Last Thursday March 26 the book "Directores de cine en Cataluña, de la A a la Z" by Magí Crusells, professor of Contemporary History at the University of Barcelona (UB), and secretary of the Film-History Research Centre, organization linked to the Barcelona Science Park, was presented at the Social Club of the General Society of Authors and Editors (SGAE) in Catalonia. The following individuals spoke at the ceremony: Joel Joan, president of the Academy of Catalan Cinema; Joan Durant, editor of the UB; Joan Oliver, head of the Department of Contemporary History of the UB; the book's author, Magí Crusells, and Josep Maria Caparrós, director of the Film-History Research Centre.

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Edited by Publications and Editions of the University of Barcelona (UB), the book contains 375 entries, in alphabetical order, of people who have directed movies in Catalonia and who have setteled down in the community and work here permanently, regardless of the language used in their films. The dictionary includes names ranging from Fructuós Gelabert, one of the founders of the Catalan movie industry, to Oriol Porta, who made his debut last year. There are also names from the beginnings of cinema, such as the pioneer Segundo de Chomón (Teruel, 1871-Paris, 1929), who managed to film approximately 150 movies in only 5 years.

Crusell believes the work demonstrates that this sector is much more important than may seem at first, and more important than what is reflected in most volumes of Spanish cinema history. The author chose to write the book in Spanish to reach a greater audience throughout Spain. However, she has communicated that the work will be translated into Catalan and English. “Cinema Directors in Catalonia, from A to Z” has received the support of the Academy of Catalan Cinema and marks the birth of collaboration between this new organization and the UB.