Saturno: A Family Documentary Debut by Daniel Turner

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Daniel Turner, a 32-year-old filmmaker born in Alicante, has spent a career rooted in short films and as an assistant director and producer. He is slated to shoot his first feature film next October with Jaibo Films, a production company based in Alicante, led by Adam Aliaga and Michael Molina, who have collectively accumulated more than two decades of hands-on experience across multiple roles in cinema and television.

Tornero makes his long-format debut with Saturn, a documentary that centers on a family story and unfolds across locations between Alicante and Elche. The project entered development with a plan to shoot two to three weeks, with some footage already captured in early 2021 as part of an initial phase that shaped the narrative and its potential reach.

The production progressed through a careful, steady process, drawing from professional contributions across the industry. A pivotal part of this development was Tornero’s residence at the Film Academy, which helped refine the script and advance the project toward production. Alongside fellow Alicantinos Javier Marco, Tornero emerged as one of twenty directors selected from nearly 700 submissions. Saturn was awarded a grant of 55,000 euros by the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA), a recognition that underscores national support for documentary storytelling. The project credits the Ministry of Culture for its backing prior to a notable accolade at the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest Laboratory, demonstrating the project’s early validation within the Spanish documentary ecosystem. (Source attribution: ICAA and festival program notes.)

– Daniel Turner – INFORMATION

Turner has spoken of the experience as exceptionally positive and formative. With the Jaibo crew, a strong mutual understanding developed from the outset, described as a meeting of minds and artistic vision. The director, who hails from Alicante and was born in 1989, has also lived in England and has spent significant time in the St. Vincent area. The journey includes membership in a cohort that completed a Cinematographic Direction degree and contributed to the City of Light Study Center as an educator, among other roles. Mariano Barroso, a figure Turner encountered during his time at the Film Academy, is highlighted as a key influence in understanding how a project should evolve from script to screen. Barroso notes that the process serves as a learning experience in directing and collaboration, while Turner and Javier Marco describe their exchange of ideas as a luxury that enriches both of their projects. (Source: Academy testimonials and festival conversations.)

Turner explains that his path toward feature-length documentary work grew from a deep interest in nonfiction storytelling. He believes that documentary cinema offers a direct line to authenticity and an ongoing commitment to avoid manipulation of the narrative. While he appreciates short formats, he sees the feature as essential to preserving the integrity of the story and ensuring that the audience experience remains unaltered by the filmmaker’s perspective. (Source: interview with the filmmaker.)

Images from Daniel Tornero’s feature project Saturn are being prepared for promotion and festival demos, reflecting the team’s confidence in the project’s momentum as production nears. Turner notes that recent support from ICAA is more than a financial milestone; it is a vote of confidence that strengthens the film’s standing in securing additional funding and inviting collaborators to join the project. The combination of institutional support and partnership with the film and À Punt Media keeps the production on track and amplifies motivation as the team advances toward principal photography. (Source: production updates and funding announcements.)

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