Catalan Thriller '11' to Film in Andorra's Sant Julià de Lòria

Sant Julià de Lòria will serve as the main location for the exterior filming of the Catalan-language suspense thriller *11* over 10 days, with crews of around 115 professionals arriving in Andorra from March 5 ahead of the shoot starting March 7. Directed and written by sisters Clàudia and Paula Serra in their feature film debut following studies at Barcelona's Pompeu Fabra University, the story follows two youth group leaders and eight children spending a weekend in a mountain refuge. A snowstorm isolates them, and upon counting heads inside, they discover an extra child.

Key sites include Peguera, Rabassa forests, and sections of the Cota 2.000 plateaus at Naturland, chosen to match the narrative while showcasing the parish's landscapes on screen. Some sources indicate filming begins as early as March 6. A co-production between Andorran firm Contraban Produccions and Spain's Mr. Miyagi Films, the project is shot entirely in Catalan as a deliberate cultural choice. Interiors are already being filmed near Barcelona, with completion expected by year-end and a winter release planned, potentially including a premiere at the recently renovated Centre Cultural in Sant Julià.

At a presentation event, Sant Julià minor consul Sofia Cortesao, alongside Contraban executives Pau Riera and David Haro, highlighted the influx of roughly 90 crew members staying in local hotels, dining at restaurants, and using other services. She called the forests "identity and DNA" of the parish, acting as "another character" with strong visual impact to promote the area globally. Cortesao emphasized culture's power to stimulate the economy and noted the parish's €15,000 contribution, focused mainly on human resources, logistics, and coordination.

Government cultural promotion director Joan-Marc Joval pointed to the audiovisual sector's rapid expansion, fueled by rising appeal and viewership. Contraban received €125,000 in cinematography grants, bringing total public funding to €140,000, though Joval said budgets must grow while stressing Andorra's edge in non-financial aid like swift permits, public-private ties, and logistical help. He cited local successes such as recent awards for Laia Ateca and the international exposure from such productions.

David Haro stressed the human element over funding: "Not everything is about money," crediting the country's "warmth" and collaborative spirit in a small nation where people support each other with pride in their work. Pau Riera said the story fit Andorra naturally and could help build the sector's potential, describing the shoot as a major logistical challenge with significant repercussions. Officials expect tricky weather next week and will monitor forecasts.