'Farewell' is a short film from the ECIB School of Cinema in Barcelona. It is the final project of its director, Sebastián Borjas, for his degree in film direction, and of its director of photography, Maria Miquel, for her master's in cinematography.
In the directors' own words,
'Farewell' explores themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the quest for redemption. It questions the choices of its protagonist throughout the film and, through its characters, illustrates how a close-knit family can be disrupted when the past comes knocking.
Synopsis
Ricard, along with his wife and daughters, returns to the home of his youth to celebrate his birthday. The day before, an unanticipated visitor knocks on his door. His father, Cosme, has come to find him after more than thirty years, hoping to have a conversation because he is ill. Although Ricard is not thrilled about Cosme's arrival, he decides to accept it since his wife has invited him and his daughters are excited to see their grandfather. Cosme is determined to earn his son's forgiveness, regain his trust, and win the love of his granddaughters.
Technical details
Title: 'Farewell'
Duration: 15-20 min.
Genre: Drama
Language: Spanish and Catalan
Social media and contact information
Instagram: @deciradios.film
e-Mail: [email protected]
Description of the project and its features
The goal of the project has consistently been to depict Ricard and his family's story through images, examining their past and exploring family dynamics. Our intention is not to present a joyful narrative throughout the short film; instead, we aim to highlight how families can become dysfunctional in extreme circumstances, revealing the more human aspects of individuals that are rarely shown in film.
The narrative of 'Farewell' is filled with deep emotional resonance, centering on a son who reconnects with his father after many years and grapples with the decision of whether to forgive him. The characters will go through touching moments throughout the short film, and we intend to capture this emotional contrast in the visuals by focusing on lighting techniques that highlight natural light and practical sources in the nighttime interior scenes.
The aim, aside from conveying feelings and emotions through art, is to engage as many viewers as possible with the short film. Our narrative includes five characters, each possessing a distinct personality and a unique viewpoint on the story; as a result, we believe that the audience can resonate with any of these characters.
We are a team mainly composed of recent graduates, bound together by our love for our craft; that’s why we are looking for external funding to help us produce our short film.
Creating a short film requires a financial investment, and while 'Farewell' is a student project, it still involves expenses that result in significant costs, especially given our current situation of just starting out in the professional realm. Our school provides basic camera and lighting equipment, but we feel this support is inadequate to achieve the visual concept we aspire to and believe the project can deliver.
For this reason, we are turning to the Verkami platform; after calculating the essential expenses and needs, along with an additional amount for producing rewards, as well as shipping costs and the platform's fees, we have set a goal of €5,500.
The shooting is scheduled for the last week of November in the province of Barcelona.
Our motivation
We have always believed that cinema is a medium for telling all kinds of stories; a way for creators to express emotions, thoughts, dreams, uncertainties, experiences, and internal reflections. 'Farewell' embodies all of this, as it is a story that arises from our own questions about issues such as death in adulthood, conflicting family relationships, the act of seeking forgiveness, and the process of forgiving. Adapting it to a familial narrative allows the audience to relate closely to the characters and their varying perspectives.
Director's notes:
The idea for the short film emerged two years ago when I started to craft a narrative inspired by family anecdotes that addressed the worries I was facing at that time in my life. "How do family members navigate years of estrangement without seeing or communicating when there is underlying resentment? Is their love for each other more powerful than the pride that prevents forgiveness? What if death comes between them and they never reconcile? How do various generations within a family view death?"
Notes from the director of photography:
The emotional aspect of 'Farewell' is what inspires me to bring it to life through its visual style. I want to be involved in this project for two key reasons: it reflects emotions and family dynamics that resonate with my own experiences and those of people close to me, and it signifies the end of my academic journey at film school as I complete my master's in Cinematography. Overall, I am especially drawn to the project's cinematography due to the harmonious blend of naturalistic interiors and exteriors, featuring locations that transport me back to my childhood.
'Farewell' is a short film that explores family-related themes, allowing audiences of all ages and at various stages of life to identify with the storylines and/or characters.
We also take inspiration from three significant films in contemporary Spanish cinema: Alcarràs (2022), Lullaby (2022), and A Thieve's Daughter (2019). Consequently, we believe that viewers who enjoyed these films are likely to appreciate 'Farewell'.
What kinds of rewards can you gain?
We recognize that contributing to a project is a matter of faith, which is why at 'Farewell,' we strive to provide our patrons with top-quality offerings. We've partnered with several artists to craft a variety of rewards.
You have the chance to receive a Stanley Stella TEE with a ONE-OF-A-KIND design from the short film, created by the artist @marinamaarti
We’re providing a CUSTOM PRINTED TOTEBAG featuring a UNIQUE design from the short film, created by the artist @marinamaarti
We're hosting a giveaway for a personalized portrait illustration for the winner, crafted by the artist @ivs_bria
We’re also giving away a personalized 5cm handpoke tattoo designed by the artist @ritzz.arrt
If you represent a brand, we offer the option for product placement or to feature your logo in the credits.
