Spanish Cinema Professional Days at the University of Alicante Kick Off with Renowned Costume Designer Sonia Grande
The University of Alicante is launching the ninth edition of its Professional Days for Spanish Cinema this Thursday at the Ciudad de Alicante University Campus. The event opens with a focus on costume design, featuring Sonia Grande, a celebrated designer who has earned two Goya Awards and has long been a trusted collaborator of the renowned New York filmmaker Woody Allen, along with other prominent directors. The program presents a unique opportunity to explore the craft of film wardrobe and the broader art of cinematic storytelling through the eyes of an industry veteran who has shaped countless screen appearances with careful fabric, texture, and silhouette choices.
The first session, coordinated by Professor John Sanderson, is scheduled for this Thursday at 8:15 PM. It will take place at the UA campus located at 4 Ramon y Cajal Street, a venue that has housed many discussions about the evolving landscape of contemporary cinema. The calendar’s next gathering is set for March 26 and will welcome production designer Antxón Gómez, known for contributions to Madres paralelas, Julieta, and Che: Guerrilla, among other acclaimed projects. Attendees can expect an in-depth dialogue about the role of production design in shaping narrative tone, period accuracy, and the visual language that guides audiences through a director’s vision.
Sonia Grande, originally from Asturias but a long-time resident of the Alicante province, gained renewed recognition last year when she received the Fashion Cinema award at the Alicante Film Festival. Her collaboration portfolio includes six features with Woody Allen, as well as work with Pedro Almodóvar on four productions. Her willingness to embrace a wide range of director styles has also led her to collaborate with Alejandro Amenábar and other distinguished filmmakers from around the world, including Gonze1lez Ie1rritu, James Gray, Asghar Farhadi, Nancy Meyers, and Roland Joffe9. Through every project, Grande has demonstrated a nuanced approach to costume design that enhances character development while supporting the director’s storytelling ambitions.
Her achievements extend beyond individual film credits. In 1999 she earned two Goya Awards for La niña de tus ojos, a Fernando Trueba production, and in 2020 she was recognized for Mientras dure la guerra, directed by Alejandro Amenábar. Her work has also earned the Gold Medal for Fine Arts in 2016, a testament to her lasting impact on the visual fabric of modern Spanish cinema. The upcoming sessions promise insights into how wardrobe decisions contribute to period accuracy, character psychology, and the collective memory that cinema creates for audiences across Spain and beyond. The series continues to attract students, practitioners, and cinephiles who seek a deeper understanding of how costume and production design intersect with narrative and performance. The ongoing collaboration between the university and industry professionals aims to illuminate the practicalities of the craft while celebrating achievements that have helped shape the contemporary film landscape.