Albert Serra

Directing

Albert Serra

Born

1975-10-09 (51)

Place of birth

Banyoles, Catalonia, Spain

Known for

Directing

Credits

63 titles

Albert Serra ([əɫˈβɛrt ˈsɛrə]; born October 10, 1975; Banyoles, Catalonia) is a Spanish filmmaker, contemporary artist and manager of the production company Andergraun Films, set up by Montse Triola primarily to produce Serra’s films. Besides writing, directing and producing films, Albert Serra writes and produces plays. Graduated in Spanish literature and comparative literature at the University of Barcelona, where he also studied art history. Serra has been called “one of the most singular and radical filmmakers working today.” He is also a big fan of classical music and chess. “I’m not interested in forcing a meaning onto a filmic story. In fact I’d even rather the audience know more th…

Known for

Al cotxe! poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Al cotxe!

2017

Polònia poster
7.6

"Polonia" is a humorous space based on political satire. Each week, an analysis of current events is carried out through a series of sketches where the protagonists are politicians, journalists and media people. "Polonia" was released on TV3 on February 16, 2006. In 2007, he won the Ondas Award for the best local television show. In 2011 he won the ATV Make-up Award. In 2012 he won the Zapping award for the best entertainment program. At the moment its eighth season is emitting. The seventh season closed with an average of 595,000 spectators and 18% share of screen. Seven years later, the program has almost 8,400 minutes of gags, more than 350 imitated characters and more than 3,850 sketches written, recorded and emitted. If you want to know more about this program, visit the official website of "Polonia"

Polònia

2006

Le Cercle poster
NR

As long as there is cinema, LE CERCLE will be there. It is the only television program of critical debates 100% devoted to cinema. Each week, it offers fiery, joyful and non-condescending jousts on the films on the bill; and invites with "Le questionnaire du CERCLE" directors to come and share their passion for cinema.

Le Cercle

2005

Pacifiction poster
6.2

Island of Tahiti. French government official De Roller is a calculating man with impeccable manners, capable of dealing with both high society and the locals he frequents in shady joints.

Pacifiction

2022

Magellan poster
6.3

At the dawn of the modern era, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan leads an expedition under the Spanish crown in search of the first westward route to the Spice Islands. He embarks on a perilous journey across the uncharted Pacific, where his fleet faces starvation, mutiny, and the psychological toll of endless seas. Upon reaching the shores of Cebu, Magellan is pulled into a fatal conflict with the natives by his drive to spread Catholicism, culminating in his tragic doom.

Magellan

2025

La gran il·lusió, relat intermitent del cinema català poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

La gran il·lusió, relat intermitent del cinema català

2019

Film credits

2020s · 7 titles

Room 999 poster
5.8

In 1982, Wim Wenders asked 16 of his fellow directors to speak on the future of cinema, resulting in the film Room 666. Now, 40 years later, in Cannes, director Lubna Playoust asks Wim Wenders himself and a new generation of filmmakers (James Gray, Rebecca Zlotowski, Claire Denis, Olivier Assayas, Nadav Lapid, Asghar Farhadi, Alice Rohrwacher and more) the same question: “is cinema a language about to get lost, an art about to die?”

Room 999

2023

La vida és Verdi poster
7.7

As Barcelona's Cines Verdi approach their centenary, two young girls explore its spaces and encounter the people who keep them alive. Through their eyes, the cinema emerges as a meeting place where generations of film lovers continue to share something that reaches beyond the screen.

La vida és Verdi

2026

The Cause of The Accident That Started The Fire poster
5.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Cause of The Accident That Started The Fire

2024

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Pere Gimferrer. Retrat d'un artista adolescent

2026

God Sees It poster
7.5

God Sees It is a journey into the creative universe of Oscar Tusquets, one of the most fascinating figures of the last sixty years as well as one-of-a-kind character of the gauche divine, in whose mind art, irony, and rebellion coexist. The film traces an inimitable career, from his beginnings in Barcelona, quietly rebelling against the backdrop of the dictatorship, and his collaborations with Salvador Dalí, to his interventions in the Palau de la Musica Catalana or the unique Toledo metro station in Naples. If this is not enough, the film is filled with reflections and conversations on art with friends like Miquel Barceló, Albert Serra, Mario Vargas Llosa or Julia de Castro.

God Sees It

2025

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Biblioteca de pedra seca

2025

My Influences poster
NR

In “Spaces #3”, 7 internationally acclaimed directors shot, after commissioning by the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, a short film at home, making their own timely comment on the new reality that we live in. The project is inspired by the book “Species of Spaces” by the French novelist, filmmaker, documentalist, and essayist, Georges Perec and the days of quarantine. The idea is to create a film at home, using the environment, the people or the animals in that space. The only outdoor areas that may be used are outdoor living spaces, such as the terrace, the garden, the balcony and the stairwell. “My influences” is Albert Serra’s submission.

