The Catalan Film Academy and Catalonia International collaborate for the fourth consecutive year to internationalize Catalan cinema

The Catalan Film Academy and Catalonia International are co-organizing the Catalyst for Talent project for the fourth consecutive year. This is an initiative to internationalize the acting talent of Catalan cinema and provide Catalan actors with tools and practical advice to focus their careers on an international level, as well as putting them in contact with foreign casting directors.

The opening took place in Barcelona on Monday, 30 June, with welcoming words by the president of the Academy, Judith Colell, and the Director-General of Catalonia International, Laura Foraster i Lloret. Catalan actors Aida Folch and Sergi López talked about their personal experience when it comes to pursuing an international career. Aida Folch has worked in countries such as Germany, Spain, the United States, France, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom, while Sergi López is known for his long and successful film career in France. The conversation was entitled "The path to the international scene: an open route" and was led by casting director Edu Pérez.

The international casting directors invited to this year's Catalyst for Talent are Nathalie Cheron (France), Piotr Bartuszek (Poland), Luis Rosales (Mexico) and Carolyn MacLeod (United Kingdom). All four will work with 10 actors selected based on their international potential and acting skills: Aleix Melé, Iñaki Mur, Chaymae Bel, Zoe Stein, Pablo Capuz, Angelina Llongueras, Max Grosse, Fanny Gatibelza, Jordi Farrés and Noemí Costa. A talk on the usefulness of social networks for actors, given by casting director Luci Lenox, and discussions on diversity in casting processes and how to make castings safe spaces, among others, have also been scheduled.

The workshops and talks will last until Wednesday and also include a visit to Can Calopa, a social inclusion project that promotes agroecology close to Barcelona, and they will conclude on Thursday evening with the Catalan Cinema Summer Festival.