Mater Benefacta — A Haunting Stop-Motion Reflection on Faith, Power, and Silence
Spain | 2024 | 12 minutes | Directed by Marc Riba & Anna Solanas
In Mater Benefacta, directors Marc Riba Roqué and Anna Solanas Santacana deliver a haunting meditation on faith, morality, and the unspoken horrors of history — all rendered through the tactile intimacy of stop-motion animation. Produced by I+G Stop Motion, this 12-minute short film takes viewers into a convent during Spain’s dictatorship, where a group of nuns provide shelter to young girls in need. Beneath this premise, however, lies a darker truth — one that echoes a painful and controversial chapter of the country’s past.
A Silent World of Shadows and Conscience
Presented entirely in black and white and without dialogue, Mater Benefacta relies on expression, light, and the physical texture of its puppets to tell a deeply emotional story. Each frame carries the weight of history and quiet repression. The directors use the language of animation to evoke feelings that words could never adequately convey — guilt, devotion, complicity, and grief.
Set in the stark environment of a religious institution during Francoist Spain, the film draws inspiration from real events surrounding the theft of newborns — a practice that persisted for decades under the veil of religious authority. Through stop-motion, Riba and Solanas offer not a literal retelling but a symbolic, poetic exploration of how faith and power can intertwine to justify unthinkable acts.
Crafted in Shadows: The Art of Handmade Cinema
The film’s production showcases the hallmark style of I+G Stop Motion, known for its intricate puppetry and emotionally charged narratives. Riba and Solanas — who share duties in writing, directing, and art direction — collaborated with cinematographer Anna Molins and editor Sergi Martí to build a cohesive world steeped in atmosphere. Every surface, from candlelit corridors to the nuns’ carved faces, feels handmade, imperfect, and alive with meaning.
Sound and music, also handled by Solanas, add another layer to the storytelling. In the absence of spoken dialogue, the hum of silence and the rhythm of ritual create a powerful sensory experience. The result is a film that feels sacred yet unsettling — a quiet confession whispered through wood, fabric, and shadow.
Recognition and Festival Journey
Mater Benefacta premiered in competition at the Valladolid International Film Festival (SEMINCI 2024), where it was praised for its bold subject matter and masterful craftsmanship. The film also screened in the Animazine Short Film Competition at the Málaga Festival, and continues to circulate across international festivals with support from Catalan Films.
Its impact was further recognized with the Premio CIMA at the Certamen Internacional de Cortos Ciudad de Soria 2024. The jury highlighted the filmmakers’ “laborious use of stop-motion in service of the story” and their ability to “denounce a dark episode of history with subtlety and aesthetic precision.”
Animation Beyond Childhood
In interviews surrounding the film’s release, the directors emphasized their ongoing mission to prove that animation is not limited to children’s entertainment. For them, stop-motion is a powerful medium for mature storytelling — a form of cinema capable of confronting ethical, historical, and philosophical questions head-on. Mater Benefacta stands as a testament to that belief, blending artistry and conscience into a profound short that lingers long after the final frame.
Credits
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Directors & Writers: Marc Riba Roqué, Anna Solanas Santacana
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Producer: Anna Solanas
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Cinematography: Anna Molins
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Editing: Sergi Martí
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Art Direction: Marc Riba
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Sound / Music: Anna Solanas
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Animation: Marc Riba, Núria Riba
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Production Company: I+G Stop Motion (Catalonia, Spain)
