Pere Vilà i Barceló (Girona, 1975) is a Catalan film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to both documentary and fiction cinema. His work is marked by an introspective style and a narrative that blends sensitivity with a deep exploration of characters and social issues.
He began his training in screenwriting with Joaquim Jordà, with whom he collaborated on the miniseries Andorra, entre el torb i la Gestapo. In his early years as a director, he made several acclaimed short films, including Sabi (2005), Des del balcó (2005), and Els peixos del riu Leteo (2005), the latter winning Best Script and Directing awards from the Elsa Peretti Foundation.
In 2007, he made his feature film debut with Railroad Crossing, a work of austere, contemplative cinema selected for prestigious international festivals such as the Gijón Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, San Sebastián International Film Festival, and the BFI London Film Festival.
His second feature, the Spanish-French co-production The Stoning of Saint Étienne (2012), starring Lou Castel and Luis Rego, received the FIPRESCI Prize at the Valladolid Seminci. It was also screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival, solidifying his international reputation.
In 2014, he released The Grave, starring Josep M. Domènech, Lluís Homar and Emma Vilarasau, presented at the Seville European Film Festival.
His fourth feature, The Invisible Artery (2015), starring Àlex Brendemühl, Nora Navas, Àlex Monner, and Joana Vilapuig, garnered significant international attention and was selected for the Montreal World Film Festival and the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
In 2018, he presented The Wind Is This, a film that tackles eating disorders. It was also selected for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, further reaffirming Pere Vilà’s presence at top-tier festivals.
He recently completed his sixth feature film, When a River Becomes the Sea, a project about gender-based violence. Shot outside the traditional film industry over eight years, it stars Claud Hernández, Àlex Brendemühl, Laia Marull, and Bruna Cusí.
FEATURE FILMS
SHORT FILMS
