On a deserted beach, the echo of an absence draws a young man
into mystery, desire, and an intimate search for identity.
| Original title: | Advent |
| International title: | Advent |
| Directed by & Screenplay: | Roberto F. Canuto, Xu Xiaoxi |
| Producers: | José Manuel González-Fierro Santos, Francisco Javier González-Fierro Santos, Natalia Fernández Canuto, Beatriz Meré |
| Cinematography: | Xu Xiaoxi |
| Music: | Andrea Centazzo |
| Cast: | David Soto Giganto, Ici Díaz, Lidia Méndez, Beatriz Meré, David Blanka |
Suso, a young unemployed man with no direction or prospects, encounters a mysterious woman on a deserted beach. Dressed in antique clothing and seemingly out of time, she warns him of an imminent danger before throwing herself into the sea from a cliff.
Tormented by his own image, Suso begins a desperate search for answers that stirs buried memories… and reveals the truth of his hidden identity.
As his inner conflict intensifies, the woman becomes a reflection of his repressed self: the voice of a truth silenced by fear and social conventions.
COMMENTARYShot entirely in Asturias and spoken in the Asturian language—an uncommon choice in Spanish cinema— Advent blends psychological drama, mystery, and fantasy to explore gender identity, repression, and personal rebirth.
Set against the breathtaking coastal landscapes of northern Spain, the film unfolds as a meditation on solitude, memory, and transformation. Through a symbolic and poetic language, it addresses themes such as suicide, denial, and rebirth, immersing the viewer in a dreamlike atmosphere where the boundaries between the physical and the spiritual begin to blur.
Produced independently and without institutional support, the film was made possible thanks to the dedication of a committed team of Asturian performers and technicians. It features an original score by Italian-American composer Andrea Centazzo, which enhances its emotional depth and introspective tone.
| Title | Ad-vientu / Advent |
|---|---|
| Format | Short film |
| Genre | Drama, Mystery, LGBTQ+, Identity |
| Country | Spain, China |
| Language | Asturian |
| Directors | Roberto F. Canuto, Xu Xiaoxi |
| Year | 2016 |
| Running time | 20 minutes |
| Awards |
Audience Choice Award – Best Short Film – Avilés Acción Film Festival (Spain, 15th edition) Audience Choice Award – Best Film – Asturias Film Festival of Proaza & Santo Adriano (Spain, 3rd edition) Jury Award – Best Cinematography – Asturias Film Festival of Proaza & Santo Adriano (Spain, 3rd edition) Nominee – Festival Prize, Best Short Film – Portobello Film Festival (United Kingdom, 21st edition) |
| Official Selections |
FICX – Gijón International Film Festival (Spain, 53rd edition) Roze Filmdagen – Amsterdam LGBT Film Festival (Netherlands, 19th edition) Korea Queer Film Festival – KQFF (South Korea, 16th edition) LesGaiCineMad – Madrid International LGBT Film Festival (Spain, 21st edition) Mix Brasil – Festival of Culture & Sexual Diversity (Brazil, 24th edition) For Rainbow – Film Festival of Sexual Diversity (Brazil, 10th edition) Mezipatra – International Queer Film Festival (Czech Republic, 17th edition) D’un Bord à l’Autre – International LGBT Film Festival of Orleans (France, 7th edition) Scottish Queer International Film Festival (United Kingdom, 2nd edition) Flimmer Film Festival (Sweden, 18th edition) Sant Joan d’Alacant Film Festival (Spain, 16th edition) Harmless Hugs – Delhi International Queer Film & Theatre Festival (India, 2nd edition) Zinegoak – Bilbao International GLT Film Festival (Spain, 13th edition) C The Film – Edinburgh Fringe Festival (United Kingdom, 12th edition) La Fila – Valladolid Short Film Festival (Spain, 20th edition) Short Cup – World Film Festival (Brazil, 3rd edition) FIFOG – Festival International du Film Oriental de Genève (Switzerland, 12th edition) Kashish MIQFF – Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (India, 7th edition) Boat of Culture – International Film Festival (Poland, 2nd edition) Zinentiendo – Zaragoza International LGTBQI Film Showcase (Spain, 11th edition) Kreives – Vilnius LGBT Film Festival (Lithuania, 3rd edition) OutfestPerú – International LGBT Film Festival (Peru, 13th edition) Festival de Cine de Diversidad Sexual y Derechos Humanos de La Paz (Bolivia, 9th edition) Rio Festival of Gender & Sexuality in Cinema (Brazil, 6th edition) LesBiGayTrans – Asunción International Film Festival (Paraguay, 12th edition) Taratsa International Film Festival (Greece, 3rd edition) Human Rights International Film Festival of Bogotá (Colombia, 3rd edition) Cine Movilh – International LGBTI Film Festival (Chile, 9th edition) No Gloss International Film Festival (United Kingdom, 5th edition) Queer Film Festival of Oldenburg (Germany, 7th edition) SFG Serile Filmului Gay – International Film Festival (Romania, 11th edition) Oftálmica – Independent Film Festival (Mexico, 5th edition) Andalesgai – International LGBT Film Festival of Andalusia (Spain, 12th edition) CinHomo – Valladolid International LGBT Film Showcase (Spain, 17th edition) CanBeGay – Canary Islands LGBTIQ International Film Festival (Spain, 4th edition) Queer Film Festival Playa del Carmen (Mexico, 3rd edition) Flor Azul – International Short Film Festival (Argentina, 1st edition) Love is Love LGBTQ+ Film Festival (China, 2022) Shujingtang Alley Art Space – Chengdu (China, 2016) LABOCINE – Experimental Film Platform, FRUITOPIA July Issue (International, 2025) |
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