Welcome back to the Metropolitan Culture Corner!
This month, we go behind the scenes with director, screenwriter and editor Àlex Lora. His short films, documentaries and feature-length fiction works often address social issues related to identity, immigration, disability and youth, never shying away from tough or controversial subject matter. Lora’s works have been screened multiple times at the Sundance Film Festival, as well as many of the most prestigious festivals around the world. He was listed as one of the “Top 10 Spanish directors to watch” by Variety magazine’s Cannes Edition, and is known for his unique narrative and visual style.
Last month, we interviewed Tarek Fresno. The Barcelona native, music aficionado, and world traveler, has been a bartender at Bar Marsella in El Raval for seventeen years. But Marsella isn’t just “any” local bar. Founded in 1820, it’s the oldest bar in the entire city; generations ago, it was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite hangout, and a hot spot for artists and intellectuals of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Dalí, Gaudí, Picasso and many more were known to stop by for a drink; more recently, it’s been the frequent location of film and music video shoots.
Stay tuned to Metropolitan’s YouTube channel and social media to make sure you don’t miss a single episode of our monthly interview series! We’ve got a great lineup in store for you in 2024. You can also watch the full archive of previous interviews on our official YouTube channel, or listen to all the MCC interviews as free podcasts on Soundcloud. Be sure to follow Metropolitan on Facebook: @BCNMetropolitan, Twitter: @bcnmetropolitan and Instagram: @barcelonametropolitan.