The people behind the London Spanish Film Festival:
Joana Granero Sanchez
Founder and director of Tristana Media, Joana was born in Tarragona. After graduating in Law from the University of Barcelona she spent a couple of years in Italy and then moved to London, where she worked in publishing and got a MSc in Political and Social Theory from Birkbeck College. Out of a passion for cinema she created the London Spanish Film Festival in 2005, an event that was to fill a gap in London’s cultural panorama by bringing contemporary Spanish cinema in a well-defined context. In 2008 the Ambassador of Spain in London awarded her with the civil merit medal (Orden de Isabel la Católica) in recognition of her work with Spanish cinema. She also works as an independent curator and producer, curating films seasons for the British Film Institute, the American Film Institute and the National Galleries of Scotland. Fashion & Cinema is another initiative by Joana involving a series of events exploring the relationship between fashion, cinema and costume design.
Karen McDonald
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Karen has lived in London since 1993. Following a design background culminating in employment as Design Manager for a London based publishing company, she now runs Kargan Media, a graphic design company, delivering both print and online projects.
Kargan Media has also worked on several digital arts and media projects. She has been involved since the beginning with Tristana Media and the London Spanish Film Festival.
Patricia Pérez Álvarez
Patricia graduated in Journalism & Audiovisual Communication from the University Carlos III in Madrid, studying one year in England. Following her passion for film she moved to London to study a Masters in Film Studies at Kingston University. Since then she’s been working in film distribution, in leading companies such as Curzon Artificial Eye and StudioCanal (Canal +). She joined Tristana Media in 2011 and is currently also working as Global Distribution Ops & Festival Senior Manager at MUBI.
Adriana Páramo
As a filmmaker and researcher, Adriana’s work moves between creative practice, production and cultural programming. She holds a degree in Media and Broadcasting from the Santiago de Compostela University and a MA in Filmmaking from the London Film School. In London she cofounded in 2015 the Galician Film Forum, an organisation that exhibits films from Galicia in the UK. Her first feature documentary, I Grew Roots in Your Home (2025), emerged after a process of grief and from her desire of motherhood, and is part of her PhD research at the Royal Holloway, University of London. She currently works as production and guests coordinator in Cineuropa Film Festival (Santiago de Compostela) and is the coordinator and programmer of Letters From Galicia at the London Spanish Film Festival.
Cassandra Gomez
Dedicated to fostering Spanish culture through connections and collaboration, Cassandra serves as Volunteer Coordinator after volunteering for the past three years at the September festivals and the Spring Weekend. With a professional background in language education and expertise in applied linguistics and second language acquisition, she brings a deep understanding of communication and community-building to the role. Passionate about supporting volunteers and promoting engagement, Cassandra is committed to ensuring a rewarding experience for all involved.
POPklik
In 2007 the London Spanish Film Festival started a very fruitful collaboration with photographer Pablo Goikoetxea that gave some great images.
In 2012 Pablo, who now works both in London and Barcelona, brought in his long time collaborator Pau Ros and their POPklik team formed by Fany de la Chica, Eva Nieto, Bea Poey, Marian Alonso, Elisa Fonta and musician Nico Casal. POPklik has been since then documenting the festival through photography and video as well as creating visual materials for its promotion.
Pau Ros
Pau Ros is an experienced professional photographer specialising in documenting performing arts, theatre, dance, music, festivals and the arts. Originally from Barcelona, Pau has lived in London for more than 25 years and has expanded his photographic practice to Visual Communications, including video, web and design. Pau is an Associate Lecturer at the London College of Communications / UAL.
Complices
Prof. Maria Delgado
Professor and Vice Principal (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (University of London), Maria is also a curator and critic, and Programme Advisor to the London Film Festival. She has published widely on Spanish- and Catalan- language film and theatre, with her work translated into numerous languages. She writes on film for Sight & Sound and comments on film for a range of film outlets including BBC’s Front Row and Free Thinking.
Alejandro Postigo
Avid lover of Spanish cinema, Alejandro is Senior Lecturer in Musical Theatre at the London College of Music. His practice-based PhD from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama explored the Intercultural Adaptation of Spanish Copla songs in international theatre and cinematic settings. His shows ‘The Copla Musical’ & ‘The Copla Cabaret’ have been seen in the UK, Europe and America throughout the past decade (www.thecoplamusical.com). As a theatre maker, he has recently devised pro-European satire ‘Miss Brexit’ and among his performance credits, he has featured in the West End production of ‘In The Heights’, TV sitcom ‘Episodes’ (BBC) and regularly collaborates with The Royal Ballet.
Prof. Peter W. Evans
Formerly Professor of Film Studies at Queen Mary, University of London, Peter has published several books on Spanish (for instance, on Buñuel, Almodovar and Bigas Luna), Hollywood, and British cinema, as well as articles on varied subjects such as Catherine Deneuve, Tango (Carlos Saura, 1998), the films of José Luis Borau, the film Top Hat (Sandrich, 1935) and the BFI Classic Written on the Wind (Sirk, 1956).
