• Ignacio Martín won the contest with his short film ‘Aires de olvido’, and will receive a full four-year scholarship at the Catalan School of Film and Audiovisuals (ESCAC)
• Filmmakers aged 17 to 21 from 9 different contries submitted a total of 386 projects, proving young talent in the industry is eager to tell their stories
• This edition of The Dream Makers: Film Studies Contest was launched by CUPRA and brand ambassadors J.A. Bayona and Daniel Brühl in collaboration with ESCAC and the Sitges Film Festival 

CUPRA continues to demonstrate its commitment to impulse the young talent in the world of cinema with the announcement of the The Dream Makers: Film Studies Contest winner. Ignacio Martín will receive a four-year scholarship, as well as a monthly grant for the duration of his studies, for his astonishing eight-minute-long short film entitled ‘Aires de olvido.’ The award, presented by CUPRA Chief Brand Officer Ignasi Prieto, renowned director and producer J.A. Bayona, ESCAC director Sergi Casamitjana and Sitges Film Festival Director Ángel Sala will allow the 21-year-old Argentinian to develop his filmmaking talent at ESCAC.

“CUPRA has a commitment to the new generations. We are all about providing a platform where their talent can be discovered and recognized, giving them the tools to challenge the status quo, and what better way to do that than through art and cinema. This edition of The Dream Makers was certainly special, as we can see that young talents are enthusiastic about making their voices heard, and at CUPRA we are excited to make it happen,” said Ignasi Prieto, Chief Brand Officer of CUPRA. 

Regarding the scholarship winner’s project, jury member and ESCAC Producer Aintza Serra, commented: “Ignacio made an amazing and critical approach. Due to his ability to capture with narrative quality and emotion the hope and suffering in a single dramatic exercise, reflecting various profiles of the realities faced by new generations in our society.”

“We are thrilled to continue partnering with CUPRA to promote young talent. The Sitges Film Festival is the perfect showcase for these young and emerging filmmakers to present their work and connect with audiences and industry professionals,” added Ángel Sala, Director of the Sitges Film Festival. 

This edition of The Dream Makers: Film Studies Contest, first announced in the 57^th edition of the Sitges Film Festival, invited rising and fresh creative minds to submit their projects based on three key words: “Barcelona”, “Cinema”, and “Eye”. The response was overwhelming, with a total of 386 entries from filmmakers aged 17 to 21. The projects submitted by young talents from 9 different countries demonstrated their eagerness to have their stories told. The deliberation was a long and thorough process, ultimately selecting 9 finalists.

“It is very fulfilling to discover what emerging creators are communicating through the screen. Their fresh new ideas and disruptive formats will change the way we understand cinema in the future, and it is very moving to be a part of that,” emphasized J.A. Bayona, film director and producer and CUPRA ambassador. 

CUPRA continues to back the industry as an important partner in the world of film. The Dream Makers aims to discover and promote the talent of young filmmakers by producing their work, offering them mentorships and funding full scholarships for rising stars to pursue audiovisual and film studies. The next edition was announced in February in collaboration with the Berlin International Film Festival and Studio Babelsberg, challenging the new generation to put their creative minds to work to have their stories produced. CUPRA was also the automotive partner in recent renowned events such as the Sitges Film Festival, Berlinale, and BAFTA awards, showcasing the brand’s support for young talents in art and cinema.