Access to the filming and/or the premiere of the short film.
Access to links for watching the short film, listening to the Original Soundtrack, viewing behind-the-scenes images, and more.
Digital and/or physical editions of the poster, the screenplay, the sales package, and postcards from the short film autographed by the actors and directors.
Acknowledgment and mention in the credits.
Who are the members of our team?
In 'Farewell', we are supported by a technical team primarily consisting of newly graduated professionals from ECIB Escola de Cinema, along with graduates from ESCAC and UPF. They all possess degrees and master's degrees in cinematography from various departments. Additionally, our team brings experience from a range of audiovisual projects, such as fiction, documentaries, advertising, and music videos.
Sebastián Borjas, who graduated with a Diploma in Cinematographic Direction from ECIB, leads the creative direction of the short film, supervising and assisting the other departments at every stage of production.
Maria Miquel, having graduated from the Master's program in Cinematography Direction at ECIB, she converts the script into visuals, paying close attention to the project's visual details, always supported by a complete camera and lighting team.
Andrea Gómez, educated at ECIB and experienced as an AD and director, she oversees the organization of preproduction and filming, coordinating schedules and the technical team.
Carla Noguera, a graduate of ECIB and experienced as a script supervisor and director, she manages the continuity of every shot and take, thus maintaining the narrative consistency of the story.
Marta Vives, a graduate in Cinematography from ESCAC, she is the head of the art department.
Naüja Polo, with a degree in Audiovisual Communication from UPF, she oversees the costume design for every character.
Georgina Rodríguez, a graduate in Professional Makeup from Stickart Studio, is responsible for the characterization of our characters.
Anna Adrià y Miriam Gómez, both graduates of the Master's in Cinematic Sound Design at ECIB, they are crucial for capturing sounds and dialogues during filming and creating the sound design in post-production.
Yulia Protasova, graduated of the Master's in Music Composition for Audiovisuals at ESMUC, she is responsible for creating the music for 'Farewell', complementing the visuals to evoke the emotions we aim to convey.
Marina Rof y Alba Lorza, graduates of the Master's in Editing at ECIB, they shape and pace all the filmed material during the shooting.
Erik Anderson, educated as a colorist at ECIB, he ensures that each shot matches the desired color mood we want to create for the short film.
- Laia Montserrat y Ana Yago, graduates of the Diploma in Cinematographic Direction at ECIB, they handle the project management and oversee the other departments.
- In the camera team, we have Checo Badillo as focus puller and Laura Moreno as camera assistant.
- In the lighting department; Eric Cabutí as gaffer and his team of electrics: Anna F. Galán, Julia Sánchez, Jorge Him, Camille Irrgang, and Anaïs Castaño.
Would you like to get to know our cast?
We have a team of actors with a significant background in national productions.
In the leading role, we feature actor Víctor Vidal, who portrays Ricard. Víctor has a strong background in fiction, with notable appearances in the series Las de la última fila and Com si fos ahir. He has also been part of feature films like Strangers, El año de la furia, and has taken the lead in Madrid, Above the Moon.
In a key role is Jaume de Sans, who plays Cosme. He has been featured in films such as La paradoja de Antares, Golpe de mano, and El mujeriego. Jaume has also taken on roles in short films, including El heredero and Entre la luz y la sombra.
Joining us is Laura Yuste in the role of Neus. Laura has experience in films like Barcelona, nit d'estiu and Barcelona, nit d'hivern, as well as in series such as Polseres vermelles.
We also showcase the emerging talent of Zöe Millán as Mireia. She was recently featured in the film Casa en flames and has had roles in El hogar as well as in the series Noche de chicas and La promesa.
Finally, in 'Farewell', we also feature Noa Millán, the younger sister of Zöe, who plays Mariona. Noa has appeared in Casa en flames, Noche de chicas, and El hogar, and she will soon be starring in the short film Suc de color vi.
Where will your contributions go?
Our target is €5,500. This amount will be used to cover the MINIMUM costs necessary for the production of 'Saying Goodbye.' Additionally, a portion will go towards covering the expenses of rewards and their shipping, as well as the commissions for the Verkami platform and banks. Once we exceed our goal, any additional funds will be allocated directly to the distribution of the short film, ensuring it can reach the largest audience possible.
Proposed schedule
Our filming is scheduled for the last week of November. After we finish shooting, we anticipate around 4 to 6 months of post-production, as this is a student project and we will need to accommodate the availability of each team member.
Included in the rewards are viewing links and invitations for the premiere; we will dispatch all the rewards together once the project is finalized. We plan to contact our backers through the platform approximately in June 2025, and we will also provide updates through this portal.
+ Information
Make sure to follow us on our Instagram profile @deciradios.film, where we’ll be posting updates regularly.
Thank you for your support and for following the journey of 'Farewell'!
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