Spanish composer Javier Pérez Garrido is part of the creative team behind the new short film “13 Pins”, a haunting fiction directed by renowned Portuguese filmmakers João Pedro Rodrigues and João Rui Guerra da Mata, produced by BoCA – Biennial of Contemporary Arts.

Inspired by a miracle attributed to Saint Anthony and interwoven with themes of desire, faith, and disillusionment, “13 Pins” offers a narrative journey between the sacred and the profane, with a baroque and sensual atmosphere that spans different eras and cities: from medieval Lisbon to 18th-century Madrid reflected in Goya’s paintings, culminating in contemporary Lisbon where miracles take on new forms.

Pérez Garrido’s contribution as composer adds a crucial sonic dimension to this deeply visual and symbolic work. His music underscores the tension between the visible and the hidden, between ritual and cinematic expression, heightening the emotional and aesthetic experience of the film.

Shot between Lisbon and Madrid, the short film explores the persistence of myths in a secularized era, echoing ancient practices of love magic—referenced in the title—and the human impulses that continue to fuel stories of faith, revenge, and redemption.

“13 Pins” will have its world premiere on October 15, 2025, at 9:30 PM at the Cinemateca Portuguesa in Lisbon, followed by a screening on October 23 at 7:00 PM at the Filmoteca Española in Madrid, as the closing film of the Malamor/Tainted Love series. The film marks a new chapter in the collaboration of the directors, considered two of the most significant voices in contemporary Portuguese cinema.