‘IT’S HARder to make people laugh than to make them Cry’
Maria Ripoll
‘IT’S HARder to make people laugh than make them Cry’
Maria Ripoll
about
Maria
Maria Ripoll is an award-winning Spanish film director with an international background and outlook. She is currently the highest-grossing female film director in Spanish history, with more than a dozen feature films to her credit.
Maria studied at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. Her short film, KILL ME LATER, won the First Prize in the Oberhausen Film Festival and the Panavision Grant at the Houston Film Festival. She then directed her first feature-length film, TWICE UPON A YESTERDAY or IF ONLY , starring Lena Headey, Douglas Henshall and Penelope Cruz. The film won Best Screenplay at the Montreal Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Sitges Film Festival, the Seattle Women’s Film Festival and led to Maria being nominated for a Goya (Spain’s Oscars) for Best New Director.
After this, Maria directed TORTILLA SOUP in Los Angeles starring Hector Elizondo, Jacqueline Obradors, Raquel Welch and Elizabeth Peña. It was produced by Samuel Goldwyn Jr and was a noted success, breaking Latin American stereotypes on it’s way to nine nominations at the ALMA Awards. She then directed WITNESS, a documentary shot in New York for Canal Plus.
Returning to Spain, Maria shot the thriller feature film UTOPIA, which was a top choice with critics and the public alike. In Barcelona she then directed YOUR LIFE IN 65’, based on the play by Albert Espinosa. “65” was invited to numerous festivals, including the AFI Los Angeles Film Festival and the Stockholm International Film Festival and was another success in Spain. For Spanish television Maria directed FAME, EVERYTHING FOR A DREAM for TVE and then turned to producing as well as directing with CHROMOSOME 5, a touching documentary for TVE. The film was very well received in Spain and around the world, garnering many awards.
In 2014 she directed the drama TRACES OF SANDALWOOD, a film shot in Mumbai and Barcelona. The film won the GAUDI in 2014 for BEST FILM and the Audience Award at the Montreal and Cinequest Festivals.
In 2015 she directed “Ahora o Nunca” («Now or Never”), starring Dani Rovira and María Valverde. The movie was a huge success at the Spanish box office, and placed Maria as the highest grossing female director in Spanish history.
In 2016, her next film was “No Culpes Al Karma Por Lo Que Te Pasa Por Gilipollas” (“Don’t Blame Your Karma For Being An Idiot”), based on Laura Norton’s critically acclaimed novel, which was (alongside with “Ahora O Nunca”) selected for the Miami International Film Festival.
In 2019, Maria published her first novel, along with Elisenda Roca: “Two Naked Women”. It was edited by Suma, and though the story is mainly fiction, it’s slightly inspired by real events from the lives of both of the authors.
The same year, she shot “Vivir dos Veces” (“Live Twice, Love Once”), starring Oscar Martínez and Inma Cuesta. The movie won six prizes at the Valencian Academy Awards. The touching movie about love and memory was added Netflix’s catalogue and was a hit with viewers.
In 2021, Maria presents her tenth feature: the colourful, larger-than-life comedy “Guerra de Likes” (“Likes War”), released on Amazon Prime. A Sony Pictures International production, it was shot entirely in Mexico City.
Regarding future projects, Maria is currently filming some of the chapters for the new born series “A Private Affair”, produced by “Bambú Productions” for Amazon Prime. She is also working on the pre-production of “Tequila Repasado” (“Tequila to the past”), featuring Omar Chaparro as the main lead and produced by Sony Pictures International.
