Film until friends die, a dramatic comedy that leans on the margins of friendship and time, closes the official program at the Alicante International Film Festival on June 9. This feature marks the first long-format work by Javier Veiga, who also wrote the script and stars opposite Martha Hazas and Mauricio Ochman in a Spanish-Mexican co-production. Other national feature contenders in the official slate will be announced soon.
The film blends humor with life’s pressures, inviting viewers to see how priorities shift when the unexpected happens. It is a writer’s comedy that is intimate, emotional, and deeply personal, balancing laughter with thoughtful reflection.
“Closing the Alicante Film Festival with my debut feature as a director is a moment I hold dear,” Veiga said. “I first learned about the festival when we were just starting out in cinema, and I had the chance to attend as an actor in some featured films. Later, as a director of short works, I earned recognition with one of them at the festival’s tenth edition.”
The director spoke about the Alicante event, now celebrating its twentieth edition. He described it as a premier festival in Spain and said that closing the official segment with his first feature in this milestone year felt like a meaningful moment, a circle drawn. He hopes the film resonates with audiences there and that the collaboration will continue to grow.
The film follows Maria, Nacho, and Suso, three lifelong friends who have shared everything. When a startling secret emerges—the possibility that one of them may be dying—the trio must navigate plans, promises, reconciliations, laughter, and tears. The story unfolds to reveal how the smallest, everyday moments gain weight when confronted with mortality.
Set in Galicia, the production features Veiga’s hometown and includes Miguel P. Gilaberte in the cast with a score composed by Alfred Tapscott. The project also includes collaborations with several artists, among them four songs performed by musician Xoel López.
Festival director Vincent Seva shared his enthusiasm for Veiga’s participation in this edition, noting Veiga’s perseverance and early support for the festival. He called it an honor to close the official section with the director’s first feature on this anniversary and expressed confidence in the film’s future successes.
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Javier Veiga, born Pontevedra in 1973, is an actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, comedian, and producer who works across film, television, and theatre. His early forays into audiovisual direction include short films Save me and What do hyenas laugh at, which earned nearly 200 awards at festivals worldwide, establishing him as a prominent voice in short-form Spanish cinema.
As an actor, Veiga gained broad recognition on television through Comedy Club, which earned him the Ondas Award. His screen credits include titles such as Year of the Tick, School of Seduction, and Black Prickly Pear, among others. He has also pursued theatre, writing, directing, and performing in his own productions, while continuing to expand his dramatic and comedic work for the stage.
Veiga’s television and film projects often reflect his signature blend of humor and insight. He created and produced the daily sitcom Tony and later developed Little Coincidences, a romantic comedy that marked the first Spanish Amazon Prime Video production, running for three seasons across multiple regions. The show later appeared on Antena 3 and several other platforms across Europe and the Americas, while discussions about an American remake drew attention from major studios.