Baraka

PRESS KIT

CONTACT INFO

Director - Néstor Ruiz Medina +34 618 03 64 21 [email protected] Producer - Fernando J. Monge +34 665 55 41 97 [email protected]

7 Cuerdas Films

Baraka

PRESS NOTE Baraka is a short film directed by Nestor Ruiz Medina which takes place during the past conflict in

Irak and where human side is the real leading role. Baraka is a short film that's born from the need of telling how children see and feel violence. Under the theme "War is not a children's game", "Baraka" tells Abdel and Umayr's story, two very closed iraqi brothers who are forced to split from each other because of the war. Months later they run into each other but their relationship is not what it was. These two brothers represent every single child who are involved in any war conflict. Produced by 7 Cuerdas Films, Baraka is an independent production with no official support at all -not private nor governmental-. The process of making it real was a huge challenge for cast and crew due to the complexity on locations, script and action sequences. The shooting took 11 days and 3 months of rehearsals were needed for the children to learn to speak iraqi dialogues. The short film was shot in spanish, english and iraqi and is actually subtitled on 7 languages. Besides, It has a Original Soundtrack composed by Marcos Cruz, played by Bratislava Orchestra and conducted by David Hernando Rico who has been involved in many films. Shot in small town between Aranjuez and Toledo -Spain-, Baraka has a truly cared art direction that helps to take the audience to Irak conflict. Thanks to military advisors who actually were deployed in Irak and an iraqi citizen, the crew from "Baraka" made a strict work to get the most realism scenario in every single shot. Baraka shows not only rawness from the Irak War -with more than a million casualties- but also the most human side from the conflict. Wars like this are not only a matter of armies but also families and even children who has to leave their childhood to turn into an active soldier in a war. Baraka was released on the 44th Huesca International Film Festival and won the best first feature award. It also has been currently selected in more than 15 film festivals around the world and it's in the run for its nomination to the Goya Awards in 2018 -Spanish Academy Awards-.

7 Cuerdas Films

Baraka

SYNOPSIS Short synopsis: In the months before the war in Iraq , Abdel and Umayr , two brothers who are very close, will be forced to separate from each other. Months later, with the war in full swing, they will meet again , but neither of them is the same. Long synopsis: Umayr and his best friend are two Arab children who are cast in a compound banned in search of adventure. Inside they will meet Laura, a soldier of the Spanish army abducted by terrorist forces. Children will face the dilemma of helping her or leave her where she was found, in a site that should never have come. When the soldiers who have kidnapped Laura returns they will be forced to flee the three together. The young Umayr will discover that the whole place and the soldiers have something to do with his past.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Néstor Ruiz Medina (28 years old) is a director and scriptwriter. Since he was a child, he has been very passionate about audiovisual language. That is why he decided to tell stories that allows to create emotions He studies Audiovisuals Communications in Madrid, and then he creates his own film company (7 Cuerdas Films). Along these years, Néstor has been working in fiction, music videos, commercials and also his own shorts films. Now, he is son promotion of his short movie Baraka and also developing his first feature film: Yasuní, a co-production between Spain and Ecuador.

7 Cuerdas Films

Baraka

TECHNICAL SPECS Year: 2016 Runtime: 22 min Genre: Drama, war Certificate: 12 Country: Spain Release Date: 44th Huesca International Film Festival Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic. Format: 5K Anamorphic Camera: RED EPIC

CAST & CREW Directed by: Néstor Ruiz Medina Produced by: Fernando J. Monge, Néstor Ruiz Medina & Iñaki Ochoa Written by: Juan Luis Cordero & Néstor Ruiz Medina Cinematography by: Jorge Roig & Néstor Ruiz Medina Music by: Marcos Cruz OST Recording: Bratislava Symphony Orchestra Sound by: Juan Luis Cordero & James Muñoz Production company: 7 Cuerdas Films S.L Editing by: Ivan Gutierrez Special Effects by: Laura G. Loaisa Visual Effects by: Mario Lucero Makeup by: Laura G. Loaisa Art direction by: Ana Hernandez & Laura Juarez Camera: Iñaki Ochoa Cast: Esther Acebo, Son Khuory, Taha El Mahroug, Abel Serbouti, Samad Madkouri

7 Cuerdas Films

Baraka

FESTIVALS SELECTIONS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • •

Jan 2017 - Flickerfest International Short Film Festival Dec 2016 - CERTAMEN DE CORTOMETRAJES DE BUJARALOZ • Best young director - Néstor Ruiz Medina Nov 2016 - Rome Independent Film Festival Nov 2016 - I Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de Pilar de la Horadada Nov 2016 - FESTIVAL DE CORTOS VILLA DE LA OROTAVA Nov 2016 - International Izmir Short Film Festival Nov 2016 - FICEE - Festival Internacional de Cine Educativo y Espiritual de Ciudad Rodrigo Salamanca Oct 2016 - Octubre Corto Festival de Cine de Arnedo Oct 2016 - FESTIVAL DU COURT MÉTRAGE MÉDITERRANÉEN DE TANGER Sep 2016 - Festival de cine Internacional de Ponferrada Sep 2016 - Festival de Cine Astorga Sep 2016 - SHORTS MÉXICO - Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes de México Aug 2016 - Taratsa International Film Festival Jul 2016 - Islantilla Cinefórum Jun 2016 - Festival Internacional de Cine de Huesca • Best First Feature May 2016 - Festival YAQ Distribución • Best Short Movie • Audience Award • Best actress- Esther Acebo May 2016 - Short Film Corner Cannes Apr 2016 - Certamen Nacional de Cortometraje de L’ALFÀS DEL PI Apr 2016 - 2º Encuentro de distribución

OFFICIAL SITES Facebook: www.facebook.com/barakashortfilm/ Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1odWCQva9XE

Web: www.barakashortfilm.com

7 Cuerdas Films

Baraka

PRESS LINKS http://www.cortosbujaraloz.com/noticias https://allevents.in/fuenlabrada/taller-del-cortometraje-baraka-de-la-idea-a-la-pantalla/ 684770548340639 http://lnx.radiocine.org/wordpress/2016/05/26/cannes-2016-entrevista-a-fernando-mongey-nestor-ruiz-por-el-corto-baraka/ http://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/noticias/escenarios/bujaraloz-premia-cortometrajesexteen_1167718.html http://www.isla-cristina.com/primer-pase-de-cortometrajes-bajo-la-luz-de-la-luna-deislantilla/ http://www.huesca-filmfestival.com/concurso/palmares-2016/ http://www.festivaldelalfas.es/17-cortos-compiten-en-la-seccion-oficial-del-festival-de-cinede-lalfas-del-pi/ http://www.wearemovingstories.com/we-are-moving-stories-videos/2016/5/25/cannesshort-film-corner-baraka http://cortosfera.es/cortometrajes/noticias/ficha/254/#.WKWV3BhDl0t http://www.thehouseoffilms.com/es/noticias/2313-el-largo-todo-saldra-bien-y-el-corto%20homonimos-anonimos-compiten-en-el-islantilla-cineforum.html http://www.lalfas.es/concejalias/cultura/17-cortos-compiten-la-seccion-oficial-del-festivalcine-lalfas-del-pi/ http://www.heraldo.es/noticias/aragon/zaragoza-provincia/2016/12/18/santiagosamaniego-gana-certamen-cortos-bujaraloz-1148828-1101025.html

7 Cuerdas Films

Baraka

POSTER & FRAMES

7 Cuerdas Films

Baraka

7 Cuerdas Films