Ella es el Matador (She is the Matador)
U.S./Spain | 2009 | 62 minutes | Color | DVD | Spanish and Italian | English subtitles | Order No. 09971
SYNOPSIS
Visually stunning and beautifully crafted, ELLA ES EL MATADOR (She is the Matador) reveals the surprising history of the women who made such a law necessary, and offers fascinating profiles of two female matadors currently in the arena, the acclaimed Maripaz Vega and neophyte Eva Florencia. These women are gender pioneers by necessity, confronting both bull and social code. But what emerges through this mesmerizing film is their truest motivation—a sheer passion for bullfighting, in the pursuit of a dream.
PRESS
“***. An interesting portrait of the fight for gender equality in a typically male-dominated activity…Recommended.”
”Intelligently edited [and] engaging. A valuable educational tool. Even those familiar with Spanish culture will find some surprises here.”
"A historically contextualized, thoroughly researched and culturally informed portrayal of the passions, aspirations and frustrations of young women who seek to become professional performers in the Spanish 'World of Bullfighting’."
“Blends history with up-to-the-minute profiles…. a universal saga.”
“It’s impossible not to immerse yourself in the action.”
“Beautiful—watching it, I had an incredible sense of the two women not only as devoted athletes and trailblazers, but also as people who are passionate about an art that is significant in Spanish culture.”
“Demonstrates poignantly the difficulty that women matadors face when trying to break in and succeed in the masculinized sport of bullfighting.”
"…could inspire interesting classroom discussion about why some women are motivated to cross gender barriers and about the social support necessary for them to succeed."
SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS
- Tribeca All Access, Creative Promise Award: Documentary
- Women In Direction International Film Festival, Best Documentary
- 23rd Medina del Campo Film Festival Spain, Audience Award for Best Doc
- Chicago Latino Film Festival
- Silverdocs Documentary Festival
- Sarasota Film Festival
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
- Guadalajara International Film Festival
- Tulipanes Latino Film Festival
- Redwood City Latino Film Festival
- Dominican Republic Global Film Festival
- Independent Film Week Spotlight on Documentaries
- Femmes en Resistance
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Gemma Cubero del Barrio, a Spanish-American award winning and Emmys® Silver Circle inductee, is a documentary director, producer, and writer. For the last 25 years she has gained a breadth of experience producing non-fiction documentary films and original programming. In 2006, she founded Talcual Films (which means, “as it is” in Spanish). and has made films in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania. Her directing credits include: Ella Es El Matador (She Is The Matador), Ottomaticake, Our Atoll Speaks, and The Island In Me. Her films have been supported by institutions such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS, Latino Public Broadcasting, Point of View (P.O.V.), Pacific Islanders in Communications, Women Make Movies, Kickstarter, The San Francisco Foundation, Tribeca Film Institute, the United Nations Global Environment Fund and The Redford Center. Her films have screened and received awards at international and national film festivals. Her film The Island in Me, screened in three cities with sold out venues at DocEdge in New Zealand, won the Special Jury Prize in Tahiti at the 2022 Festival International du Film Documentaire Océanien (FIFO) in Tahiti, has been broadcasted on French Television, and screened in German as part of the 2025 World Day of Prayer International Program. In the U.S., the film premiered at the 41st Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, at Cinequest Film Festival, and at the 2023 Green Film Festival of San Francisco. Gemma’s film and TV career started when iconic Mexican-American Lourdes Portillo. For more information visit gemmacuberofilms.com or talcualfilms.com. (06/11)
Celeste Carrasco is a native of Barcelona, Spain. Celeste was the director, producer, cinematographer and co-editor ELLA ES EL MATADOR (SHE IS THE MATADOR). For EL ABRAZO (The Embrace) and HOMECOMING, Celeste served as Director of Photography and Editor. Celeste also worked with Gemma Cubero in Lourdes Portillo’s award winning documentary SEÑORITA EXTRAVIADA and WHAT'S UNDER YOUR HAT?. Celeste’s additional credits include First Assistant Director on Marta Balletbó’s narrative film, HONEY, I’VE SENT THE MEN TO THE MOON, and Producer on Lisset Barcello’s narrative film BOTH. Most recently Celeste has worked as video artist for theatre productions such as Vanita, premiered at Teatro Real in Madrid and Java Suite, premiered at Peralada Festival, La Seca in Barcelona, and the Basel Opera House in Switzerland. Both of these productions were directed by Rita Cosentino. Celeste also collaborated with Spanish performing artist Paloma Calle on a short documentary about the live performance Hello Myself which premiered at the Reina Sofía Modern Art Museum in Madrid. Celeste currently works at the technical department of the Teatro Real in Madrid producing operas. (8/14)
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