European Films

FILM OF THE WEEK

The Neapolitan underworld is brutally shoved into the limelight in Matteo Garrone's Gomorra (Gomorrah). Now playing in Portugal, Norway and the UK.

INTERVIEW

French Shooting Star Nicolas Cazalé (Le Fils de l'épicier / The Grocer's Son) tells us he "just" wants to make interesting films.

Sebastián Mantilla in postproduction on 'Next to Babilonia'

Written by the editor

Monday, 11 December 2006

Spanish director Sebastián Mantilla on the set of 'Next to Babilonia'. Photo (c): Novart Media Films, 2006.

Spanish director Sebastián Mantilla has wrapped filming and has gone into postproduction on his first feature film Next to Babilonia, which is set during the Iraq War. During the last day of the Spanish deployment in said war, an Iraqi-origin soldier (played by newcomer Amaia Arzua) gets trapped in an ambush, leading her to fight a new war. Next to Babilonia is Matilla's debut feature, after having directed several short films. It is not yet clear when the film will be released.

The film is a Spanish-Moroccan co-production and was filmed mostly on location in Marracuecos, with some interiors shot in Barcelona. Besides newcomer Amaia Arzua, the film also stars Catalan actor Pep Ribas and Moroccan thespian Slimani Abdelaziz. Next to Babilonia was written by the director with Bianca Smanio and shot by cinematographer Pavel Hoffa. More photos and information (in Spanish) are available on this blog here.