Summary:
After studying Marketing and Advertising and then Film Direction, Iker Elorrieta, born in Bilbao in 1977, moved on to Santiago de Compostela where he began working on animated feature films for Filmax Entertainment. In 2012, he launched Pantoma Films, a production company through which he directed and produced advertising campaigns and a variety of audio-visual projects. Since 2016 he has balanced advertising with documentary filmmaking while pursuing his first feature film, El radioaficionado. The story follows a 30-year-old autistic man named Nikolas as he returns to his hometown after his mother’s death. He hopes to complete a mission that will take him to the open sea within two days. There, he reconnects with Ane, his only childhood friend, who eagerly offers help. Yet the hurdles Nikolas faces in communication complicate her efforts and color their journey with emotional depth and realism. The narrative explores themes of perseverance, friendship, and resilience in the face of personal challenges, painting a vivid portrait of a life shaped by both ambition and vulnerability. Pantoma Films’ involvement underlines a commitment to character-driven storytelling and authentic, human-scale cinema that resonates with audiences across North America.
This project places emphasis on intimate dialogue, carefully crafted visuals, and a slow-burn tempo that invites viewers to observe how subtle social cues and environmental details influence a person navigating social and logistical barriers. The filmmakers aim to depict the protagonist’s inner world with sensitivity and honesty while presenting the external world as a mirror of his moods, struggles, and small moments of triumph. The result is a film that invites empathy and curiosity, encouraging audiences to consider what communication means beyond words and how small acts of support can alter a journey that seems almost impossible at first glance. In conversations around the project, the team discusses the importance of accessibility, community connection, and the power of storytelling to bridge gaps between different ways of experiencing life. In this way, El radioaficionado aspires to be both a thoughtful artistic work and a relatable, inspirational experience for viewers who seek authentic portrayals of disability and determination in contemporary cinema.