relationships, portraying characters who have to experience intense emotions which...
(Carícies) - 1996: Actresses (ActriusActriusActrius is a 1996 film directed by Ventura Pons. In the film, there are no male actors and the four leading actresses dubbed themselves in the Castilian version.-Synopsis:...
) - 1994: What It's All About (El perquè de tot plegat)
- 1993: Rosita, Please!
- 1992: Tonight Or Never (Aquesta nit o mai)
- 1990: What's Your Bet, Mari Pili? (Què t'hi jugues, Mari Pili?)
- 1989: Dammed Misery! (Puta misèria!)
- 1986: The Blonde at the Bar (La rossa del bar)
- 1981: The Vicary Of Olot (El vicari d'Olot)
- 1979: Informe sobre el FAGC
- 1978: Ocana, an Intermittent PortraitOcana, an Intermittent PortraitOcana, an Intermittent Portrait is a 1978 Spanish documentary film directed by Ventura Pons. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* José Pérez Ocaña - Himself* Camilo - Himself* Guillermo - Himself...
(Ocaña, retrat intermitent),