Nevenka Fernandez applauded at the moving premiere in San Sebastian of “Soy Nevenka”

Yesterday took place one of the most exciting moments of this edition of the San Sebastian Festival. Nevenka Fernández, the woman on whom the film is based My name is Nevenka by Iciar Bollain, received a standing ovation from the audience at the world premiere of the feature film at the Kursaal.

The woman from Ponferrada, who in 2000, when she was a financial advisor to the PP-led Ponferrada City Council, had denounced the mayor, Ismael Álvarez, for sexual harassment, was moved and grateful for the welcome she received at the end of the screening of the film, where she also received an emotional hug from Bollaín.

Reserved and very jealous of her private life, Nevenka Fernandez has severely limited it public presence since his case occurred in 2000. After the conviction and the whole media process he faced, He left the stage and moved abroad, more precisely in England and later in Dublin, where he resides.

She has also not actively participated in public debates about her case or issues related to sexual harassment, with the exception of the documentary mini-series. Nevenkadirected in 2021 by Ana Pastor. The documentary marked her first direct public testimony in years, where she was more willing to talk about her experience with the distance that time left her. Now, it has also announced her appearance on September 26 on El Objective, a program of laSexta directed by Pastor.

For Iciar Bollain, who returns in My name is Nevenka focus on a real character after the success of Maixabel (2021), the film is “a political act” and a wake-up call to shift the focus to the aggressor. Starring by Mireia Oriol and Urko Olazábal, The film denounces a “complicit silence” Around Nevenka, Bollaín emphasizes: “This has to change,” says the Madrid-based director, winner of two Goyas out of thirteen nominations, “The social response has changed, I am convinced of it, we have seen it (…) but I. I think we must always put the emphasis on the victim, ‘let her speak, let her report’. I think we must try to change focus and look at the aggressor and, in our closest environment, isolate him and not be complicit in the silence.”

The film will be released in theaters on September 27 and can then be seen on Movistar Plus+.