A highly acclaimed short movie made by an Ealing-based Spanish filmmaker is finally set to be seen by a wider audience when it’s released on digital formats today (12 March 2025).
Walking Fernando, which stars Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem, was shot in and around Ealing including Dean Gardens in West Ealing and Northala Fields in Northolt.
It has already played at 28 film festivals, being nominated for 12 awards and winning four. These include its 25-year-old director Max Mir picking up the prize for Best Young Director at Spain’s Festival Antonio Ferrandis de Paterna.
The movie follows Nadia Atebury (played by The Durrells star Fabienne Piolini-Castle), an office worker who has lost track of her destiny after being stuck in her job for over a year. All that changes ,however after the office goldfish, Fernando (voiced by Bardem), asks her to take him outside – sparking off a chain of events that could dramatically change both their lives.
Mr Mir said: “I’m interested in telling impactful stories that start a conversation and can induce change in the viewer. Walking Fernando certainly poses a series of challenging questions inside the viewer’s head: are you in control of where you’re heading, and is there anything that needs changing?”
He added: “Do you believe you’re living a balanced life? Are you taking the right steps towards your future? Are you taking the time to think about your own wellbeing?
You can watch the film from March 12 on Omeleto, a YouTube channel which specialises in screening some of the best short films from around the world.
