Director Rubén Sánchez premieres ‘La Verbena’, a film produced by Carla Fernández and starring Gabriel De Almeida and Robin Reese, shot in Barcelona. It is a film about sexual diversity, HIV, friendship and love. ‘An ode to equality’ in the words of the director.

The production is an aesthetic, narrative and conceptual challenge that focuses on the reunion of Àlex and Marc, marked by two events that have an impact on both characters. On the one hand, Gabriel De Almeida plays Àlex, a young man who is about to become a father and who struggles with the acceptance of his homosexuality. On the other hand, Robin Reese plays Marc, his best friend, who brings with him a piece of news that they will both have to come to terms with.

Throughout the film, the characters evolve, revealing their secrets to accepting themselves. Carla Fernández produces her first film with Rubén Sánchez, who recently released ‘Furias’ on Prime Video and Filmen. The two wanted to tell this LGTBI-themed story to reflect the difficulty of accepting one’s sexual identity.

In the words of Rubén Sánchez: ‘I believe that cinema can change the view on many things and that Gabriel and Robin have taken on a very complicated role, achieving an exceptional performance. Just like the rest of the cast in this film, Gabriel and Robin are wonderful and I am convinced that their careers will be stellar. I have based the acting work on a relationship of trust between director and actors to build the characters.

I would also like to thank Carla Fernández, whose enthusiasm and dedication have been crucial to the production of this film. I would also like to highlight the technical team led by Ferran Miret as director of photography, Ammar Lo Hachemi as production manager, Martí Estupinyà as cinematographer, Max Ponce as assistant and Alberto Sáez as soundman’.

Plot

On a warm summer night in Barcelona, Àlex (Gabriel De Almeida) and his girlfriend Anna (Aida Quintana) join their friends for a lively party. The unexpected arrival of Marc (Robin Reese), an old friend of Àlex’s from London, brings with it revelations that challenge their relationship and detonate their secrets. As the party progresses, the characters are forced to confront their own fears and desires amidst a festive atmosphere. The verbena becomes a catalyst for introspection and self-discovery, testing the bonds of friendship and love. It is a heartfelt and moving exploration of personal relationships and the complexities of human connections in one unforgettable evening.