Jaume Balagueró
Encyclopedia
Jaume Balagueró i Bernat (ˈʒawme βalaɣeˈɾo) (born 2 November 1968 in Lleida
, Spain
), is a Spanish
film director
widely known for his horror films.
, and grew up in Barcelona
. He studied communications and photography at the University of Barcelona
, graduating in 1991 with a degree in Communication Sciences. In 1992, Balagueró began work as a film journalist and radio host with the show “La espuma de los días” on Radio Hospitalet.
. Balagueró returned with the short Days without Light (1995), which achieved similar success on the festival circuit.
Balagueró made his feature-length film debut with The Nameless
(1999). Based on the novel by Ramsey Campbell
, the film appeared at festivals worldwide, winning several awards including Best Film at the Fant-Asia Film Festival. He returned three years later with Darkness
(2002). The film marked Balagueró's English language debut and was picked up by Miramax Studios, which released a heavily truncated version in US theaters in December 2004. 2005 saw the release of Balagueró's third film, the ghost story Fragile (2005) starring Calista Flockhart
and Richard Roxburgh
. Also in 2002, Balagueró co-directed the rock music documentary OT: la película (2002).
In 2006, Balagueró participated in the TV project Películas para no dormir (Films to Keep You Awake). A revival of Narciso Ibañez Serrador's macabre TV series Historias Para No Dormir (aka Tales to Keep You Awake, 1966–67 with a brief resurrection in 1982), Películas consisted of six horror-themed episodes directed by several notable horror directors from Catalonia and other parts of Spain, including Álex de la Iglesia
and Mateo Gil
. Balagueró began work on REC (2007), his fourth theatrical feature, in early 2007 and planned his third movie of the REC
-Franchise
. He directed the thriller Flatmate
, which stars Luis Tosar
. Balagueró will direct the upcoming [REC] Apocalypse and wrote the screenbook of [REC] Genesis.
Lleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
widely known for his horror films.
Life
Jaume Balagueró was born in LleidaLleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
, and grew up in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He studied communications and photography at the University of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
, graduating in 1991 with a degree in Communication Sciences. In 1992, Balagueró began work as a film journalist and radio host with the show “La espuma de los días” on Radio Hospitalet.
Career
Balagueró began his filmmaking career with the short video projects El niño bubónico (1991) and La invención de la leche (1993). In 1994, Balagueró graduated to shooting on 35mm with the short film Alicia (1994). The film won the prize for Best Short film at the Sitges Film FestivalFestival de Cine de Sitges
The Sitges Film Festival is a Spanish film festival that is one of the most recognizable ones held in Europe, considered the world's foremost international festival specializing in fantasy and horror movies...
. Balagueró returned with the short Days without Light (1995), which achieved similar success on the festival circuit.
Balagueró made his feature-length film debut with The Nameless
The Nameless (film)
The Nameless is a 1999 Spanish horror film directed by Jaume Balagueró. It is based on the 1983 horror novel by English writer Ramsey Campbell.- Synopsis :...
(1999). Based on the novel by Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell
John Ramsey Campbell is an English horror fiction author.Since he first came to prominence in the mid-1960s, critics have cited Campbell as one of the leading writers in his field: T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today", while S. T...
, the film appeared at festivals worldwide, winning several awards including Best Film at the Fant-Asia Film Festival. He returned three years later with Darkness
Darkness (2002 film)
Darkness is a 2002 horror film directed by Jaume Balagueró about an American teenage girl who moves into a haunted house with her family in the Spanish countryside. The film stars Anna Paquin, Lena Olin, Iain Glen, and Fele Martínez....
(2002). The film marked Balagueró's English language debut and was picked up by Miramax Studios, which released a heavily truncated version in US theaters in December 2004. 2005 saw the release of Balagueró's third film, the ghost story Fragile (2005) starring Calista Flockhart
Calista Flockhart
Calista Kay Flockhart is an American actress who is primarily recognized for her work in television. She is best known for playing the title character in the Fox comedy-drama series Ally McBeal for which she won a Golden Globe Award...
and Richard Roxburgh
Richard Roxburgh
Richard Roxburgh is an Australian actor who has starred in many Australian films and has appeared in supporting roles in a number of Hollywood productions, usually as villains.-Early life:...