My Influences

2020

2010s · 6 titles

Cubalibre poster
6.5

An homage from Serra to one of his idols, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, shot in a nightclub full of characters that resemble the ones of Fassbinder films. The title comes from the favourite drink of “Beware of the Holy Whore” characters.

Cubalibre

2014

The Names of Christ poster
6.2

Episodic film, divided into 14 chapters, based on the play De los nombres de Cristo (1586), by Fray Luis de Leon and intended for exhibition "Are You Ready for TV?". Filmed partly in the rooms of MACBA (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona), is about the difficulty of naming or visually represent abstract concepts.

The Names of Christ

2010

Roi Soleil poster
5.6

Catalan director Albert Serra’s follow-up to his magisterial The Death of Louis XIV is another forensic documentation of the Sun King’s final breaths. Here, however, Versailles is replaced with the glow of the gallery.

Roi Soleil

2018

Adolfo Arrietta, (cadré - décadré) poster
NR

A “Cinéma, de notre temps” series episode directed by french film critic André S. Labarthe, originally aired sometime around 2015.

Adolfo Arrietta, (cadré - décadré)

2015

Helmut Berger, My Mother and Me poster
6.0

My mother googles the film hero of her youth: Helmut Berger. She is shocked: only an addicted shadow of the former icon seems to be left. She decides to halt the obvious catastrophic decline of the once “most handsome man in the world”. As a consequence, this one-time god of the screen is suddenly sitting on my mother’s sofa in Nordsehl in Lower Saxony. And he stays put - for several months. While he trustingly rolls out his whole life before us, the dividing lines between film team, world star and family intermingle. This is a film about ageing, rising and falling - and about the fact that it is sometimes possible to regain an element of dignity in life.

Helmut Berger, My Mother and Me

2019

The Lord Worked Wonders in Me poster
5.6

Part of the crew of Honor of the Knights travels to La Mancha to see the real settings of Quixote’s life in order to shoot a film.

The Lord Worked Wonders in Me

2011

2000s · 4 titles

El asesino a sueldo poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

El asesino a sueldo

2009

Fiasco poster
NR

SYNOPSIS Albert Serra’s piece for and audiovisual tribute to Chaplin the filmmaker… What is Chaplin’s legacy in contemporary cinema? It is not about producing films like Chaplin did, nor remembering the icon in a naïve fashion, but about finding traces of his cinema in their own individual looks.

Fiasco

2008

Cinematic Correspondences: Albert Serra – Lisandro Alonso poster
5.0

The exhibition 'The Complete Letters' features epistolary works defined by cinematographic creation. This is an experimental communication format used between pairs of film directors. Although each director is situated in a location geographically distant from that of their partner, they are united by their willingness to share ideas and reflections on all that motivates their work. Within this space of freedom, the directors featured in the exhibition examine their affinities and differences, within an environment of mutual respect and simultaneity of interests and with notable formal variants established in each of the correspondences.

Cinematic Correspondences: Albert Serra – Lisandro Alonso

2009

Waiting for Sancho poster
5.0

Waiting for Sancho is an ontological investigation into a place where cinema becomes something more than cinema. Filmed in high-definition colour over five days in the Canary Islands of Fuerteventura and Tenerife, Waiting for Sancho is a kind of experimental “making of” the critically acclaimed El cant dels ocells (Birdsong_/_Le chant des oiseaux). A particular take on the Biblical story of The Three Kings en route to the baby Jesus, El cant dels ocells premiered at the Quinzaine des Realisateurs at Cannes 2008.

Waiting for Sancho

2008

Series credits

Behind the camera

Pacifiction poster
6.2

Island of Tahiti. French government official De Roller is a calculating man with impeccable manners, capable of dealing with both high society and the locals he frequents in shady joints.

Pacifiction

2022

Pacifiction poster
6.2

Island of Tahiti. French government official De Roller is a calculating man with impeccable manners, capable of dealing with both high society and the locals he frequents in shady joints.

Pacifiction

2022

Pacifiction poster
6.2

Island of Tahiti. French government official De Roller is a calculating man with impeccable manners, capable of dealing with both high society and the locals he frequents in shady joints.

Pacifiction

2022

Pacifiction poster
6.2

Island of Tahiti. French government official De Roller is a calculating man with impeccable manners, capable of dealing with both high society and the locals he frequents in shady joints.

Pacifiction

2022

Magellan poster
6.3

At the dawn of the modern era, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan leads an expedition under the Spanish crown in search of the first westward route to the Spice Islands. He embarks on a perilous journey across the uncharted Pacific, where his fleet faces starvation, mutiny, and the psychological toll of endless seas. Upon reaching the shores of Cebu, Magellan is pulled into a fatal conflict with the natives by his drive to spread Catholicism, culminating in his tragic doom.

