• The director attended the 71st SEMINCI alongside actresses Emma Suárez and Elena Anaya, as well as other members of the crew, to present the European premiere of her debut feature film
• One of the three films competing in the Official Section, Hermanas explores the rifts and silences within a family in the wake of a case of sexual abuse

After directing several internationally acclaimed short films, Ione Hernández Sáenz makes her feature film debut with Hermanas, which is having its European premiere at the 71st SEMINCI. The film, one of three Spanish titles competing for the Golden Spike, was presented by Hernández alongside other members of her team: actresses Emma Suárez, Elena Anaya, and Carlota Keiko; actor Josean Bengoetxea; and producers Lara Izagirre (Gariza Films) and María Zamora (Elástica Films).

Suárez and Anaya play Chelo and Marta, two sisters with an unbreakable bond that is put to the test when a case of sexual abuse within the family comes to light. “I was interested in that powerful bond between the sisters, but I didn’t want to stop there—I wanted to expand it to the broader family dynamic. So I created this family landscape, starting with the most obvious elements and gradually revealing all the layers. I wanted to explore what prevents these characters from reacting, and what they feel because of those family ties,” Hernández shared about this project, which she developed over many years.

Two Actresses

The filmmaker also noted that the choice of the two actresses was something she was certain of from the moment she began thinking about the sisters: “I needed the story I wanted to tell to have legitimacy, and Emma Suárez provided that—she has such a significant presence throughout the history of Spanish cinema. On the other hand, in Elena I saw a fragility, an extreme vulnerability that was essential for the character I had written.”

For their part, the actresses discussed the challenges of portraying characters caught up in such a complex situation. “They are delicate characters who confront you with situations you don’t fully understand. I found myself wondering: why so much silence? Why don’t they speak? Entering that territory has been the most difficult part, but eventually you come to understand why they react that way – out of fear and out of silence,” said Suárez. Anaya echoed this sentiment: “My character is faced with a silence that has been imposed on her – a silence that these two sisters have imposed on themselves – and which marks her life forever.”

Breaking the silence

Silence is, in fact, one of the central themes of the film, which is set in 2021, before the age of consent law came into force. “Abuse is a problem when it is reported. If it isn’t reported, it isn’t a problem because nobody finds out. We all think we know what needs to be done, but when these cases arise within the family, it isn’t so easy. That’s why it’s important to have institutions that protect children from that silence, which, otherwise, can last forever.”

Similarly, producer María Zamora has pointed out that this remains an issue that people still find difficult to face head-on: “We’ve managed to secure good funding thanks to public funds, tax incentives and grants from the ICAA. We also have the support of EITB and HBO. But when you tell these stories, you realise that these processes are slowing down.” She added: “One in three women has suffered or will suffer sexual abuse at some point in their lives, and it is something that, moreover, often happens within the family. Here we had a story that needed telling to analyse why, when something like this happens, we freeze and don’t know how to use the tools we have to report it.”

Lara Izagirre also highlighted the role of Gariza Films in promoting emerging Basque female directors, whilst thanking SEMINCI and asking for a round of applause for the young actors who make up the cast and who attended the press conference from the audience.  “Everyone who makes a film wants to go to a festival. We were in Toronto and it was wonderful. And now here at SEMINCI, it couldn’t be better,” concluded Ione Hernández.