Tánatos directed by Alberto Sesma Vallés

Alberto Sesma Wallace talks about his film

Idea - "Tánatos" began as an idea that lingered in my mind for several months, constantly accompanying me like a shadow. I found myself repeatedly contemplating the internal battle we all endure between life and death. This led me to a haunting question: what if death were winning the fight, yet you were unable to take that final step?

Leo, my protagonist, still carries a deep, instinctive drive to live. Throughout the short film, he struggles to reclaim his will to exist. He craves physical connection with the very person who is going to end his life—he longs to dance, to feel, to experience warmth, the love for his mother… But ultimately, death prevails. In contrast, we have Miguel, whose own survival instinct manifests through the death of another.

I studied audiovisual production in Madrid and began writing Tánatos as part of our screenwriting course. We, the students, pitched our projects, and Tánatos was chosen for production that year. The process was both grueling and exhilarating—a test of endurance, creativity, and resilience.

Experience - It was my first experience working with actors, and I learned an invaluable amount from them. I am endlessly grateful to Javier, Ernesto, and Silvia for their dedication and for leaving their own imprint on Tánatos. I also had the privilege of collaborating with Isaac Escribano on the music. Having worked with him previously—he acted in two of my short films, Al fin y al cabo and A media hora de dar las mill (At the Shadow of Midnight) (the latter of which we co-wrote)—I knew he would understand my vision. He not only grasped it but expanded upon it, breathing life into the soundtrack, particularly in my favorite scene: the moment when Leo and Miguel dance.

I have never felt more alive—or more stressed—than while bringing this story to life, surrounded by a team working tirelessly to materialize the world that once only existed in my mind.

The idea you conceive in your head will never be exactly what makes it to the screen—there are a thousand reasons for that—but there is one thing that no one can take away from me: this short film holds my truth, my dedication, and my love.