THE OTHER WAY AROUND, Europa Cinemas Label
Directors’ Fortnight
Spanish director Jonás Trueba’s THE OTHER WAY AROUND (Volveréis) has won the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European film in the Quinzaine des Cinéastes section, it was announced last night by a jury of four exhibitors from the Network. 2024 marks the twenty first time the Label has been awarded in Cannes.
THE OTHER WAY AROUND will now receive the support of the Europa Cinemas Network, with additional promotion and incentives for exhibitors to extend the film’s run on screen.
The jury issued the following statement: “Jonás Trueba’s well-crafted and nuanced film has an unusual premise – it tells the story of a couple who embrace a novel ritual. Prior to their separation, they elect to celebrate their 15 year relationship with a party. Humorous and cleverly written, the film’s circular structure manifests generosity of spirit in its inspiring look at human relationships. It is a pleasing beacon of positivity, and one which we feel will appeal to audiences around Europe.”
Sold internationally by Memento International, the film is a Los Ilusos Films (Spain) production, co-produced with Les Films du Worso (France). The producers are Javier Lafuente and Jonás Trueba.
The screenplay is by Jonás Trueba, Itsaso Arana and Vito Sanz, with photography by Santiago Racaj, sound by Álvaro Silva Wuth, Pablo Rivas Leyva and Raquel Martín, production design by Miguel Angel Rebollo, editing by Marta Velasco and music by Iman Amar, Ana Valladares and Guillermo Briales.
The cast includes Itsaso Arana (Ale), Vito Sanz (Alex).
Synopsis: Ale is a film director and Alex is an actor. After fifteen years together, they decide to go their separate ways and begin to act on an old joke made by Ale's father, that separations – and not unions – are cause for celebration. They announce their break-up party to numerous members of friends and family, in a bid to try and convince themselves of the reality of their separation. Coupledom – whether getting together, staying together, making up, or breaking up – is synonymous with film-making.
Jonás Trueba was born in Madrid in 1981, he made his debut with Every Song is about Me, which was nominated for a Goya. He followed this up with The Wishful Thinkers and The Romantic Exiles, which won the Special Jury Prize in Malaga. The Reconquest won the Prize Ojo Crítico. His film The August Virgin was nominated for a César in 2021 and was a hit in France. Who’s Stopping Us, a triple award-winner at San Sébastián, won the Goya for Best Documentary in 2022.
The Cannes Europa Cinemas Label Jury this year comprised Louise Casey Conneally (Galway Film Society, Galway, Ireland); Maarja Krass (Tartu Elektriteater, Tartu, Estonia); Rémi Labé (Cinéma Le Navire, Valence, France) and Tamara Visković (Kinoteka Zlatna Vrata, Split, Croatia).
The Label is also awarded in Berlin, Venice, Karlovy Vary, and at Locarno. Recipients of the Label honoured at Cannes in the past include: Un Beau Matin/One Fine Morning, A Chiara, Alice et le Maire, Mustang, 12:08 East of Bucharest, La Pivellina, Le Quattro Volte, The Repentant, The Selfish Giant, Les Combattants and Mercenaire.
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Press Enquiries: Charles McDonald
charles@charlesmcdonald.co.uk
+44 7785 246 377
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Photos credits "THE OTHER WAY AROUND": THE OTHER WAY AROUND - Los Ilusos Films 2024