The Ministry of Culture and Sports completed the acquisition of the file of Luis García Berlanga in exchange for approximately 357,000 euros. After prolonged negotiations with the Berlanga family, a goodwill agreement allowed the transfer of 74 boxes containing a wide range of documents gathered during the filmmaker’s life to state public collections.
Since the family sold their Somosaguas home several years ago, the material has been stored at Filmoteca Española, an affiliate of the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA). Filmoteca Española is responsible for its preservation and dissemination as part of the national heritage.
As approved by the ministry, the Government will keep the collection at the Filmoteca facilities in Madrid, held for protection. It will be stored in the Spanish Film Library for the time being, with its final destination yet to be determined.
Earlier this year, Culture Minister Miguel Iceta indicated a willingness to explore the possibility of housing Berlanga’s Archive in Valencia, the filmmaker’s hometown, for obvious reasons. The Berlanga family has repeatedly expressed a preference for the collection to be displayed in Valencia. They expressed that the best tribute would be a physical space where future generations can encounter their father’s legacy, noting that they would have liked the archive to be in Valencia when Fernando García-Berlanga received the Levante-EMV Award in 2021.
Another son, José Luis García-Berlanga, commented that the decision about transferring the archive to Valencia rests with the Ministry of Culture and the regional government. He expressed hope that the archive could travel to Valencia and said he would be excited to see it exhibited in his hometown. He also noted that the Berlanga family did not set any conditions for a potential Valencia transfer during negotiations.
Since the publication of this newspaper last year, the regional government has signaled its intent not to let Berlanga’s corporate memory fade after the centennial year in 2021. Plans were announced to offer a dedicated space to study and disseminate his work, showcasing personal memoirs and objects related to his films.
Presidential sources confirmed that the ministry remained open in principle to finalizing the Berlanga dossier in Valencia, while acknowledging there was no specific destination or formal commitment yet.
Sandra Gómez, Valencia’s deputy mayor, stated that the next step would be for the city to host the archive and work to identify ideal spaces that would become reference sites for Berlanga. She indicated the ministry could assist in evaluating suitable areas for display and study.
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The archive presents a diverse range of materials covering Berlanga’s entire career. The ministry describes it as one of the most complete and complex files received by the Spanish Film Library. Its conservation and future consultations are expected to illuminate Spain’s cultural life and its most significant artistic figures of the past century.
The collection is organized into several categories, including personal and family documents, creative work, working materials, correspondence, awards, souvenirs and personal items, graphic documents, magazines and press clippings, and works created by others.
Personal and family materials include intimate items such as family photo albums, childhood notebooks, documents from Berlanga’s time with the Blue Division, Valencia Football Club season tickets, and collections of Christmas cards from other film figures.
The original scripts, either typed or handwritten, with Berlanga’s own notes and ideas, are among the works in creation. Among them are various versions of some of his best-known films such as What Happened to the Happy Couple, Welcome Mr Marshall!, Do Not, along with numerous unfinished project scripts.
According to the ministry, the archive documents Berlanga’s conflicts with censorship under Franco and provides a firsthand look at the impact of censorship on one of Spain’s most influential cultural works of the modern era. It also contains many drafts of speeches, conference talks, and other appearances spanning several decades.
The archive preserves correspondence with notable figures in Spanish cinema, including Rafael Azcona, Juan Antonio Bardem, Basilio Martín Patino, Luis Ciges, and José Luis López Vázquez. It also houses nearly a hundred awards, memorabilia, and personal items such as documents from the 1962 Oscar ceremony when “Placido” was nominated.
Photos, posters and illustrations
Graphic documentation forms a significant portion of Berlanga’s legacy. The collection includes photographs from positive and negative prints, and images spanning personal, family, and professional spheres, alongside corporate and political actions related to his films.
Among the materials are numerous drawings by Berlanga on various themes, including some that are erotic, others featuring characters, objects, or comics. The drawings employ a range of media, from pencil and watercolor to felt-tip pen. Notebooks with storyboards for films such as Welcome Back, Mr Marshall! and Kalabuç, as well as plans for What Happened to the Happy Couple, are included, along with location stills and graphic files.
The collection is complemented by festival materials, promotional items for Berlanga’s films, posters from his era and others, and photocopies of press clippings, newspapers, and interviews. It also contains information about Berlanga’s films across different publications.