Film ROMERÍA (MY MOTHER’S DIARY) by Carla Simón

Spain, Germany 2025/ Director: Carla Simón/ Cast: Llúcia Garcia, Mitch, Tristán Ulloa, Alberto Gracia, Miryam Gallego, Janet Novás a.o./ 114 min. Original language

Marina, 18, grew up with her mother’s family in Catalonia after the early death of her parents. Because she needs documents for a scholarship application, she travels to Vigo on the Spanish Atlantic coast to visit her father’s family, whom she has never met. Marina is plunged into a confusing, buzzing world full of new aunts, uncles, cousins and stories that are strangely different from what she thought she knew. Her arrival stirs up long-buried emotions, repressed feelings, shame, pain and tenderness. Accompanied by her mother’s diary, Marina embarks on a stirring journey into her parents’ lives and her own dreams.

Carla Simón (*1986) studied audiovisual communication in Barcelona and California before attending the London Film School. She was a participant in the Berlinale Talents in 2015 and her debut feature ESTIU 1993 (FRIDAS SOMMER) was awarded the Generation Kplus Grand Prix at the Berlinale in 2017. With ALCARRÀS she won the Golden Bear at the 2022 Berlinale. ROMERÍA is her third feature film.