“Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays”, Interview with director Christian Avilés

July 13, 2023

Christian Avilés, director of Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays: "tackling the "balconing" phenomenon as a way to talk about teenage depression"

"Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays", Interview with director Christian Avilés Chiara Nicoletti

Podcast | Download

Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays is Christian Avilés’ first film as director after his graduation and it is the film he presented in the section EFP FUTURE FRAMES –Generation NEXT of European Cinema at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

In this interview, Avilés explains how the film tackles the “balconing” phenomenon frequently involving adolescents during holidays only as an excuse or an instrument to really talk about teenage depression. Through a voice over and a dreamlike cinematic experience, we realize how the protagonist is dealing with overwhelming thoughts during his coming of age years.

Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays: The sun is a source of life, warmth, and health. But British teenagers live in a country where they don’t get enough sunlight. They suffer mentally and physically and compensate for the lack of sunshine by taking vitamin D supplements. They dream of escaping to the Balearic Islands – Mallorca in the case of the protagonist – to soak up as many rays as possible in the short time they have, so they can enjoy their effects even under the gloomy British skies. A surrealistically poetic film about warmth and dreams, about the stunned reactions of locals who take the sun for granted, and about the grim phenomenon of “balconing,” which has cost some tourists their lives, even though they only came to enjoy the sunshine.

Plot

The sun is a source of life, warmth, and health. But British teenagers live in a country where they don’t get enough sunlight. They suffer mentally and physically and compensate for the lack of sunshine by taking vitamin D supplements. They dream of escaping to the Balearic Islands – Mallorca in the case of the protagonist – to soak up as many rays as possible in the short time they have, so they can enjoy their effects even under the gloomy British skies. A surrealistically poetic film about warmth and dreams, about the stunned reactions of locals who take the sun for granted, and about the grim phenomenon of “balconing,” which has cost some tourists their lives, even though they only came to enjoy the sunshine.

Written by: Chiara Nicoletti

Guest

Christian Avilés

Film

Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays

Festival

Karlovy Vary Film Festival

Rate it

Channel posts

Interview

Berlinale

Interview with Emma Barboni, Emilia-Romagna Film Commission

February 20, 2026

Emilia-Romagna Film Commission supports film projects, including new funding opportunities and innovative measures like on-set nurseries. We learned more form the words of Emma Barboni.

Interview

Berlinale

Interview with Renate Ranzi, Head of IDM Music and Film Commission

February 20, 2026

IDM Music and Film Commission's new regional fund boosts musicians and filmmakers, fueling innovation and industry growth, while celebrating its 15th year of activity.

Interview

Berlinale

Interview with Stefania Ippoliti, Toscana Film Commission

February 20, 2026

Discover how Toscana Film Commission boosts local talent with innovative training programs in costume design and content creation for the audiovisual industry.

Interview

Berlinale

Interview with Roberto Lo Crasto, production manager of Genova Liguria Film Commission

February 20, 2026

Discover how the Genova Liguria Film Commission boosts regional cinema with unique events like Portofino Days and supports film projects rooted in Ligurian history.

LISTEN TO ALL OUR RADIO CHANNELS

“Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays”, Interview with director Christian Avilés

Christian Avilés, director of Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays: "tackling the "balconing" phenomenon as a way to talk about teenage depression"

Plot

Channel posts

Interview with Emma Barboni, Emilia-Romagna Film Commission

Interview with Renate Ranzi, Head of IDM Music and Film Commission

Interview with Stefania Ippoliti, Toscana Film Commission

Interview with Roberto Lo Crasto, production manager of Genova Liguria Film Commission

Top popular

“Rose”, interview with director Markus Schleinzer

Interview with Sata Cissokho, Director of the World Cinema Fund

Interview with Tricia Tuttle, Director of the Berlin International Film Festival

Tanja Meissner, interview with the director of Berlinale Pro

INCinema returns to Florence with Radiance and The Way We Were

Recent Posts