Spanish actress Aina Clotet will make her feature-film directorial debut with the movie "Viva" at the 79th Cannes Film Festival [2].
The selection marks a significant milestone for Clotet, who served as the film's director, writer, and producer. Her inclusion in the festival's Critics' Week section, known as Semaine de la Critique, is intended to increase Spanish representation at the prestigious event [1, 2].
"Viva" is described as a contemporary tragicomic drama. The plot follows Nora, a 40-year-old woman who works to regain control of her life after surviving breast cancer [1, 4]. The narrative explores the desire to live and the emotional complexities of recovery [4].
Clotet described the process of bringing the film to the screen as a long journey. "It has been a very long journey that started more than six years ago and in which I have been accompanied by many people," Clotet said [2].
The film's official trailer was released on 11 May 2026 [1]. Following its screening in France, the movie is scheduled for theatrical release in Spain on 19 June 2026 [3].
The Critics' Week is one of the most prestigious sections for emerging filmmakers at Cannes. By competing in this category, Clotet joins a select group of first-time directors showcasing their work to international critics and distributors [1, 2].
“"It has been a very long journey that started more than six years ago"”
Clotet's transition from acting to directing at a major festival like Cannes signals a growing trend of established performers taking full creative control over production and writing. By focusing on the aftermath of breast cancer, the film addresses a specific public health experience through a tragicomic lens, potentially expanding the representation of survivorship in contemporary Spanish cinema.
