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Elisa y Marcela

Elisa & Marcela | Elisa und Marcela
Competition 2019
© Netflix
When Marcela and Elisa meet on their first day in high school, it is love at first sight. A deep friendship begins which soon turns into a romantic relationship. Nothing can prevent the two girls’ feelings for each other, not even Marcela’s suspicious parents, who eventually send their daughter to boarding school. Years later, the two women meet again and decide to live together. Both are respected teachers, but their partnership has to be kept secret from the critical Catholic population. For this reason, Elisa decides to pose as a man and marry Marcela. Their wedding photo depicts two young women, one in a black dress with her hair up, the other with a short haircut and wearing a suit; both are looking hopefully into the future. But their love remains exposed to great dangers. Based on true events, Isabel Coixet’s film makes use of black-and-white images and letters for her unfussy but deeply empathetic rendition of the story of Elisa Sánchez Loriga and Marcela Gracia Ibeas, who tied the knot in the church of San Jorge in A Coruña in Spain in 1901. A paean to passion, dignity and resistance.
by Isabel Coixet (Written and Directed by)
with Natalia de Molina, Greta Fernández, Sara Casanovas, Tamar Novas, María Pujalte, Francesc Orella Spain 2018 Spanish 113' Colour World premiere

With

  • Natalia de Molina (Elisa)
  • Greta Fernández (Marcela)
  • Sara Casanovas (Ana)
  • Tamar Novas (Andrés)
  • María Pujalte (Marcela's mother)
  • Francesc Orella (Marcela's father)

Crew

Written and Directed by Isabel Coixet
Cinematography Jennifer Cox
Editing Bernat Aragonés
Music Sofia Oriana
Sound Design David Machado
Sound Daniel de Zayas
Production Design Silvia Steinbrecht
Costumes Mercè Paloma
Make-Up Montse Sanfeliu
Assistant Director Luca Vacchi
Casting Irene Roqué
Production Managers Esperanza García, Eduard Vallès
Producers Joaquín Padró, Mar Targarona, Zaza Ceballos, José Carmona

World Sales

Film Factory Entertainment

Barcelona, Spain

Film Factory

(none)

Produced by

Rodar y Rodar

Barcelona, Spain

Legal Zenit TV

A Coruña, Spain

La Nube Películas

Pontevedra, Spain

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Aidan Zamiri

The filmmaker and photographer grew up in Glasgow, Scotland and studied graphic design at Central Saint Martins in London. He has directed award-winning music videos and commercials for brands including Nike and Balenciaga and has worked regularly with artists including Billie Eilish, Timothée Chalamet and Caroline Polachek. He won Video of the Year at the 2024 UK Music Video Awards and Best UK Pop Video for Charli xcx’s “360”, followed by the 2025 MTV Video Music Award for Video for Good for her single “Guess” featuring Billie Eilish. The Moment is his debut feature film.

Filmography (Filmography)

2026 The Moment; Berlinale 2026

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026