And So It Will Go On
In this reverse story, Germán, instead of growing up, becomes a child, as his empty village fills up.
Over six years, And So It Will Go On follows Germán, the last child in a nearly deserted village in the heart of rural Spain. From the threshold of adolescence back into childhood, the film follows Germán as he grows younger and the empty village slowly fills with children again. A cinematic journey against time, where loneliness gives way to friendship and the endless fields become a world of play. It is a story about childhood, the passage of time and the fragile beauty of a world that is already disappearing.
Director's note
And So It Will Go On moves between fiction and non-fiction, allowing life to shape the film as much as the film shapes the story. Although it has a clear structure, each new stage of filming will require us to return to the images we have already gathered, to rewrite, rethink and discover the story anew. Editing is not simply a stage that comes after filming; it is an essential part of the writing itself. The film will be built over time, through the dialogue between what we imagined and what actually happened.
The story unfolds in reverse: Germán begins the film at twelve years old and becomes younger as the years go by, until he is six. Rather than witnessing the end of childhood, we move backwards into it. This reversal is not simply a narrative device but a way of approaching time differently, of resisting the idea that growing up must always mean moving forward.
At its heart, And So It Will Go On is a film about small things: the passing of a summer, a conversation, a gesture, the quiet presence of a child in a landscape that seems to stretch beyond time. But I believe that within these seemingly modest moments lies something immense and universal. I want the film to move beyond observation and become a deeply felt, almost physical experience for the audience: something that can move us, unsettle us and stay with us long after we leave the cinema.
Perhaps this is what the film is really about: learning to stay. And finding, in that act of staying, a way to let life go on.
Screenwriter's note
Filming over several years with non-professional actors meant embracing constant change and trusting images rooted in the truth of our protagonists.
To honour their natural authenticity, the script remained open and flexible throughout the entire shoot. It was deeply inspired by the real lives, homes, streets and landscapes of its subjects, using only authentic local elements, from a row of four blue chairs found on a quiet street to the local teleclub.
By avoiding artifice and embracing near-documentary naturalism within a fictional framework, this intuitive process allowed us to truly understand and capture the soul of the film.
Biography
Marina Palacio (Donostia-San Sebastián, 1996) is a filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist. A Fine Arts graduate from Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, she directed, wrote, and shot the award-winning short I don´t sleep anymore (2020), screened at over 30 festivals. She has held solo photo exhibitions at Tabakalera (2021) and Madrid's Royal Botanical Garden (2025). She is currently in post-production on her debut feature film, And so it will go on.
Producer's note
At Gariza Films, we are passionate about discovering and championing female directors. Following the undisputed success of 20,000 Species of Bees, we knew our next leap of faith had to be with Marina Palacio and her feature And So It Will Go On. Having produced her acclaimed short I Can't Sleep Anymore, we immediately fell in love with this proposal.
This film, a moving ode to childhood, is our company's biggest adventure to date. Working freely with children has been both an exciting production challenge and a deeply rewarding journey, made possible by our dedicated long-term investment.
Selected for PÖFF's International Works in Progress programme, we hope to expand the film's global reach and benefit from top industry guidance as we bring this journey to a close.
Biography
After three years as an auditor, she joined Gariza Films as Financial Director and Executive Producer. Her production credits include acclaimed films such as Akelarre (2020), 20,000 Species of Bees (2023), and Hermanas (TIFF 2026), alongside shorts and documentaries like Cuerdas (2022) and El Regalo (2025). Her projects have featured at major international markets like Cannes and the Berlinale, bringing Basque and universal stories to global audiences.
Profile
Gariza Films produces cinema with social impact, focusing on female talent and Basque culture. After successes like 20,000 Species of Bees (Berlinale Silver Bear, Goyas), we are in post-production on our next features: Yerma by Lara Izagirre and And So It Will Go On by Marina Palacio.