Magellan

2025

Liberté poster
4.9

1774, shortly before the French Revolution, somewhere between Potsdam and Berlin. Madame de Dumeval, the Duke de Tesis and the Duke de Wand, libertines expelled from the puritanical court of Louis XVI, seek the support of the legendary Duc de Walchen, German seducer and freethinker, lonely in a country where hypocrisy and false virtue reign. Their mission is to export libertinage, a philosophy of enlightenment founded on the rejection of moral boundaries and authorities, but moreover to find a safe place to pursue their errant games, where the quest for pleasure no longer obeys laws other than those dictated by unfulfilled desires.

Liberté

2019

Liberté poster
4.9

1774, shortly before the French Revolution, somewhere between Potsdam and Berlin. Madame de Dumeval, the Duke de Tesis and the Duke de Wand, libertines expelled from the puritanical court of Louis XVI, seek the support of the legendary Duc de Walchen, German seducer and freethinker, lonely in a country where hypocrisy and false virtue reign. Their mission is to export libertinage, a philosophy of enlightenment founded on the rejection of moral boundaries and authorities, but moreover to find a safe place to pursue their errant games, where the quest for pleasure no longer obeys laws other than those dictated by unfulfilled desires.

Liberté

2019

Liberté poster
4.9

1774, shortly before the French Revolution, somewhere between Potsdam and Berlin. Madame de Dumeval, the Duke de Tesis and the Duke de Wand, libertines expelled from the puritanical court of Louis XVI, seek the support of the legendary Duc de Walchen, German seducer and freethinker, lonely in a country where hypocrisy and false virtue reign. Their mission is to export libertinage, a philosophy of enlightenment founded on the rejection of moral boundaries and authorities, but moreover to find a safe place to pursue their errant games, where the quest for pleasure no longer obeys laws other than those dictated by unfulfilled desires.

Liberté

2019

Afternoons of Solitude poster
6.9

The life of the bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey during a day of bullfighting, from the moment he dresses up to the moment he undresses.

Afternoons of Solitude

2025

Afternoons of Solitude poster
6.9

The life of the bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey during a day of bullfighting, from the moment he dresses up to the moment he undresses.

Afternoons of Solitude

2025

Afternoons of Solitude poster
6.9

The life of the bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey during a day of bullfighting, from the moment he dresses up to the moment he undresses.

Afternoons of Solitude

2025

Red Rocks poster
4.7

On the French Riviera, two gangs of kids compete in the perilous game of cliff jumping. Géo, barely five years old, discovers over the course of a summer a world where friendship blends with rivalry, and where the first stirrings of the heart emerge against the dazzling Mediterranean landscape.

Red Rocks

2026

60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero poster
4.2

An anthology of one-minute films created by 51 international filmmakers on the theme of the death of cinema. Intended as an ode to 35mm, the film was screened one time only on a purpose-built 20x12 meter public cinema screen in the Port of Tallinn, Estonia, on 22 December 2011. A special projector was constructed for the event which allowed the actual filmstrip to be burnt at the same time as the film was shown.

60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero

2011

The Death of Louis XIV poster
6.5

August 1715. After going for a walk, Louis XIV feels a pain in his leg. The next days, the king keeps fulfilling his duties and obligations, but his sleep is troubled and he has a serious fever. He barely eats and weakens increasingly. This is the start of the slow agony of the greatest king of France, surrounded by his relatives and doctors.

The Death of Louis XIV

2016

The Death of Louis XIV poster
6.5

August 1715. After going for a walk, Louis XIV feels a pain in his leg. The next days, the king keeps fulfilling his duties and obligations, but his sleep is troubled and he has a serious fever. He barely eats and weakens increasingly. This is the start of the slow agony of the greatest king of France, surrounded by his relatives and doctors.

The Death of Louis XIV

2016

The Death of Louis XIV poster
6.5

August 1715. After going for a walk, Louis XIV feels a pain in his leg. The next days, the king keeps fulfilling his duties and obligations, but his sleep is troubled and he has a serious fever. He barely eats and weakens increasingly. This is the start of the slow agony of the greatest king of France, surrounded by his relatives and doctors.

The Death of Louis XIV

2016

Sixteen Moments of My Life poster
NR

Ingrid Caven sings about 16 moments from her life in a unique concert at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord in Paris.

Sixteen Moments of My Life

2026

Story of My Death poster
6.9

Casanova meets a new servant who will witness his last moments in life, from a castle with its libertine 18th century atmosphere to the poor, shadowy Northern lands. There, his rationalist way of thinking and mundane world will succumb to a violent and romantic force, represented by Count Dracula.

