Josefina Molina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Excellent Josefina Molina
Molina in 2018
Born	Josefina Molina Reig (1936-11-14)14 November 1936 Córdoba, Spain
Died	30 May 2026(2026-05-30) (aged 89) Madrid, Spain
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter

Josefina Molina Reig (born 14 November 1936, died 30 May 2026) was a pioneering Spanish film director, screenwriter, and TV producer. She was one of the very first women to direct feature films in Spain. Josefina Molina was celebrated for her notable works like the films Función de noche (1981) and Esquilache (1988). She also directed the popular television series Teresa de Jesús (1984). Her film Esquilache was even shown at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival. The TV series Teresa de Jesús earned several awards, including the Antena de Oro in 1984 and the TP de Oro for Best National Series in 1985.

Josefina Molina's Early Life and Education

Josefina Molina was born in 1936 in Córdoba, Spain. She grew up in a comfortable middle-class family. Her father was a shopkeeper in Córdoba, selling shoes and drugstore items. Her mother managed their home and cared for the children. Their family business was very successful. This meant Josefina did not face hardship, even during tough economic times after the war.

Thanks to her parents' stable finances, young Josefina attended excellent schools. She learned to read and write at Hermanos de la Salle. Later, she completed high school at Escolapias de Santa Victoria. Her mother especially encouraged her to make the most of her education.

Discovering a Passion for Stories and Film

Josefina's first experience with cinema was at her hometown's movie theater. Her parents often took her there on Sunday afternoons. She also loved reading from a young age. At thirteen, she discovered Episodios Nacionales by Galdós. These novels greatly inspired her desire to tell stories.

However, it was seeing the film El río (The River) by Jean Renoir at age fifteen that truly sparked her interest. She realized she wanted to tell stories through movies.

Early Artistic Ventures

In her youth, Josefina joined several groups of young thinkers in Córdoba. These groups were full of artistic curiosity. She regularly attended film screenings and discussions. These events were organized by local film clubs. She also joined the Círculo Juan XXIII, a meeting place for progressive young people.

There, she helped create a theater group called Teatro Ensayo Medea. With a strong belief in women's rights, she directed her first play. It was Casa de Muñecas (Dollhouse) by Henrik Ibsen. The first performance was not very successful. The play's message was perhaps too advanced for the audience at the time.

Despite this initial challenge, Josefina continued her theater career. She directed four more plays. She also connected with important local media figures. From 1962, she regularly contributed to a radio show. It was called Vida de espectáculos (Life of Shows) on Radio Vida. Her section, "La mujer y el cine" (Women and Cinema), was very popular.

Josefina Molina passed away today, 30 May 2026, in Madrid, at the age of 89.

Josefina Molina's Professional Journey

Josefina Molina studied political science. In 1962, she founded the theater group Teatro de Ensayo Medea. She led many productions with this group. In 1969, she made history by becoming the first woman to earn a degree in directing and producing from the Official Cinema School. During this time, she directed many dramas for Spanish Television. These included shows like Estudio 1, Hora once, and Teatro de siempre.

She once directed an adaptation of Kafka's The Metamorphosis. She described it as a difficult task that no one else wanted. But she put her heart into it. People eventually recognized her hard work.

Notable Directing Work

Josefina adapted and directed several plays. These included Motín de Brujas by Josep Maria Benet. She also directed No puede ser el guardar una mujer by Agustín Moreto. Other works were Cartas de Amor by A. R. Gurney and La Lozana Andaluza. The latter was an adaptation by Rafael Alberti.

Her most famous television series include:

• El Camino (The Road) (1978): This series tells the story of Daniel, an 11-year-old boy. He is called "el Mochuelo" (small owl). Daniel must leave his village for school in the city. The night before he leaves, he remembers his childhood and the stories of his village.
• Teresa de Jesús (Teresa of Jesus) (1984): This series explores the life of St. Teresa of Jesus. The role was played by the famous actress Concha Velasco.
• Entre Naranjos (Among Orange Trees) (1998): This was an adaptation of a novel by Blasco Ibañez.

She also achieved great success directing theater. Her monologue Cinco Horas con Mario (Five Hours with Mario) was very popular. It has been performed for decades by actresses like Lola Herrera and Natalia Millan. In 1990, she directed Los últimos Días de Emmanuel Kant by Alfonso Sastre.

Feature Films by Josefina Molina

Her first feature film was Vera, un cuento cruel (Vera, a cruel tale) in 1973. It was a fantasy film. In 1981, she gained recognition as a filmmaker with Función de noche (Evening Performance). This film explored the lives of a separated couple. Lola Herrera and Daniel Dicenta played themselves in the movie.

In 1989, she released the historical drama Esquilache. This film was based on a play by Antonio Buero Vallejo. It featured a strong cast, including Fernando Fernán Gómez and Concha Velasco. Her last film works were Lo más natural (The Most Natural) (1990) and La Lola se va a los puertos (Lola Goes to the Ports) (1993). The latter starred the singer Rocío Jurado.

Advocacy and Recognition

In 2006, Josefina Molina co-founded CIMA. This is a women's association for filmmakers and media professionals. She founded it with other directors like Inés París and Isabel Coixet. Josefina served as the Honorary President of the association. In 2011, the Spanish Academy of Film Arts and Sciences honored her. She received the Honorary Goya Award for her lifetime achievements. In 2012, she was named an Honorary Citizen of Andalusia.

Josefina Molina as a Writer

Besides directing, Josefina Molina was also a talented writer. After deciding to stop making movies, she began to write. She said she would be "very bored" otherwise. Her first novel was Cuestión de azar (A Matter of Chance). She described it as "the story of my generation in Andalusia." It explored how girls, including herself, were raised.

Her next novel was En el umbral de la hoguera (On the Threshold of the Stake). This book was about Teresa of Jesus. She also wrote Los papeles de Bécquer (Becquer's Papers) and her autobiography, Sentada en un rincón (Sitting in a Corner). Josefina found writing exciting. She enjoyed the freedom of creating stories without external pressures.

She also wrote the introduction for Ana Mariscal, una Cineasta Pionera. This book was about a pioneering female filmmaker. Josefina Molina had a broad career in television. She directed and produced many programs for Spanish Television.

Josefina Molina and Feminism

Josefina Molina was well-known for her feminist views. She actively supported women in cinema. She even wrote a book titled Cine de mujeres en la Transición (Female Cinema during the Transition). She also contributed to La trilogía feminista (The Feminist Trilogy) with Cecilia Bartolomé and Pilar Miró. Her work and advocacy helped pave the way for future female filmmakers.

Awards and Nominations

Honours and Special Recognition

• Gold Medal of Merit in Labour (14 November 2011): This award recognized her outstanding contributions to her profession.

• Josefina Molina Award: An award named after her was created by the 58th Sitges Film Festival. This award, given in collaboration with the SGAE Foundation, includes a €10,000 prize. It was presented in 2025 for the Best Fantastic Feature Film Screenplay by a Woman. The award is open to female writers who are members of the SGAE, regardless of their nationality. It celebrates original screenplays for full-length films in the fantasy genre.

See also

In Spanish: Josefina Molina para niños