Youth and Creativity in Focus: The 7th Edition of RETEENA Transforms Barcelona

The RETEENA festival is taking place from December 6 to 15, and we recently attended the screening of Memoir of a Snail, along with other intriguing local and experimental offerings that support young filmmakers.

Poster of the 7th Edition of Barcelona’s Youth Audiovisual Festival, RETEENA.

RETEENA, Barcelona’s Youth Audiovisual Festival, is designed to engage and train young people in the audiovisual field. This event, held from December 6 to 15, takes place in iconic cultural venues such as Nau Bostik, the Filmoteca de Catalunya, the CCCB, and Zumzeig Cinema.

The program features film and short film screenings, hands-on workshops, talks, and interactive activities. Additionally, the festival showcases local and experimental projects that explore themes such as the transition to adulthood, the chaos of the present, and connections to the past. Among this year’s highlights is "Memoir of a Snail", by Adam Elliot, an Oscar-nominated animated film that we had the privilege of attending.

Beyond promoting audiovisual culture, RETEENA serves as a platform for emerging talent, offering project labs, pitching training, and awards that support new filmmakers, reaffirming its commitment to innovation and collective creation.

Memoir of a Snail: A Journey of Resilience and Self-Discovery

Memoir of a Snail (or Memories of a Snail in Spanish) is a stop-motion animated film that delves into the emotional complexities of life through the story of Grace Pudel, a young girl with a cleft lip who faces challenges in her journey toward self-acceptance, belonging, and personal understanding.

Set in 1970s Australia, the plot follows Grace, a cheerful child despite her hardships, who endures bullying and rejection because of her appearance. Her only source of support is her twin brother, Gilbert, her “superhero,” as they rely solely on each other, with an alcoholic father who provides little else.

After their father’s death, Grace and Gilbert are separated and sent to different foster homes, marking the beginning of Grace’s solitary life. She finds solace in snails, symbols of resilience and a connection to a world untouched by her pain. Her fascination grows into an obsession, leading her to collect and even steal snail-related items, a reflection of her need to cling to something stable amidst the chaos.

Grace’s life takes a turn when she meets Pinky, an eccentric and optimistic woman who smokes cigars and views life with a special sparkle. Their friendship becomes the emotional core of the film, as the two navigate their internal struggles by supporting one another.

The animation in Memoir of a Snail is a meticulous work of art, enriched by its gothic and melancholic style. Every scene is steeped in symbolism: from the snails’ slow movements to the objects Grace obsessively collects, everything ties back to her emotional world. The film is a journey of self-discovery, reminding us of the power of human connections and the beauty in the simplest things, even in the most unexpected places.