The #MeToo movement that began with allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017 has echoed through Spain, drawing heightened scrutiny to sexual violence within the film and theater industries. After years of isolated incidents, anonymous reports, and multiple legal complaints, several Spanish actresses have publicly named individuals connected to harassment cases. The following summary highlights known cases within Spain’s theater and cinema communities up to now.
Carlos Vermut
Three women, according to an investigation published by El País that included the victims’ affidavits, asserted they were subjected to sexual violence by the director of the film The Magical Girl. The incidents allegedly occurred between May 2014 and February 2022, with the filmmaker using his status in the industry to exert control and coerce sexual activity without consent.
Three women accuse director Carlos Vermut of sexual violence
In response to the allegations, Vermut, a director and screenwriter who won the San Sebastián Golden Shell award in 2014, acknowledged that he had engaged in sexual activity described as rough but insisted it was always consensual.
Armando Ravelo
In relation to a complaint against Vermut, Canarian artist Koset Quintana accused film director Armando Ravelo (notable works include Once Upon a Time in the Canary Islands, 2023, and The Skin of the Volcano, 2021) of pressuring her into sex, offering drugs, and showing pornography when she was only 14 years old.
Many actresses accuse filmmaker Armando Ravelo of sexual and psychological abuse
Ravelo publicly acknowledged concerns raised by EFE this week and subsequently announced his retirement from cinema. He stated that in 2014, at age 31, he was intoxicated and believed he had acted without consequences. He described struggles with a sex addiction, which he said he sought help for through therapy, and he expressed remorse for the harm caused to many women with whom he purportedly had long‑term relationships.
Javier Perez Santana
The first criminal complaint in the wake of the MeToo surge followed filmmaker Javier Pérez Santana (My emptiness and I, 2022). He faced accusations of sexual assault against an actress during a party after a premiere celebration, with the incident occurring around the time of the 2023 Feroz Awards. He was detained by local police after authorities arrived at the workplace, where the alleged touching and harassment occurred.
The Theater Institute
The newspaper Ara conducted an investigation in which about a dozen teachers were implicated in cases of sexual harassment and abuse of power at the institution. Three professors were named: Joan Ollé, Jorge Vera, and Berty Tovías. Ollé remained in his teaching role for years after, while Vera and Tovías had already retired. Testimonies described sustained abuse of power and a pattern of derogatory and sexually explicit remarks toward students over decades.
Luis Maria Ferrandez
In 2021, ElDiario.es published statements from six women describing experiences with film producer and director Luis María Ferrández (The night an intern met Emiliano Revilla, 2016; The wounded screen, 2014). Four of the women were students who described encounters framed as dates or professional mentorship that blurred into coercion. Several recalled insisting they did not want to engage sexually while feeling pressure to comply with requests tied to opportunities or advancement.
Lleida Theater Class
Antonio Gómez, former director of the Aula de Teatre de Lleida, faces ongoing investigations into alleged sexual abuse. Reports from 2018 indicate nine students spoke of abuse at the center between 2001 and 2008, with the accused individuals aged 13 to 16 at the time. The allegations were highlighted in the documentary Groc sostre, which also touched on Isabel Coixet. Following the documentary, prosecutors filed a complaint last October alleging ongoing sexual abuse, supported by testimony from two new complainants. The victims claim they were touched inappropriately during their studies, and they contend that other leaders at the institution were aware of the incidents but remained silent.
The case of Maribel Verdú
In 2022, actress Maribel Verdú spoke on Lo de Évole about abuses in the profession, noting that power imbalances exist both inside and outside the industry. She described personal experiences of childhood exploitation and abuse, noting that she pursued legal action with the support of her family, while acknowledging that some individuals may not have dared to speak out. Verdú emphasized the need for accountability and a safer environment for all workers in the arts.
Anonymous references
Several actresses have spoken about harassment without naming specific individuals. After the MeToo wave began, Leticia Dolera wrote about abuse she suffered from a director early in her career and later experiences on another shoot. She also criticized the pervasive silence and complicity among colleagues. In the same era, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Carla Hidalgo, Maru Valdivieso, Yvonne Blake, and others described experiences that highlighted systemic power dynamics in the industry and the need for reform.
Gérard Depardieu
According to La Vanguardia, a Spanish journalist reported that Gérard Depardieu faced a rape accusation in December for events dating back to 1995. The complainant, Ruth Baza, traveled to Paris to be interviewed by a translator for Cinéma magazine on the occasion of a premiere. Depardieu, who has faced multiple legal challenges, was alleged to have kissed the victim and touched her inappropriately, with the report recounting the subsequent shock and memory gaps described by the journalist.