On Monday, 9 February, IAB will premiere its latest Film Projects, featuring students from the Contemporary Dance and Commercial Dance programmes, together with a behind-the-scenes documentary, capturing the full creative process behind both works.
The premieres will take place exclusively on the IAB YouTube channel, while trailers are currently available on our Instagram profile.
Premiere schedule — Monday 9 February
• 18:00 — Effetà (Contemporary Dance Film Project)
• 18:15 — Artificial Love (Commercial Dance Film Project)
• 18:30 — Behind the Scenes Documentary
Contemporary Dance Film Project: Effetà
Effetà is a contemporary dance film choreographed by Jacob Gómez that explores transformation, vulnerability, and collective presence. Drawing from the religious rite Effetá, meaning “to open”, the film reimagines this concept as a danced liturgy, where tenderness and presence drive each movement. Set inside a church, veils, tears, and gestures fall, collide, and release themselves from oppression, creating a physical language rooted in exposure and surrender.
The work begins in isolation and gradually opens toward community, as voices, breath, kisses, and cries break through silence. Bodies clash, resist, and challenge rejection, yet through this friction a collective strength emerge: one that insists, cares, and remains.
Throughout the process, the creative team faced the challenge of limited shooting time and the complexity of working with large groups on screen.
“Effetà is an invitation to open oneself, to connect, to believe together, and to hold love as a force for transformation,”
explains Jacob.
Commercial Dance Film Project: Artificial Love
Artificial Love is a commercial dance film directed and choreographed by Kike Granero that shows what happens when emotional attachment changes from human connection to artificial intelligence.
“Artificial Love is a short dance film that explores what happens when a human falls in love with an artificial intelligence.
What begins as an exciting and seemingly perfect connection slowly turns into an emotional trap,”
explains Kike.
Through dance language, the film follows the protagonist’s inner travel from attraction and fascination, to dependence, doubt, and eventual transformation. Although the character is aware that the relationship is neither real nor healthy, she remains emotionally trapped, reflecting patterns commonly associated with toxic relationships.
The project tries to address contemporary questions around emotional addiction, digital intimacy,and the need for validation and recognition, even when that recognition comes from something non-human.
“It’s less about giving a clear answer, and more about showing that emotional progression”
Behind the Scenes Documentary: Inside the Film Projects
Premiering at 18:30, the documentary offers a look at how both film projects were created, focusing on the process. Through interviews to the choreographers and director, Roger Bayerri, and rehearsal footage, it reveals the challenges of directing dance for camera, such as selecting music that supports narrative development.
The documentary reflects IAB’s long-term investment in dance film, both in terms of resources and pedagogical vision.
As expressed by all members of the creative team, the value of these projects lies not only in festival recognition, but in witnessing students fully commit to the work, taking creative risks and engaging with the demands of professional production environments.
International recognition and awards
Over the years, IAB Film Projects have been selected, nominated, and awarded at numerous international festivals, confirming the programme’s growing presence within the global dance film landscape.
Recent recognitions include selections and awards at:
• Choreoscope – Barcelona Dance Film Festival
• Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival
• Montpellier Indie Film Festival (MONTIFF)
• Portugal Indie Film Festival
• RIURAUDANSAFILMFESTIVAL
• Moving Images Videodance Festival
• Sevilla Indie Film Festival (SEVIFF)
• College Dance Film Fest
• Door Kinetic Arts Festival
• MPArt Festival
• Festival de Videodanza de la Costa de Oaxaca
• La Danza in 1 Minuto – International Screendance Festival
The full premieres of the 2026 IAB Film Projects will be available on the IAB Barcelona YouTube channel starting Monday, 9 February at 18:00.
Trailers can be viewed in advance on our Instagram profile.
