Director Alberto Rodríguez Reflects on Career and Upcoming HBO Series at Las Palmas Film Festival

Alberto Rodríguez, a leading figure in modern Spanish cinema, recently reflected on his career at the 6th Film Craft Conference during the 25th Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival. The Sevillian director discussed his journey from the uncertain, low-budget days of the 1990s to his role in building a thriving Andalusian film industry.

The director of Marshland (La isla mínima) and Prison 77 (Modelo 77)—films that have helped earn him three Goya Awards—emphasized that his success relies on the stability of his production teams. His long-term partnerships with screenwriter Rafael Cobos and composer Julio de la Rosa are central to his creative process. Rodríguez noted that his career only truly took off after the success of 7 Virgins (7 vírgenes), which allowed him to transition into professional filmmaking after years of working without proper infrastructure in 1990s Seville.

Rodríguez also addressed the balance between historical accuracy and audience experience. Reflecting on his series The Plague (La peste), he admitted that his choice to use dim, period-accurate lighting made the show difficult to watch on modern screens. He also defended his adaptation of Anatomy of a Moment (Anatomía de un instante), arguing that revisiting the 23F coup attempt is essential for teaching younger generations about key figures like Adolfo Suárez and Spain’s democratic history.

Looking ahead, Rodríguez confirmed he is developing a new HBO series. Currently in the writing stage, the project will explore 1980s Spain through the true-crime story of the disappearance of Santiago Corella, known as "El Nani." This new series continues his commitment to high-quality storytelling and his interest in examining the defining moments of Spain's recent past.