How to Make a Cortometraje - a Short Film - if You Live in Spain

Cortometraje is the Spanish word for "Short Film". Sometimes it is a good option to travel abroad in order to get your short film done as it can be a lot cheaper in production costs. If Spanish is not your first language, you happen to live in Spain and you always wondered about making a short film, then this is the guide to go for.

There are two ways you can go about making your cortometraje. You could choose the documentary style –very popular nowadays; especially with the rise of tv reality shows- and the fiction style. The latter is good if you want to re-create and manipulate reality through your own narrative. Once you have decided on the format, write your first script (also called a rough script).

This is where it is crucial that you get someone that can help you with the translation. Make sure they do know both languages really well as you want everything to go as smooth as possible. Ask them to translate your rough script into a first draft, and work it from there into the final draft.

Next step is to try and get some money for the production of your short film. Spain is a great country in terms of dealing with these things as everyone is really helpful and friendly. See if you can get sponsors by crediting them on your film. Many companies will contribute –if not with money with help with locations, etc - if they know that their name will appear at the end of your cortometraje.

Madrid and Barcelona are the best places to go about doing this. You can go to the "Ministerio de Cultura" (a government based agency) which will give you all the information you need on dealing with the pre-production, production and post-production of your cortometraje. You will need the help of your translator as unfortunately you can't access any information in English on their website.

Once you get the hands on how this agency works (and they can be extremely helpful, believe me) you will find it easy to get your actors, production team and the rest of the crew.

Make sure you submit your finished product to short film festivals and that means it is important that you add subtitles to it (English if the film dialogue is in Spanish and viceversa). Again, the Ministerio de Cultura will help you with an array of different festivals where you can submit your short film.

Good luck if you get into this venture. I have done it myself and, it was one of the most exciting things I have been through while living in Spain.

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