How did the idea for ‘If You Wish to Make an Apple Pie’ come about, and what motivated you to develop it as a documentary?

I met Dorine on a film shoot in India in 2017. One day, she turned up on set to do the hair and make-up for the actress in my previous short film. I noticed the distinctive way she held her brush. Sometimes, our hands tell stories. I asked if she was a painter. She said she was.

On the last day of my stay in India, I went to visit her studio. There, as she unrolled huge canvases revealing imaginary architectural structures in black and white acrylic, we shared personal confessions, perhaps shielded by the idea that we would never see each other again. I uncovered a great secret and discovered a remarkable artist.

I returned to Donostia with a small painting of hers that fit into my suitcase, and I hung it on the wall of my home. The walls of my house are bare and white. I like empty spaces. Perhaps it's because, in this profession, I spend my days receiving constant visual input, and coming home to see everything white and empty helps me relax.

Then COVID struck. The world stopped. I stayed at home, staring at that single painting that adorned the white walls. At last, I had time... and I began to write.

What has been the greatest difficulty you've faced while working on this project?

The 8,000 kilometres between Donostia and the place where the story unfolds, in India. And the twists and turns in the lives of the protagonists over these years. After all, ‘If You Wish To Make An Apple Pie’ began as a story completely unrelated to what it is now, and it will likely continue to evolve right up until the final edit.

Knowing how to accompany such a variable, delicate, and fragile story; accepting without frustration that nothing will be as I want it to be; learning to adapt to every twist and turn without letting my heart leap out of my chest, and living the entire process of making the film, balancing on a wire... with the same fragility, yet also with the same determination that the protagonist has in living her life.

The project was part of the ZINEBI Networking initiative in 2020. How did that experience influence the development of the documentary?

Zinebi was the first festival to support the development of the film. It was the first market to place its trust in me, as a first-time director, as well as in the approach to the subject matter. Zinebi, along with the script support I received from the Basque Government, played a decisive role in whether to bring ‘If You Wish To Make An Apple Pie’ to life or let it remain just another fleeting idea.

There are sectors within the Basque audiovisual industry that have been key to the initial momentum of the film: the support from the Basque Government, the NOKA programme, Zinebi, and Lau Haizetara. Then came further support, and all of it has been crucial in this long-distance journey.

From the project's inception to the present day, what has the journey to Cannes Docs been like?

It’s been a long journey, full of learning. I never imagined, on that day when I noticed Dorine's hands, that the question I asked her would shape both her life and mine. We are now bonded, and our lives have become intertwined.

"Many alliances have been formed during this time, and I’ve had the opportunity to share incredibly enriching creative processes with directors Celia Rico and Diana Toucedo. I’ve received invaluable lessons from Vanesa Fernández, the support of Jara Ayucar from the institutions, and Koldo Almandoz sparked my imagination at the start of this journey. Aranzazu Calleja was the first to join the project, and since then, she has provided the soundtrack both within and beyond the film. Sandra Mora has been my teacher, my shelter, my unwavering support. Izaskun Arandia took my hand when I was already struggling to breathe like a fish out of water. Josemi Beltrán has witnessed my shadows... I could go on. The professionals who have been part of any chapter in this story now make up a long list.

To all these people and so many others who are already credited in the film: thank you!

What does it mean to be part of a platform like Cannes Docs, and what activities do you have planned as part of the Spain Showcase?

Being at Cannes Docs means stepping onto a new stage, playing in a different league, and giving the documentary its moment in the spotlight. It represents international recognition for the project, placing it front and centre and shining the spotlight directly on us. And we’re not going to waste this opportunity. In Cannes, we’ll be showing 10 minutes of footage from the film for the first time, and we’ll be gauging the reactions of professionals from sectors that are highly relevant to us at this stage. We’re looking to attract the attention of international sales agents, festivals for our premiere, and funding bodies to help complete the financing we still need.

What stage is the project currently at, and what are the next steps?

‘If You Wish To Make An Apple Pie’ still has a lengthy editing process ahead, which will stretch over several months. We have a total of 120 hours of recorded material from three years of filming, and the puzzle will continue to evolve. This is a film that, to a large extent, will be shaped in the edit, and there are still parts I haven’t resolved. But, unlike at the start, I no longer panic. One positive thing I’ve learned during this time is how to enjoy playing with the material, to explore without fear or drama. Years ago, I told Dorine, the film's protagonist, that I imagined a day when she and I would walk hand in hand down a red carpet. And I believe that could happen in 2026.