. Also in 2002, Balagueró co-directed the rock music documentary OT: la película (2002).
In 2006, Balagueró participated in the TV project Películas para no dormir (Films to Keep You Awake). A revival of Narciso Ibañez Serrador's macabre TV series Historias Para No Dormir (aka Tales to Keep You Awake, 1966–67 with a brief resurrection in 1982), Películas consisted of six horror-themed episodes directed by several notable horror directors from Catalonia and other parts of Spain, including Álex de la Iglesia
Álex de la Iglesia
Alejandro "Álex" de la Iglesia Mendoza is a Spanish film director, screenwriter, film producer and former comic book artist.Most of De La Iglesia's films reached cult status due to their weird sense of humour.- Biography :...
and Mateo Gil
Mateo Gil
Mateo Gil Rodríguez is a Spanish screenplay writer and director.-Writer:*Agora *Mar adentro *Vanilla Sky...
. Balagueró began work on REC (2007), his fourth theatrical feature, in early 2007 and planned his third movie of the REC
REC (film)
REC is a 2007 Spanish horror film co-written and co-directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza.The film was released in Spain in November 2007. Balaguero and Plaza previously directed the 2002 documentary OT, The Movie. REC was filmed using shaky camerawork...
-Franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
. He directed the thriller Flatmate
Flatmate (film)
Sleep Tight is an upcoming Spanish horror thriller film directed by Jaume Balagueró and was written from Alberto Marini. The film was developed under the title Flatmate.-Plot:...
, which stars Luis Tosar
Luis Tosar
Luis Tosar is a Galician actor and musician.-Biography:Born in Lugo, Galicia, Spain on 13th October 1971, he is best known internationally for his villain role in Miami Vice and the role in the upcoming horror film Flatmate, which is directed by Jaume Balagueró.-Selected filmography:*1998 Atilano...
. Balagueró will direct the upcoming [REC] Apocalypse and wrote the screenbook of [REC] Genesis.
Filmography
- Alícia – 1994
- Días sin luz – 1995
- The NamelessThe Nameless (film)The Nameless is a 1999 Spanish horror film directed by Jaume Balagueró. It is based on the 1983 horror novel by English writer Ramsey Campbell.- Synopsis :...
– 1999 - DarknessDarkness (2002 film)Darkness is a 2002 horror film directed by Jaume Balagueró about an American teenage girl who moves into a haunted house with her family in the Spanish countryside. The film stars Anna Paquin, Lena Olin, Iain Glen, and Fele Martínez....
– 2002 - OT: la película – 2002
- Fragile – 2005
- Películas para no dormir (TV) – 2006
- RECREC (film)REC is a 2007 Spanish horror film co-written and co-directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza.The film was released in Spain in November 2007. Balaguero and Plaza previously directed the 2002 documentary OT, The Movie. REC was filmed using shaky camerawork...
– 2007 - REC 2REC 2REC 2 or [●REC]² is the 2009 Spanish horror film sequel to 2007's REC. Written and directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, both of whom returned from the previous film, the story takes place immediately after the events of the first film, with producing company Filmax International describing...
– 2009 - Fear - 2010
- Sleep Tight - 2011
- REC 4: Apocalypse - 2012
Awards
- 2007 – Best director in the Festival de Cinema Fantàstic de Sitges for RECREC (film)REC is a 2007 Spanish horror film co-written and co-directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza.The film was released in Spain in November 2007. Balaguero and Plaza previously directed the 2002 documentary OT, The Movie. REC was filmed using shaky camerawork...
. - 1999 – Best European film in the Festival de Cinema Fantàtic de Sitges for The NamelessThe Nameless (film)The Nameless is a 1999 Spanish horror film directed by Jaume Balagueró. It is based on the 1983 horror novel by English writer Ramsey Campbell.- Synopsis :...
. - 1994 – Best shortcut in the Festival de Cinema Fantàstic de Sitges for Alicia.