“in the point of pure creation, when you have to take those big decisions that make this film be this film and not a different film, I do rely on instinct and intuition. It's certainly not calculated at all.”

Pedro Almodóvar grew up in rural Spain under Franco.  As a child he watched lots of movies and learnt from his mother that “reality needs fiction to be complete, more pleasant, more liveable”.  He was educated at a Catholic boarding school but when this education was over (1968) he moved to Madrid with the intention of making films.  Whilst working a day job at the national telephone company he bought his first Super-8 camera and joined a theatre group.  His first feature Pepi, Luci, Bom was part of the flowering of Spanish culture after the death of Franco.  From then, Almodóvar was writing and directing a film a year and formed his own production company.   He always works with the same team - his brother produces, and many of the same actors, many of whom have been launched internationally by his films (Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz).  One of the true individuals in world cinema with a very distinctive and flamboyant style Almodóvar has won many awards for his films.   A dedicated perfectionist, movies are his passion - “Since the nature of movies is to be watched, I try to deliver the strongest version of any scenario.  My movies are more sincere than I am in real life.  My movies are more honest than I am in real life.  My movies are clearer than I am in real life.  Movies changed my life - why wouldn’t they have a similar impact on others?”