Spain, 2014, 88’
directed by: Mikel Rueda
written by: Mikel Rueda
cast: German Alcarazu, Adil Koukouh, Joseba Ugalde, Eder Pastor, Moussa Echarif, Mansour Zakhnini, Ana Wagener, Alex Angulo
cinematography: Kenneth Oribe
edited by: Alex Argoitia, Mikel Rueda
producers: Eduardo Barinaga, Karmelo Vivanco, Fernando Díez
production: Baleuko, Bitart
Málaga Spanish Film Festival 2014; Torino Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2015 – Queer Award; Queer Lisboa 2015
Rafa is a Spaniard and Ibrahim is a Morrocan. They are two teenagers from very different worlds. One day they spot each other in the toilet of a crowded night club. Although they merely exchange quick glances in passing, the brief encounter leaves its trace on both of them. Rafa's friends are trying to match him with a local girl, but his thoughts are centered on Ibrahim. In the meantime, Ibrahim feels isolated in a big city where they treat him like an alien who does not belong there, and is also facing deportation. When the two young men meet again they become close and decide to find a way for Ibrahim not to get deported and to have a life he has been dreaming about. Against the background of social pressure and various tensions, Mikel Rueda builds an interesting story about a young love. Two young actors give impressive performances, easily putting across to the audience the fears and excitement of the first love.
Mikel Rueda was born in 1980 in Spain. After completing his studies in Audiovisual Communication, he worked for four years as a producer of the TV show Vaya Semanita. After that, he continued his studies at the New York Film Academy, where he made his award-winning short Present Perfect. In 2010, he directed his first feature Stars to Wish Upon. Hidden Away is his second feature film.
