Carlos Saura

Born into a family of artists (his mother was a pianist and his brother, Antonio Saura, a painter), he developed his artistic sense in childhood by doing photography. He obtained his directing diploma in Madrid in 1957 at the Institute of Cinema Research and Studies, where he also taught until 1963.

In 1957-1958, he created his first film (Cuenca). In 1956, his style, both lyrical and documentary, centred on the problems of the poor, received the recognition of the international community at the Berlin Film Festival, where he received the Silver Bear for his film La caza. In 1967, his film Peppermint Frappé also received a prize at Berlin.

The movies La prima Angélica (Cousin Angélica) of 1973 and Cría cuervos (Raising Ravens [from the Spanish phrase: cria cuervos y te sacaran los ojos (raise ravens and they will peck out your eyes)]) of 1975 received the special prize of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. His movie "Mama cumple 100 años" (Mom is celebrating her 100 years) was nominated at the Oscars, for the best foreign film in 1979.

Saura has become known for making movies centered around traditional Latin dance. His "Flamenco Trilogy" of the 1980s includes Bodas de Sangre, Carmen, and El amor brujo, and he later made movies called Flamenco, Tango and Fados.

In 1990, he received the Goya Award for the best director and best script for ¡Ay, Carmela!. He was chosen as director for the official film of the 1992 Olympic Games of Barcelona, "Marathon" (1993).

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