José Maria Sanchez(1949-2006)

Born in Spain and living in Italy since childhood, José María Sánchez began his career as writer, often uncredited on films like 'Con la rabbia agli occhi' (1976) or 'La petición' (1976), he was also a collaborator of Piccolo Teatro di Milano's founder Giorgio Strehler. Sánchez made his film debut with 'Pájaros de ciudad', which was selected for the San Sebastian Film Festival. Among his cinematographic works, 'Burro', 'La Madre', 'Inutile' and 'El niño de la Virgen' also stand out. While his television production was very fruitful, with authentic audience records thanks to series such as 'La Bella Otero', starring Ángela Molina and Harvey Keitel, broadcast on RAI and winner of the Taormina National Award.

Others from his television series were 'Hemingway. Fiesta y Muerte', with Joe Pesci and Ángela Molina; 'The Treasure of Damascus', with Franco Nero and Ben Gazzara; or 'Colpo di coda', with Giancarlo Gianini and Stefania Sandrelli. In 1994 he began his collaboration with the choreographer María Pagés, creating and directing many of her company's shows, such as 'De la luna al viento', 'La Tirana' and 'Songs before a war', which, in 2004, He was awarded the Giraldillos for the best stage direction, show, choreography and criticism at the Bienal de Sevilla.

Before his premature death he was preparing 'Los Borgia' (2006) which was later directed by Antonio Hernández.