film
AWARDS
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complete
Filmography
2021- feature
Guerra de likes
2021- feature
guerra de likes
ORIGINAL TITLE
Guerra De Likes
CAST
Regina Blandón, Ludwika Paleta, José Sefami
AWARDS
coming soon
2019- feature
Live Twice, Love Once
2019- feature
Live Twice, Love Once
ORIGINAL TITLE
Vivir Dos Veces
CAST
Oscar Martínez, Inma Cuesta, Mafalda Carbonell
AWARDS
Premios del Audiovisual Valenciano 2020: Best Original Score, Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Fiction Feature. Premios Forqué : Premio al Cine y Educación en valores
2016 - feature
Don't Blame your Karma
2016 - feature
Don't Blame your Karma
ORIGINAL TITLE
No Culpes Al Karma De Lo Que Te Pasa Por Gilipollas
CAST
Verónica Echegui, Alex García, Alba Galocha, David Verdaguer, Jordi Sanchez, Elvira Minguez
AWARDS
Nominee best film Miami film festival, Best Costume design, Goya Awards. Official Selection – Miami International Film Festival (HBO Ibero American Competition category)
2015 - feature
IT's NOW OR NEVER
2015 - feature
IT's NOW OR NEVER
ORIGINAL TITLE
Ahora o Nunca
CAST
Dani Rovira, María Valverde, Jordi Sánchez, Clara Lago
FESTIVALS
Toronto Film Festival Canada, Miami Film Festival USA, Montreal Film Festival, Canada. Neox Fan Awards 2015 – Finalista en la categoría «La Peli del Año»
2014 - feature
Traces of Sandalwood
2014 - feature
Traces of Sandalwood
ORIGINAL TITLE
Rastres de Sàndal
CAST
Nandita Das, Aina Clotet, Vaibhavi Hankare
AWARDS
Toronto Film Festival Canada, Miami Film Festival USA, Montreal Film Festival, Canada
Best Film Gaudi Awards, Best Film Audience Award, Montreal Film Festival, Nominee for Best Soundtrack & Screenplay, Goya Awards
2013 - documentary
Chromosome 5
2013 - documentary
Chromosome 5
ORIGINAL TITLE
Cromosoma Cinco
CAST
Raül Tortosa (doctor’s voice)
AWARDS & FESTIVALS
Selected for Marfici Festival, Argentina & Malaga Film Festival, Spain. Winner Best Film in Bosifest Belgrade.
2009 - documentary series
50 years of fame
2009 - documentary series
50 years of fame
ORIGINAL TITLE
Fama, Todo Por Un Sueño
TV DOCUMENTARY SERIES
1 Episode, 2009 para TV1
CAST
Carmen Balagué, Carme Elias, Joan Pera
2006 - feature
Your life in 65 Minutes
2006 - feature
Your life in 65 Minutes
ORIGINAL TITLE
Tu Vida En 65 Minutos
CAST
Javier Pereira, Tamara Arias, Marc Rodriguez, Oriol Vila, Nuria Gago, Irene Montala
AWARDS
Best Screenplay, Barcelona Film Awards, Nominee for Best Director & Best Score, Nominee best Catalan film, Butaca Awards
2003 - feature
Utopía
2003 - feature
Utopía
2002 - documentary
Witness
2002 - documentary
Witness
ORIGINAL TITLE
Witness
TV DOCUMENTARY
Shot in New York for Canal +
2001 - feature
Tortilla Soup
2001 - feature
Tortilla Soup
ORIGINAL TITLE
Tortilla Soup
CAST
Elizabeth Pena, Hector Elizondo, Jacqueline Orbradors,
Tamara Mello, Raquel Welch
Awards& Festivals
Winner ALMA Award, Nominee Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Director & Actor/ Actress. Winner Best Theatrical Feature Film Imagen Award
1999 - feature
Twice upon a yesterday
1999 - feature
Twice upon a yesterday
ORIGINAL TITLE
Lluvia En Los Zapatos
ALTERNATIVE TITLE
The Man with Rain in His Shoes
CAST
Lena Headey, Douglas Henshall, Penélope Cruz
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
Nominee for Best New Director Goya, Best Film Sitges Film Festival, Audience Award – Film Festival Seatle, Best Screenplay – Montreal Film Festival, Nominee Best Film – Bogotá Film Festival