Pedro Almodovar



Born in Calzada de Calatrava, La Mancha. At eight his family moved to Caceres, Extremadura. There he was educated by Franciscan and Salesian priests, and began to go to the movies (his real education). He moved to Madrid in the late sixties. He began to work at the National Telephone Company as an administrative assistant, where he remained for twelve years. He saved money and bought his first super 8 camera and began to make short movies.

At night he acted with the theatre group “Los Goliardos“. He wrote for several underground magazines and some of his short stories were published. He also sang in the parodic punk rock group “Almodóvar & Mcnamara.“ The opening of his first feature film coincides with the birth of spanish democracy. After a difficult shoot lasting a year and a half, he opens “Pepi, Luci, Bom….“ From this moment on, film becomes his second nature. He writes and directs. And lives, enough to keep making up stories that are alive. His films are seen throughout the world. In 1990 he receives the National Cinematography Award in Spain. In 1994 he is named Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, and in 1997 he receives the Order of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1999 the French Academy grants him an Honorary César for all his career.

  • FILMOGRAPHY & MAIN AWARDS
  • 1974 /1979 Various short films in Super 8mm and 16mm (“Salomé“)
  • 1980 Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls From the Heap
  • (Pepi, Luci, Bom y Otras Chicas del Montón)
  • 1982 Labyrinth of Passion (Laberinto de Pasiones)
  • 1983 Dark Habits (Entre Tinieblas)
  • 1984/5 What Have I Done to Deserve This?!
  • (¿Que He Hecho Yo Para Merecer Esto!)
  • Selected for New Directors/ New Films at MOMA/NY
  • 1985 Trailer for Lovers of the Forbidden (Trailer Para Amantes de lo Prohibido)
  • 1985/6 Matador Best Film / Best Director - Oporto Film Festival
  • 1986 Law of Desire (La Ley del Deseo)
  • Glauber Rocha Award - Best Director - Rio Film Festival
  • New Generation Award - Los Angeles Film Critics
  • “Film Reporter“ Audience Award - Best Film - Cannes Film Festival
  • 1987 Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
  • (Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios)
  • Best Film, Script, Actress, Supporting Actress, Editing - Goya Awards, Spain
  • Orson Welles award - Best Author (Foreign Language Film)
  • Nastro d’Argento - (Italian Critics Award) - Best Director
  • David de Donatello (Italian Academy) - Best Director
  • “Ciak Award“ - Best Actress - Venice Film Festival
  • Felix Award (European Film Academy)- Best Young Film - Best Actress
  • “D.W. Griffith“ Award - National Board of Review
  • Best Foreign Film - New York Critics Circle
  • Nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar® and Golden Globe
  • 1989 Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (¡Atame!)
  • National Board of Review
  • Nominated for Best Foreign Film - César awards, France
  • 1991 High Heels (Tacones Lejanos)
  • César - Best Foreign Film (France)
  • Prix Arletty - Gramado Film Festival
  • Best Director - Gramado Film Festival
  • 1993 Kika - Best Actress - Goya Awards - Spain
  • 1995 The Flower of My Secret (La Flor de Mi Secreto)
  • Best Actress - Karlovy Vary Film Festival
  • Best Actress - ACE awards - New York
  • 1997 Live Flesh (Carne Trémula)
  • Best Foreign Film - Best Actress - Nastri D’Argento Awards
  • Nominated for Best Film & Best Actor at the European Film Awards
  • 1999 All About My Mother (Todo Sobre Mi Madre)
  • Best Director - Cannes Film Festival
  • Ecumenical Award - Cannes Film Festival
  • Fipresci Award - San Sebastian Film Festival


full Cast & Credit listing