Mario Casas, born in A Coruña in 1986, has spent 17 years in the acting world. He has always stood in front of the cameras, even earning a Goya for his standout performance in No matarás. This week, Casas takes a new step in his career by directing his first feature film, My Soledad. Wings appears as the lead, along with his brother Óscar Casas.
How is a premiere experienced from a director’s perspective, especially when it’s scheduled for Friday?
Promoting a childlike film after nearly three and a half years goes far beyond acting. True, there are beautiful nerves and butterflies in the stomach, yet there is also a profusion of nerves. The anticipation lies in the moment when the film is finally public, because that is why cinema exists; still, there is a sense of goodbye to the process, since after the premiere the film will keep living in theaters for a while and then move to Netflix. It’s a bittersweet rite of passage, the moment when the creator must let go of the work itself.
What was the feeling when presenting the project at the Antonio Ferrandis Festival in Paterna, and how did the public react?
My Loneliness Has Wings was made to reach the audience, to move them, to make them feel with the characters. It’s a work for them. The director admits to feeling very nervous in Paterna, and though commitments in Madrid followed, there was excitement and curiosity among the people who attended.
What did the experience of transitioning to the other side of the camera reveal?
During the pandemic, the director began writing with Déborah François, not with a plan, but simply because the world had paused and the idea felt urgent. That collaboration started a momentum, almost as if destiny was steering the project. Looking back, the creator feels that the film was not merely shot and completed; it became a living thing, especially with the involvement of his brother. Gratitude fills the air for the support that helped to articulate the message behind My Loneliness Has Wings.
With a story that carries so much at its core, does this project feel especially personal?
It isn’t the director’s life story, but it contains elements at its heart. He even wrote parts of the script. The Barcelona outskirts serve as a familiar backdrop, places he has known and spent time in, which informs the writing. The Madrid journey resembles a life-changing trip from his youth, a kind of escape that nevertheless shapes the characters and their choices.
Was Óscar considered for the project from the start?
Always. Even before writing began, the director told his brother that if he ever made a film, he would want him involved. The aim was to share this first journey with someone precious, to explore new dimensions of performance together. Óscar’s role in the film marks a clear progression in his career.
Between working with a sibling and the other way around, which was easier?
Óscar is generous and unselfish, a bright presence who avoids ego. On set they discussed openly how to approach scenes, and the director strove to treat Óscar like any other actor. There were tense moments as he observed the director stepping into a more serious, director’s posture, but guidance and collaboration prevailed. Óscar worked hard and should be proud of what he achieved.
How did you manage non-professional actors Candela González and Farid Bechara with your acting experience?
The main aim was to establish trust. The director drew on personal experience of rehearsals and first days of filming to calm them and keep the journey enjoyable. They did not want it to end and the care given to them reflected a genuine commitment to their process.
Do you hope to direct again if the project succeeds?
If the film finds an engaged audience, there is a desire to continue directing while continuing to act. Directing is a longer, more challenging road, but it offers a fresh lens on cinema. The early experiences reveal a field full of potential and learning, and there is a strong wish to pursue more directing opportunities in the future.
What other exciting acting projects are on the horizon?
A new collaboration with Rodrigo Cortés, Escape, marks a notable upcoming project. The film represents another milestone as Cortés produced his first project in Spain for Martin Scorsese. Additionally, there is a forthcoming project spanning Barcelona and the Netherlands in November with new director Gerard Oms, who has served as a mentor over the years.
Despite a solid acting career, is there fear of the phone not ringing?
That fear remains. Even with accomplishments, there is always concern about the next project. The only option is to keep working with dedication, to push boundaries, and to pursue a broader range of roles while embracing the inevitable uncertainties of a creative life. The aim is to keep moving forward, to stay restless, to pursue meaningful cinema, and to see what happens next.
Which directors have left a mark on you, and how do they influence your work?
Rodrigo Cortés is one director the filmmaker admires and hopes to collaborate with. Every director leaves something behind, an impression that threads through future projects, and the audience can sense those influences in the work.
What personal stamp do you want to leave on cinema?
The focus is feeling. It’s a film about characters and their emotional journeys, and the goal is to move the audience through honesty and presence. The admiration lies in the way the characters carry emotion in their eyes, in moments that stay with viewers long after the screen goes dark.