Story of My Death

2013

Story of My Death poster
6.9

Casanova meets a new servant who will witness his last moments in life, from a castle with its libertine 18th century atmosphere to the poor, shadowy Northern lands. There, his rationalist way of thinking and mundane world will succumb to a violent and romantic force, represented by Count Dracula.

Story of My Death

2013

Story of My Death poster
6.9

Casanova meets a new servant who will witness his last moments in life, from a castle with its libertine 18th century atmosphere to the poor, shadowy Northern lands. There, his rationalist way of thinking and mundane world will succumb to a violent and romantic force, represented by Count Dracula.

Story of My Death

2013

Out of This World poster
NR

An American delegation travels to Russia in the midst of the Ukrainian war to try to find a solution to an economic dispute.

Out of This World

—

Out of This World poster
NR

An American delegation travels to Russia in the midst of the Ukrainian war to try to find a solution to an economic dispute.

Out of This World

—

Out of This World poster
NR

An American delegation travels to Russia in the midst of the Ukrainian war to try to find a solution to an economic dispute.

Out of This World

—

Cubalibre poster
6.5

An homage from Serra to one of his idols, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, shot in a nightclub full of characters that resemble the ones of Fassbinder films. The title comes from the favourite drink of “Beware of the Holy Whore” characters.

Cubalibre

2014

Bauçà poster
5.5

Changing colors according to the music.

Bauçà

2009

L’alto arrigo poster
10.0

A short film by Albert Serra, made in conjunction with his third feature film, Birdsong, from a small reference by Dante to the King Arrigo VII (Henry VII) in “Paradise” from “The Divine Comedy.”

L’alto arrigo

2008

Honour of the Knights poster
7.2

Trusting in fate, Don Quixote and Sancho pursue their travels in search of adventure day and night. They ride through fields, talking about subjects as varied as spirituality, chivalry and daily life. A growing bond of friendship unites them.

Honour of the Knights

2006

Honour of the Knights poster
7.2

Trusting in fate, Don Quixote and Sancho pursue their travels in search of adventure day and night. They ride through fields, talking about subjects as varied as spirituality, chivalry and daily life. A growing bond of friendship unites them.

Honour of the Knights

2006

Honour of the Knights poster
7.2

Trusting in fate, Don Quixote and Sancho pursue their travels in search of adventure day and night. They ride through fields, talking about subjects as varied as spirituality, chivalry and daily life. A growing bond of friendship unites them.

Honour of the Knights

2006

Crespià, the Film not the Village poster
5.6

Loving cult film and idiosyncratic musical portrait of summer festivities in the Catalan village of Crespià, with early performances by the well-known faces from the work of Serra.

Crespià, the Film not the Village

2003

Crespià, the Film not the Village poster
5.6

Loving cult film and idiosyncratic musical portrait of summer festivities in the Catalan village of Crespià, with early performances by the well-known faces from the work of Serra.

Crespià, the Film not the Village

2003

Crespià, the Film not the Village poster
5.6

Loving cult film and idiosyncratic musical portrait of summer festivities in the Catalan village of Crespià, with early performances by the well-known faces from the work of Serra.

Crespià, the Film not the Village

2003

No artwork available
NR

Based on the material generated for the documentary Tardes de soledad (2024), Albert Serra proposes his own version of tauromaquia, in which he delves into the most baroque aspects of the fiesta.

Tauromaquia

2025

The Names of Christ poster
6.2

Episodic film, divided into 14 chapters, based on the play De los nombres de Cristo (1586), by Fray Luis de Leon and intended for exhibition "Are You Ready for TV?". Filmed partly in the rooms of MACBA (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona), is about the difficulty of naming or visually represent abstract concepts.

The Names of Christ

2010

The Names of Christ poster
6.2

Episodic film, divided into 14 chapters, based on the play De los nombres de Cristo (1586), by Fray Luis de Leon and intended for exhibition "Are You Ready for TV?". Filmed partly in the rooms of MACBA (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona), is about the difficulty of naming or visually represent abstract concepts.

The Names of Christ

2010

The Names of Christ poster
6.2

Episodic film, divided into 14 chapters, based on the play De los nombres de Cristo (1586), by Fray Luis de Leon and intended for exhibition "Are You Ready for TV?". Filmed partly in the rooms of MACBA (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona), is about the difficulty of naming or visually represent abstract concepts.

The Names of Christ

2010

Birdsong poster
7.0

The Three Wise Kings travel in search of the Messiah, with unexpected obstacles on the way.

Birdsong

2008

Birdsong poster
7.0

The Three Wise Kings travel in search of the Messiah, with unexpected obstacles on the way.

Birdsong

2008

Filmoteca de Catalunya 10 anys al Raval poster
8.0

Short film on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Filmoteca de Catalunya using fragments from unused footage of the film Pacifiction.

Filmoteca de Catalunya 10 anys al Raval

2022

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

The Valkyrie

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