'The Olive Tree', 'Juliet' and 'The Bride', films shortlisted for the Oscars

From this shortlist preselected by the members of the Film Academy, the chosen film will emerge, in a second vote, the result of which will be announced on September 7.

Yvonne Blake, interim president of the Academy, accompanied by notary Eva Sanz del Real, announced this morning the films preselected by the members of the Film Academy to represent Spain at the 89th edition of the Oscars.

The olive tree, by Icíar Bollain; Juliet, by Pedro Almodóvar; and The bride, by Paula Ortiz, have been chosen in a shortlist from which the film that Spain will present to the Oscars will emerge. To do this, academics are called for a second vote, the result of which will be announced on September 7.

The olive tree, which has a script by Paul Laverty and photography by Sergi Gallardo, has a cast led by Anna Castillo, Javier Gutiérrez, Pep Ambrós, Manuel Cucala and Miguel Ángel Aladrén. The film, produced by Morena Films and Match Factory Productions, tells the story of a twenty-year-old girl who adores her grandfather, a man who has not spoken for years. When the old man also refuses to eat, the girl decides to recover the ancient tree that the family sold against her will. But to do this, he needs to have the help of his uncle, a victim of the crisis, his friend Rafa and the entire town. The problem is knowing where in Europe the olive tree is.

As to Juliet, is Almodóvar's last film produced by El Deseo. With photography by Jean-Claude Larrieu, the film stars Emma Suárez, Adriana Ugarte, Daniel Grao, Inma Cuesta, Darío Grandinetti, Rossy de Palma, Michelle Jenner, Pilar Castro, Susi Sánchez, Joaquín Notario and Nathalie Poza, among others. Adaptation of the stories Destination, Pronto y Silence, by Canadian Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro, the film presents the story of several women in which pain, guilt and loss are intertwined.

Finally, The bride, has been the great revelation of the season, surprising for Paula Ortiz's treatment of García Lorca's texts and Migue Amoedo's masterful photography. Inma Cuesta, Asier Etxeandia, Álex García, Luisa Gavasa, Carlos Álvarez-Novoa, Ana Fernández, Leticia Dolera are some of the actors who give life to the immortal Lorca work.