On Tuesday, November 7 we attended the Princesa Cinemas thanks to our collaborator Fundación Aula de Cine Collection Josep M. Queraltó. We had the pleasure of watching “Juan Mariné. Un siglo de cine”, a biographical documentary in the form of a tribute to Juan Mariné that was filmed in 2020 when he turned 100 years old. In addition, the nominations for the 29th edition of EGEDA’s José María Forqué Awards were announced, where we learned that he is a finalist. He is one of the longest-serving directors of photography and film restorers in Spanish cinematography. The documentary shows a compilation of images from films where he himself was director of photography. He is currently 102 years old and was there to see it.
Advertising films were part of his life before he dedicated himself fully to cinema. Juan Mariné worked for four years with advertising projects because it provided him with more income at the time. In the documentary, he talks about several brands with which he filmed, but especially highlights one that was a great success. This project, from the 1970s, was for a watch brand in which two Japanese men appear fighting with swords to the shout of “Orient”.
Already a centenarian, his career, full of obstacles and adversities, overcomes them in an exemplary manner. It is a life of film that spans different decisive periods in the recent history of Spain. His passion for cinema, his dedication to it, his research both in the field of photography and film restoration and his generosity make him an exceptional being. The documentary is also a tribute to Spanish cinema and its professionals.
Recognized with the National Cinematography Award, the Gold Medal of Fine Arts, the National Photography Award, the Segundo de Chomón Award, the Espiga de Honor of the Seminci of Valladolid, the Juan de la Cierva Research Award and the Gold Medal of the Academy among other awards, the Film Academy awarded Juan Mariné last October the Goya of Honor 2024.
