Two films from the Alicante-based studio Jaibo Films earned multiple prizes at the Málaga Film Festival. The first to be recognized is Los tonos mayores, Ingrid Pokropek’s feature debut, which won the Silver Biznaga for Best Ibero-American Film. The lead actress, Sofia Clausen, received the award for Best Female Interpretation. The movie is a co-production between Argentina and Spain, produced by Gong Cine, 36 Caballo, and Jaibo Films.
In another thread, a different Jaibo Films project took home top honors. Saturno, a documentary feature by Daniel Tornero, was awarded the Silver Biznaga Audience Prize at Málaga. The director explains that the work reflects on a family shadow that emerged after learning that his grandfather was involved in abuse, and it aims to shed light on the ongoing presence of sexual abuse against children.
“When in 2018 my grandfather was detained for child abuse and an attempted kidnapping of an eight-year-old girl, a personal and family process begins. I realize that the myth of the father figure breaks, and shadows and echoes spread through my family,” notes Tornero, an Alicante native. He believes it is important to show that such situations occur so they do not remain a constant taboo. This debut is a contemplative work about paternal relationships, centered on the grandfather and his later reunion with him after the arrest for pedophilia.
What unites these two works, beyond their success at one of the country’s most prestigious festivals, is the signature of Jaibo Films, the Alicante-based company led by Adán Aliaga. The studio was founded in 2006 after the success of My Grandmother’s House and has grown into a niche player in independent cinema.
Jaibo Films positions itself as a creative studio involved in the entire filmmaking process. It emphasizes supporting new talent, and its roster includes feature films, animation, documentaries, and short-form works. The company stays attuned to emerging audiovisual languages and also offers production services in Alicante and New York City.