José Antonio Félez, Gold Medal of the 27th José María Forqué Award

José Antonio Félez, at the head of the executive production of titles such as Seventeen, the minimum island, the plague or Cousin, will be awarded the Gold Medal of the 27th edition of the José María Forqué Award.

With this award, EGEDA It seeks to recognize the value of a producer “highly committed to the Spanish audiovisual”, which is involved in its projects since its genesis, and which is closely linked to the film trajectory of key figures in the cinema and contemporary national series such as Alberto Rodríguez, Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, Achero Mañas, Adolfo Aristarain, Rafael Cobos or Santi Amodeo.

Félez, who has opted during his career for the support for new talents, walking along with new directors, screenwriters, technicians and actors who now enjoy recognized prestige, has a law degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and PDG from IESE. His first experience in the audiovisual sector was as the second of the CEGREDENCADO DE CBS/FOX in Spain in the late 80s.

Between 1995 and 1998, Félez collaborated with Elías Querejeta and Prime Films in production, marketing and organization tasks. During those same years, the producer also held the General Secretariat of the Spanish videographic union, National Association of Editors and Distributors, in addition to the General Secretariat of the Association of distributors and editors of entertainment (Adese). Between 2012 and 2018 was President of the State Association of Cinematographic Producer (Aecine).

It would be in 1998 when he would make his first executive production of a feature film with The southern lighthouse, by Eduardo Migenogna, awarded the Goya Award for the best Spanish -speaking film in its 13th edition. That same year, Félez would found TESELA PRODUCCIONES Cinematographic, key company that would start its journey in 2000 with films To gallop lying, by Julio Suárez Vega; The Pilgrim factor, debut by Santi Amodeo and Alberto Rodríguez in the direction of feature films, and the celebrated The ball, from Achero Mañas.

Great hits of public and criticism

The ball, debut of Mañas centered on a 12 -year -old suffering from the abuse and violence of his father, he won the VI José María Forqué Cinematographic Award, the Discovery-Fafinder Discovery Award awarded by the European Film Academy, and four Goya Awards for Best Film, the Best Novel Director, the best revelation actor and the best original script. It would not be the only collaboration between Mañas and Félez, who returned to work hand in hand with November, Second feature film of the director released in 2003 and winner of the young jury award at the San Sebastián Festival.

Félez would also support talent Daniel Sánchez Arévalo premiering in 2006 Azuloscurocasinegro, long debut that reaped more than 50 awards at festivals around the world, including three Goya awards, three biznagas at the Malaga Festival or two recognitions at the Venice Festival; or fat in 2009. On the other hand, Félez has also developed his career very in parallel to the trajectory of Alberto Rodríguez, with which he has worked and continues to work since his foray into the feature film. Tapes such as The suit (2002) or the outstanding 7 virgins (2005), both made from Tesela P.C.

The producer has also participated in films with renowned directors of the Latin American panorama, highlighting co -productions such as The escape (2001), De Eduardo Mignogna; Roma (2004), of Adolescent Aristarin; you are Elsa & Fred (2005), by Marcos Carnevale.

Atypical Films Foundation

In 2009, Félez founded Atypical Films Together with Cristina Sutherland, from where he promoted Cousin (2011) o The great Spanish family (2013) by Sánchez Arévalo, two customs comedies that also became great hits of public and criticism.

The career of Alberto Rodríguez and Rafael Cobos, a regular screenwriter and collaborator, continued to develop in parallel to that of Atypical Films with Group 7 in 2012 and The minimum island, tape released in 2014 at the San Sebastián Festival that reaped continuous successes. Winner of 10 Goya Awards, including the best film, Rodríguez's film also won the 20th José María Forqué award for the best film. The film starring Javier Gutiérrez and Raúl Arévalo, who approached a dark criminal investigation in the framework of the Spanish transition, came to gather more than 1.3 million spectators in Salas, reaching 8 million euros of collection and being distributed internationally.

In 2016, Félez would produce THE MAN OF THE THOUSAND FACES, Rodríguez movie that recounts corruption from the political thriller, and a year later, The fish, first incursion of the Sevillian director on the small screen by the hand of Movistar+. The series set in the Seville of the 16th century had a second season, Garduña's hand, released in 2019, which had Rafael Cobos as Showrunner and Rodríguez himself as director of two chapters. The last feature film produced by atypical films to date has been Seventeen (2019), emotional tape by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo whose importance recognized the Forqué awards by awarding the Prize to Cinema and Education in Securities of its 25 edition.

With the arrival of the health crisis derived from the COVID-19, Atypical Films was forced to delay the filming of its new productions: the series Those of the last row, which will be issued in Netflix, and the movie Model 77, co -produced with Movistar+, of those that are responsible, respectively, Sánchez Arévalo himself and Alberto Rodríguez. With Félez as producer, both have planned their premiere throughout 2022.

Gold Medal

The delivery of the gold medal will be one of the most prominent moments of the 27th edition of the José María Forqué awards, presented by Marta Hazas and Elena S. Sánchez, and which will broadcast TVE he December 11. The good pattern, parallel mothers, Maixabel and Mediterranean They will be the competitors for the Forqué for the best feature film or animation, while Iron, stories not to sleep, fortune and Lost fag They will fight to win the best fiction series trophy.

Félez will collect the witness of Fernando Colomo and Beatriz de la Gándara, who received the first former gold medal in the history of the Forqué. The producer adds to the extensive payroll of the winners with this honorary recognition, among which are Pedro Masó, Elías Querejeta, Eduardo Ducay, José Luis Borau, Fernando Trueba, Agustín Almodóvar, Santiago Segura, Carlos Saura, José Frade or Gonzalo Suárez.

The José María Forqué 2021 film award is organized by EGEDA With the participation of Madrid City Council, the Community of Madrid and RTVE, and has the collaboration of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and other sponsors such as Cornel, Fipca and Mercedes-Benz. Egeda created these awards in 1996 with the aim of spreading the importance of the Spanish audiovisual and cinematographic industry, promoting the figure of the producer and rewarding the best Spanish productions every year for their technical and artistic values.