“I felt very safe filming ‘Creatura’ and it seemed strange to me that they said this was not normal.” He speaks with a quiet honesty, a remark attributed to Claudia Malagelada, who answered this newspaper by phone during a break at her high school. She had already earned Gaudí’s best new actress award for her role in Elena Martín’s film and will compete in several categories this Saturday as the Goya awards embrace the #MeToo movement with a call for complete equality among the teams that bring cinema to life. The 17-year-old Catalan performer is recognized for her work in the film, which was made in a close, non-hierarchical environment. They warned him that something wasn’t normal. In a year when the 38th edition of the awards from the Film Academy marks a departure from the past, the call for equality rings louder than ever.
For Malagelada, the entering into the film world was a gentle, successful introduction, even as new accusations about sexual violence in the industry—levelled at notable filmmakers such as Carlos Vermut or Armando Ravelo—begin to surface. The world she entered felt unfamiliar only months before. “Knowing that not every set operates like this makes me grateful and I hope I never have to endure pain like that,” she reflects from Sant Feliu de Llobregat. This early contact with audiovisual work helps her anticipate when she might feel unsafe or when odd things happen on set, she adds.
“I felt very safe filming ‘Creatura’ and it seemed strange to me that they said this was not normal.”
Claudia Malagelada, an actress, is certain she will continue to work and believes a new generation of women is reshaping cinema. In the era of #MeToo, the fight against sexual violence in the audiovisual sector grows stronger. Speaking about broader patterns, one producer and screenwriter noted for the film I Love You Madly commented on the nomination process and the responsibility women shoulder. The need to choose sides in history is a recurring theme in these conversations.
#Finished
The slogan #Finished resonates as a banner at premieres in hundreds of countries, echoing at major Spanish film festivals. More women are stepping into leadership roles within the industry, challenging old power dynamics and the traditional male-dominated milieu. Yet perception remains nuanced, and filmmakers still sense insecurity in on-set environments where men outnumber women. A 2022 report from the Association of Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media found women constituted 37 percent of the industry workforce.
“Women are complicit in what is happening. We must consider which side of history we want to be on.”
Carmen Garrido, a producer, reflects on the broader visibility of women in cinema. She highlights that while some categories show improvement, others are still firmly skewed toward men. The industry has yet to achieve parity in many technical areas, a gap that remains evident in different roles across projects.
In fields such as editing, special effects, production, script work, sound, directing, and cinematography, statistics from CIMA reveal persistent imbalances. Yet creators and performers also feel limited by traditional storytelling and stereotypes.
Code of silence and precarious jobs: the keys to why #MeToo hasn’t exploded in Spanish cinema
New generations are entering the film world with a sharpened sense of what is right and what is wrong. Malagelada notes that the shift has begun, but equal opportunity remains uneven. The aim is to ensure women gain recognition for skill, not gender, with opportunities given to talented directors and professionals based on merit.
More assets and security
Garrido, who hails from Malaga, champions greater female presence on sets. She emphasizes responsibility and the importance of providing opportunities to capable women. The path to ongoing involvement in major productions is helped when professionals prove their worth. According to data tracked by CIMA, the share of female candidates in Goya nominations increased from 40 percent in the past to 61 percent in 2024, with significant progress since four years earlier when the figure stood at 20.4 percent.
The rise of women in leadership roles has brought a different energy to sets. A Barcelona-based filmmaker, Arribas, notes a more relaxed atmosphere when the majority in the crew are women, which can unlock fresh ideas. Yet she also acknowledges that prominent, award-winning male directors can still dominate the conversation, silencing good proposals. Internal dynamics have evolved, but they still influence how ideas are received on set.
“Sometimes you have a good idea, but if you have a giant, a director with all the awards, you shut up.”
The producer Bruna Cooperative, behind successful documentaries like No Callarem, has implemented an action protocol against sexual assault. Even as representation improves, there remains a masculine core to many productions and budgets that do not yet reflect a feminist timeline. The remark that Netflix’s director is not a woman underscores the ongoing structural challenges.
Recent cases of sexual assault reinforce the need for clear protocols in the industry. Abuses persist and are sometimes normalized, even when they are condemned. Mar a Sangalli, editor of Mano de Hierro, notes that there are known situations that go unreported. A change is required, and he sees Netflix’s upcoming series as a proving ground for stronger safeguards.
Film schools and fees
The democratization of opportunities for women in the audiovisual sector is advancing, with film schools enrolling many more women. Quotas to close gender gaps have opened doors, yet some see quotas as a necessary stepping stone toward genuine equality. Garrido emphasizes that this is the shared space for everyone, and that the day will come when such precautions are no longer needed.
The discussion continues, with some voices noting that hiring on quotas can feel like a double-edged sword. The experience of working on a project can still hinge on whether a candidate is selected based on merit or meeting a demographic target.
“Asian characters are always there to be funny, they have no personality or plot.”
The gender balance debate extends beyond gender lines to broader representation. Xinyi Ye, nominated for best new actress for her role in Chinas, describes how Asian characters have historically been caricatures rather than fully realized people. There is a hope that Spain’s screen can reflect a more multiracial reality, and Arribas agrees that representation matters for all audiences.
Female filmmakers are beginning to tell their own stories, but the path to feminism in cinema remains a work in progress. The challenge is to broaden the scope of stories beyond women’s issues, exploring action or science fiction as genres with stronger female participation, not merely as a backdrop. The push is to create groundbreaking narratives where women are seen as competent professionals contributing meaningfully to every project.
“The recruitment of women is not done for real, but to meet quotas.”
Cinema often lags behind broader societal changes. Progress is evident, but time is needed for new norms to take root on screens. An industry free from violence and inequality will exist when it reflects an egalitarian society.