J.A. Bayona's 'Society of the Snow' hits cinemas amid Netflix controversy

Catalan director J.A. Bayona's latest film, 'Society of the Snow,' hits theaters in Catalonia today and will be available on Netflix on January 4. 

The movie tells the story of the so-called Miracle of the Andes, where more than a dozen passengers of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 survived for 72 days in the Valle de las Lágrimas between Chile and Argentina in October 1972. Of the 45 passengers on board, only 29 survived and only 16 returned home.  

The film will represent Spain at the 2024 Oscars and has been nominated for best non-English language film at the Golden Globes. It is also one of the frontrunners for the Goya Awards, with 13 nominations. 

Bayona, who is well known for his previous feature films such as 'The Impossible,' 'A Monster Calls,' and 'The Orphanage,' received a 10-minute standing ovation when the film was presented at the 2023 Venice Film Festival.  

Cinema chains complain 

Two of the largest cinema chains in Catalonia, Yelmo and Cinesa, will not show 'Society of the Snow' in their theaters in protest against the early release of the film on Netflix on January 4.  

The cinema giants argue that they will only be able to show the film for 20 days and demand that it be extended as a condition for showing it. 

Listen to the podcast below, including an interview with Bayona on the red carpet at the 2023 Gaudí Awards.