Giménez Peña's decade-long dedication to 'Pínkala' demonstrates the patience and artistry required for truly original storytelling. Frida Films' continued partnership signals confidence in his vision, while the timing—hitting Cannes week with news—positions this as a prestige play.
Sources close to production say Giménez nearly shelved the project multiple times over the years, unable to find the right creative formula or financing structure. The three-country co-production model (Spain, Lithuania, Portugal) suggests a complex financing puzzle that only recently came together.
'Timecode' won Cannes' Palme d'Or for Best Short Film in 2016 and earned an Oscar nomination. 'Pínkala' has been in development for 10-11 years—the first script version predates 'Timecode.' Production begins July 2026 in Vigo, with international release targeted for 2027.
Giménez Peña's Cannes connection couldn't come at a better time—with Frida Films premiering another title at the festival this week, expect 'Pínkala' to ride that wave into production. But ten years is a long time to wait for a passion project. We'll see if it was worth it when 2027 rolls around.
Spanish filmmaker Juanjo Giménez Peña is finally bringing his decade-in-the-making passion project to the screen, announcing that 'Pínkala' will begin shooting this July in Vigo, Spain. The supernatural love story marks an ambitious return for the Barcelona-based director whose last feature film was 2012's 'Tres,' a gap of nearly fifteen years that raises eyebrows in industry circles. The project centers on Sam, a lonely luthier blessed—or cursed—with the ability to hear the constant noise of other people's minds.
His emotional isolation reaches a breaking point until he meets Alicia, a former dancer rebuilding her life after illness who becomes the only person capable of truly connecting with him. Giménez described the film simply: 'At its core, it's a love story. A supernatural match.' Whether that match refers to Sam and Alicia or Sam and his extraordinary burden remains to be seen.
The path to production has been remarkably long in the making. 'The first version of the script was written even before 'Timecode,'' Giménez told Variety. That means the concept predates 2016, when his short film 'Timecode' won Cannes' prestigious Palme d'Or for best short and subsequently earned an Academy Award nomination.
In Hollywood terms, that's a career-launching achievement—yet somehow it wasn't enough to get 'Pínkala' off the ground until now. The production brings together an international coalition: Frida Films leads alongside Lithuania's M-Films and Portugal's Uma Pedra no Sapato, with BTeam Pictures handling Spanish distribution. Frida Films is currently riding high after premiering Konstantina Kotzamani's 'Titanic Ocean' in Un Certain Regard at Cannes this week—the timing couldn't be more calculated for a filmmaker hungry to reclaim the spotlight.
Giménez has deep roots in Galicia, having shot both 'Tres' and multiple short films there. But Vigo plays a different role here—it becomes its own character in the narrative. 'In the first version, there was no specific city,' he admitted, 'but Vigo has become its own character.' The Galician port city's atmospheric qualities clearly struck something essential in his vision, transforming what began as an abstract concept into something grounded and visceral.
With a targeted 2027 international release, industry observers will be watching closely. Giménez's previous feature 'Tres' (also known as 'Out of Sync') premiered at Venice and Toronto before accumulating honors including a Goya, a Gaudí Award, and three Mestre Mateo Awards from the Galician Academy. That's an impressive trophy case that makes his long creative silence even more puzzling—and 'Pínkala' all the more anticipated.
