Icíar Bollaín was born in Madrid in 1967. She debuted at 15 years old in film as an actress and has since been featured in more than twenty films, working with directors such as Víctor Erice and Ken Loach. Since 1991, she has formed part of the production team “La Iguana,” making various short films as well as her first feature films. In this year’s edition of ASFF, her film Soy Nevenka will be screened for the first time in the Netherlands.
From her early days as an actress to her evolution into one of Spain’s most compelling directors, Bollaín has consistently used film as a powerful medium for storytelling, shedding light on social issues, human resilience, and the complexity of personal and collective struggles.
Since her directorial debut in 1995 with Hola, ¿estás sola?, Bollaín has ensured that her films and characters have a voice of their own, always approaching just causes in a simple and sincere way through feminist and activist stories. Through her work, she has given voice to underrepresented perspectives and sparked essential conversations, making her one of the most socially engaged and influential directors in contemporary Spanish cinema.
Icíar Bollaín will be available after the screenings of Soy Nevenka for a Q&A with the audience April 11th & 12th. She is also the recipient of this year’s Honorary Gieling Award, presented on April 11th.
