The Catalan Film Academy and Catalonia International are collaborating for the fifth consecutive year in organizing this project aimed at promoting Catalan actors internationally

From 29 June to 1 July, the Catalan Film Academy and Catalonia International are co-organising the Catalyst for Talent project for the fifth consecutive year. The initiative seeks to promote the acting talent of Catalan cinema and provide Catalan actors with practical tools and advice to help them develop their careers internationally, while also connecting them with foreign casting directors.

The opening event took place yesterday in Barcelona. The event began with welcome remarks from the Academy's Director, Laia Aubia, and the Director-General of Catalonia International, Laura Foraster i Lloret. This was followed by the opening talk, entitled "Challenges for casting and acting in the age of artificial intelligence", featuring Carlota Planas, a lawyer specialising in intellectual property and new digital technologies, and Joan Rosés, editor of the Switch Observatory at the Audiovisual Cluster of Catalonia. One of the objectives was to discuss AI tools such as digital humans, automated dubbing and the misuse of images, all of which pose clear risks of replacement and unfair compensation for actors.

On the following days, the programme also includes roundtable discussions on access to the international market, best practices for making castings safe spaces, and how to build international careers while remaining rooted in the local market. The latter debate will take place on the evening of 1 July in collaboration with Filmmakers Europe. All these activities are open to the public but require prior registration.

The international casting directors invited to this year's Catalyst for Talent are Makis Gazis (Greece), Maurilio Mangano (Italy), Carolyn McLeod (United Kingdom) and Patricia Vasconcelos (Portugal). Over two days, they will work behind closed doors with 10 actors selected for their international potential and acting skills: Andrea Guasch, Anna Maruny, Christian Caner, Christian Rodrigo, Edu Lloveras, Irina Bravo, Jiana Awwad, Maria Salarich, Mireia Rey and Nicole Torres.