Neus Ballús (born 1980) is a Catalan

film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfillment of that Goal, vision. The director has a key role ...

and

scriptwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

. She has a degree in Audiovisual Communication and a Master in Documentary Making from the

Pompeu Fabra University Pompeu Fabra University (, ; ) is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. Established in 1990 by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia and named after Pompeu Fabra, it is known for its competitiveness in resea ...

. She released her first film ''La plaga'' (The Plague) in 2013, which was screened at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival. It won 4

Gaudí Awards The Gaudí Awards () are the main film awards of Catalonia, celebrated annually in Barcelona. The awards were established in 2009 by the Catalan Film Academy as a continuation and expansion of the Barcelona Cinema Awards (''Premis Barcelona de Ci ...

and was nominated for the LUX Prize, the

European Film Awards The European Film Awards (or European Film Academy Awards) have been presented annually since 1988 by the European Film Academy to recognize excellence in European cinematic achievements. The awards are given in 19 categories, of which the mos ...

and the

Goya Awards The Goya Awards () are Spain's main national annual film awards. They are presented by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. The first ceremony was held in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academy of Cinematographic Ar ...

. The film portrays everyday life in a rural zone of the periphery of Barcelona, named Gallecs. Before, she had done some shorts like ''La Gabi'' (2004), ''L'avi de la càmera'' (Grandad with Camera, 2005) and the documentary ''Immersió'' (2009), awarded with the Best Short Film Prize at the ALCINE Festival. Her second film, ''El viatge de Marta (Staff Only)'' (2019), also premiered at the

69th Berlin International Film Festival The 69th annual Berlin International Film Festival took place from 7 to 17 February 2019. French actress Juliette Binoche served as the Jury President. Lone Scherfig's drama film '' The Kindness of Strangers'' opened the festival. The Golden ...

and was screened in cinemas in France and Spain. It is about a 17-year-old girl who spends her Christmas holidays in

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

with her brother and father. Tired of family planned trips, and of her father's behaviour, she opens the door to the staff area and discovers a world that allows her to develop close and complex relationships. In August 2021, her film '' Sis dies corrents'' (The Odd-job men) (Distinto Films, 2021), premiered at the 74th Locarno Film Festival, telling the story of a young Moroccan plumber who has to deal with equally eccentric colleagues and customers in order to get through his one-week probationary contract.

Works

* ''Immersió'' - 2009 * ''The Plague'' (''La plaga'') - 2013 * ''Staff Only'' (''El viatge de la Marta'') - 2019 * '' The Odd-Job Men'' (''Sis dies corrents'') - 2021

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballus, Neus Film directors from Catalonia Spanish women screenwriters 21st-century Spanish screenwriters Pompeu Fabra University alumni 1980 births Living people People from Vallès Occidental