# Creatura

Creatura is a 2023 Spanish drama film directed, co-written and starred by Elena Martín Gimeno. It is shot in Catalan.

## Plot

Upon moving in to a family summer house on the coastline of Maresme with boyfriend Marcel, Mila confronts sexual trauma, with flashbacks to her earliest moments of sexual awareness (5 years old) and her teenage years (15 years old).

## Cast

* Elena Martín Gimeno as Mila
* Clàudia Malagelada [es] as Mila
* Mila Borràs as Mila
* Oriol Pla as Marcel
* Alex Brendemühl as Gerard
* Clara Segura as Diana
* Marc Cartanyà as Gerard
* Carla Linares as Diana

## Production

The film was produced by Vilaüt Films, Lastor Media, Avalon PC, and Elastica Films. It was produced in association with Suris/Bishop Film, and it had the participation of TV3 and Filmin and backing from ICAA, ICEC and Creative Media Europe. It was shot in Catalan. Shooting locations in Catalonia included Sant Vicenç de Montalt, L'Escala, Blanes, Barcelona, and Sitges.

## Release

The film world premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023. Distributed by Avalon, it was released theatrically in Spain on 8 September 2023.

## Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 93% based on 14 reviews from critics.
Nikki Baughan of ScreenDaily considered that the film, an exploration of the "close relationship between guilt, shame and desire" should "attract attention for its female-centric story and strong visual identity".
Dustin Chang of ScreenAnarchy deemed Creatura to be "an interesting film about how the female sexuality frightens men".
Carlota Moseguí of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, underscoring it to be "a strong claim on the exposure of female desire" in the verdict.

### Top ten lists

The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:
* 2nd — El Confidencial (consensus)
* 3rd — El Periódico de Catalunya (critics)
* 4th — El Cultural (critics)
* 5th — Mondosonoro (consensus)
* 5th — El Mundo (Luis Martínez)
* 6th — El Español (Series & Más consensus)

### Accolades

| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result |
| Cannes Film Festival | 27 May 2023 | Europa Cinemas Label Prize for Best European Film (Directors' Fortnight) | Elena Martín | Won |
| San Sebastián International Film Festival | 30 September 2023 | Dunia Ayaso Award | Creatura | Won |
| Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival | 8 December 2023 | Prix Les Grenades | Creatura | Won |
| Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival | 8 December 2023 | Prix de la critique UPCB-UCC | Creatura | Won |
| Feroz Awards | 26 January 2024 | Best Director | Elena Martín Gimeno | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 26 January 2024 | Best Screenplay | Elena Martín Gimeno, Clara Roquet | Nominated |
| Feroz Awards | 26 January 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Oriol Pla | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Film | Creatura | Won |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Director | Elena Martín | Won |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Original Screenplay | Elena Martín, Clara Roquet | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Actor | Oriol Pla | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Supporting Actress | Clara Segura | Won |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Àlex Brendemühl | Won |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best New Performance | Clàudia Malagelada | Won |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Cinematography | Alana Mejía González | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Editing | Ariadna Ribas | Won |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Original Score | Clara Aguilar | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Art Direction | Sylvia Steinbrecht | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Production Supervision | Andrés Mellinas | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Sound | Leo Dolgan, Oriol Donat, Laia Casanovas | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Visual Effects | Cristina Garmón | Nominated |
| Gaudí Awards | 4 February 2024 | Best Makeup and Hairstyles | Danae Gatell, Àlex Salvat | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 10 February 2024 | Best Director | Elena Martín | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 10 February 2024 | Best Supporting Actress | Clara Segura | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 10 February 2024 | Best Supporting Actor | Alex Brendemühl | Nominated |
| Goya Awards | 10 February 2024 | Best New Actress | Clàudia Malagelada | Nominated |
| Actors and Actresses Union Awards | 12 March 2024 | Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role | Àlex Brendemühl | Won |