A few days before the Goya Awards, two allegations of sexual abuse shake Spanish cinema

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Days before the Goya Awards ceremony, film directors Carlos Vermut and Armando Ravelo were accused of sexual abuse by several workers in the Spanish film industry.

First was the case of Vermut, responsible for films such as Mantícora and Magic Girl, reported based on an investigation by the newspaper El País that focused on events that occurred between 2014 and 2022 and that involved an employee of a film student, an employee of one of their productions and another worker in the cultural sector.

The three complainants, who until now have not filed any complaint with the police for fear of social stigma or fear of losing their jobs, claimed to have suffered “sexual violence,” while the accused admitted that he had sexual relations with those women but that They were always by mutual agreement.

Based on this investigation that shakes Spanish public opinion, various organizations in the sector, producers, filmmakers, actresses and actors and other associations, condemned sexual violence and any “form of abuse against women” and expressed solidarity with the victims by Just like the Spanish Government, which did so through Second Vice President Yolanda Díaz, who asked to put an end to “sexist violence.”

Meanwhile, the Spanish Film Academy joined the messages of solidarity and made it clear that it will move forward to make visible the fight to put an end to abuses in the sector at the next Goya gala that will take place on February 10.

In parallel, this Monday the Canarian director Armando Ravelo was accused this Monday by the actress Koset Quintana of having incited her to have sex after offering her porn and drugs when she was just fourteen years old.

The director announced this Monday that he is retiring from cinema and public life after acknowledging the veracity of the accusations against him, although assuming “not having committed any crime” because he was unaware that the complainant was a minor.

The filmmaker said that at that time “he was very high and believed he went unpunished” and added that today he assumes the consequences that the complaint will have for his career, which is why he has chosen to retire permanently from his profession and from “life” as he “I “knew” her before.”

He acknowledged his “reprehensible” behavior and admitted that it is understandable that his actions are denounced by the victim: “We are in a time in which men have to review our behaviors. I assume all the consequences. “Fire purifies,” said the director of the feature films The Skin of the Volcano and Once Upon a Time in the Canary Islands in statements to Cadena Ser.