Manuel Bernal y Alfonso Bernal

Nacionality: Spanish

Interests
Sonámbulos is a deeply personal project we have been eager to bring to life for many years. Told through a story with elements of magical realism, the film addresses the environmental crisis of the Mar Menor in Cartagena, offering a unique perspective from which to reflect on and critically engage with a conflict that is intrinsically linked to the place where we grew up. We consider the mentoring and support offered by a program like Málaga Talent as a key opportunity to broaden our perspective as filmmakers. Being guided by industry professionals during the early development stages of this project, which is so meaningful to us, would be fundamental in helping us strengthen the film and continue building our careers in cinema.

Profile
Alfonso Bernal and Manuel Bernal (Cartagena, 2000) studied Audiovisual Communication at the University of Murcia, and later in Film Directing at ECAM. They have combined individual and co-directed projects, notably the short film Anhedonia (2022), which was selected at various festivals and received a Special Jury Mention at the Sombra Festival in 2023. Their most recent work, Los Murciélagos Han Abandonado El Campanario (2025), their final project at ECAM, has had both national and international circulation, with selections at Abycine, D’A Film Festival Barcelona, FICX, ALCINE, and Bogoshorts, where it won the award for Best International Fantastic Short Film. They currently live in Madrid and are preparing their next short film, Sonámbulos.