Film producer Armando Ravelo announces retirement after being reported for sexual harassment

“I think I speak for many people when I say that we are fed up with so many men in high places using their power to rape, abuse and manipulate others. In this case, we also have a film director based in the Canaries, financed by the Islands and run by the Government.” supported,” she began her piece, published on Saturday, following complaints from three women about allegations of “sexual violence” against Spanish filmmaker Carlos Vermut.

Publication of this news Countrywas the trigger Koset Quintana He reported through his networks that he met Ravelo during a workshop at a video store, where the filmmaker was giving a talk on the history of celluloid, and recounted some phrases from conversations held in 2014, such as when Armando Ravelo asked him: “Do you like doing bad things?” he blurts out, “I’m too old to do other bad things with you,” and then adds: “Well thought out, that wouldn’t be bad either.”

Quintana added: “Not only did he encourage me to have sex with him, but he also talked to me about drugs and porn.” Her post sparked hundreds of comments showing their support for the creator and other actresses who reported experiencing similar incidents of harassment by Armando Ravelo.

Microclima Film Producers Association rejects sexist violence and focuses on temporary help Ravelo received

In his statement to Efe, Ravelo said in 2014, when he was 31 years old, “I was very drunk and thought I was going unpunished.”This, along with his apparent sex addiction, which he claims to have overcome after going to therapy, led him to “do a lot of harm” to a lot of women with whom he had “long-term relationships”. That is why the Gran Canarian filmmaker, who admitted to Koset Quintana’s complaint that he “could never work in the cinema in the Canary Islands again”, now understands that the creator’s complaint “has joined the bandwagon of many people” because he left “Many corpses along the way.”

“Reprehensible” behavior

Ravelo also denies committing sexual violence or any physical violence, emphasizing that he thought Koset Quintana was an “adult” when he met him in person, so he believed he was joking when he told him he was underage. He says he had such contact with her but admitted to “reprehensible” behavior which he understands should be reported. Moreover, he encourages everyone who encounters such a situation to do the same, but says “don’t put everyone in the same bag, every situation in the same bucket.”

Ravelo emphasizes that the therapy he received in recent years helped him “take control of his life and heal,” which is why he chose to “honestly” confront the consequences of complaints like Quintana’s.

“As the Government of the Canary Islands, we have a firm and unshakable position. We condemn any behavior, verbal expression, harassment that violates women’s dignity and express our absolute support to the Canarian artist who has taken a step forward to condemn femicide. He was sexually assaulted by the Canarian director Armando Ravelo when he was 14 years old.” “A lawsuit was filed because he made offers,” he said. Candelaria Delgado, Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children and Families, Government of the Canary Islands Regarding the aforementioned sexual abuse complaint against filmmaker Armando Ravelo, published by Koset Quintana, which led to new accusations from other actresses who say they were harassed by Ravelo.

In her statements, Candelaria Delgado showed the support of the Government of the Canary Islands to all the actresses who participated in this complaint on social networks, and also confirmed the decision to publicly express various derogatory attitudes, abuse of power or psychological harassment. the director towards them. “This government will always condemn any aggression, abuse or harassment that any man in any sector or field may express through machismo.”

The counselor provides resources to assist women who are victims of gender-based violence, in this case any artist who reports this situation. Canary Equality Institute (ICI). “We cannot allow sexist abuse and behavior to be normalized from a position of power, not everything is okay, women need to know that they are not alone. We encourage all women who face such situations to verbalize it, to tell others about it. Let those around you know about it and believe that if this case is brought to justice the facts will come to light.” We believe.”

subsidies

Finally, with reference to the subsidies received by Ravelo, Candelaria Delgado reminds that all subsidies from the Government of the Canary Islands are granted in accordance with the strictest legality.

In this sense, the Microclima Film Producers Association of the Canary Islands expressed its unequivocal rejection of all forms of violence against women, conveying “our full support to women who are or have been subjected to all forms of sexist violence”, and the assistance given to Armando Ravelo, “in the case of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Presidency It was made as a candidate and did not go through the official channels that other filmmakers have to go through”. to regional and island selection processes.

They recall from the Microclima Association that candidate aid is “illegitimate”, if not illegal. “All European recommendations indicate the need to manage public subsidies by call. Criteria of transparency, equality and non-discrimination are followed.”

CIMA released a statement

For your part, Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media Association (CIMA) He published a statement in which he condemned sexual violence against women and all forms of abuse, and showed his support for those who were harassed and felt their rights were violated, and expressed concern about victims’ fear of reporting violent incidents. occurred in the field of cinema and audiovisual.

“Sexual harassment is a manifestation of this.” abuse of power In situations where power is predominantly in the hands of men, this harassment is directed at women and is one of the expressions of violence against women. Unfortunately, Spanish cinema and audiovisual cinema are no exception to this reality and We believe it is time to say ENOUGH“.

CIMA announced that they are working to take measures such as creating protocols and adding special clauses against sexual harassment to employment contracts. “Culture in general and the audiovisual sector in particular must lead the task of social defense of women’s rights. We therefore call on women and men in the Spanish audiovisual sector not to allow situations of harassment to continue. We hope that this change will take place as soon as possible. We are aware of the fear that people who experience these situations often experience. If you need our help: [email protected]“concludes the letter sent by the filmmakers.

Claim at the Goya Awards

The Film Academy stated that it stands in solidarity with victims of sexual violence and announced that it will make visible the demand for an end to abuse in cinema at the Goya Awards gala to be held in Valladolid on February 10. “This body, which represents all film professionals in our country, wishes to condemn all forms of abuse and reaffirm its complete rejection of such acts, as well as its solidarity and support to victims who report such abuses, and the need to continue reporting any cases of harassment. ” says the Academy in a statement. Thus, she reacts to the statements of three women who accused the filmmaker Carlos Vermut of sexual violence and the statements of the Canarian artist who accused Armando Ravelo of encouraging her to have sex and offering him drugs and porn when he was 14 years old.