Filmmaker Spotlight
The only way
El único camino
Directed by Martí Arbona
The story unfolds through two couples—one in 1930s Germany and the other in 21st-century Syria—who suffer persecution and hatred at the hands of people devoid of morality and scruples. Something is wrong when fleeing one's home is the only way to save one's life.
About the Film
Germany, 1930s. Hans and Hanna have known each other since childhood. They grew up together in their Jewish community, and over time, their friendship blossomed into love. However, these are difficult times. A dark shadow looms over their community; a sense of oppression and persecution is palpable everywhere. Furthermore, the arrival of a new family member forces them to make a drastic decision.
Syria, 21st century. Yasmin and Hamid are trying to start a family amidst the tension gripping the country. In the midst of civil war, they strive to remain neutral and live in peace, without taking sides in the conflict. Yasmin sees no future for them at home, whereas Hamid feels deeply rooted in his homeland and doubts that leaving would significantly improve their situation. With the arrival of their first child, they must choose between staying put and embarking on a new life.
Content notes: Graphic violence
- Runtime
- 19 min
- Category
- Short Film
- Country
- SPAIN
- Year
- 2025
- Language
- SPANISH - GERMAN AND SYRIAN
- Aspect ratio
- Other
Stills
Martí Arbona
The truth is, I’m simply someone who suffers from chronic depression and severe anxiety attacks. I was lucky enough to grow up reading comics from the 70s and 80s—stories that always conveyed great moral lessons. I started out making videos that had nothing to do with that. Then I experimented, until I realized I wanted to express my own moral lessons, born from my own fears. I have so much love for good people, and I would love to see them recognized. I may just be a dreamer, but I want those moral lessons to live on forever.
— Director’s statement
I started out in the 80s making wedding videos. Later, I founded a street theater company and began shooting short films that we incorporated into our performances. After those initial attempts, I created shows where the audience could follow a story on a screen while other scenes were performed live by actors on site. Eventually, I started writing scripts and took the leap to film my first short. And here I am.
Credits
- Directed by
- Martí Arbona
- Written by
- Martí Arbona - Guille Ollés
- Produced by
- Martí Arbona
- Cinematography
- Guille Ollés
- Editing
- Martí Arbona
- Production design
- Martí Arbona
- Sound
- Martí Arbona
- Music
- Jeroni Rullán - Silvia Arbona
- Principal cast
- YASMIN - SILVIA ARBONA HANNA - ELENA ESTARELLAS HAMMID - GUILLE OLLÉS HANS - MARTÍ ARBONA ABRAHAM - LLUÍS CALDAS HAMMID SON - ELIAS LHARIRI HANS SON - PABLO LIROZ SS OFFICER - ANTONI TRIAS SS SOLDIER - ANDRÉS GUERRERO ISIS SOLDIER 1 - JAUME MESTRE ISIS SOLDIER 2 - ANTONIO “TOÑO” MARTÍNEZ ISIS SOLDIER 3 - COLAU PLANELLS SS OFFICER SWISS BORDER - ERIC CIRÓN DRIVER - PEP SOLER SWISS OFFICER - AGUSTÍ SERRA SWISS SOLDIER 1 - ERIK RODRÍGUEZ SWISS SOLDIER 2 - JAVI CUARTERO PAC DOCTOR - JUAN GONZÁLEZ PAC FEMALE DOCTORA - CAMÍ MOYÁ PAC NURSE - SILVIA DOMÍNGUEZ DRIVER CURRENT TIME - TONI ROTGER HANS BABY - LLUC PUIG PÉREZ HAMMID BABY - QUIM SASTRE BERNAT
- Also
- DIRECTION - MARTÍ ARBONA SCRIPT - MARTÍ ARBONA, GUILLE OLLÉS PRODUCTION - MARTÍ ARBONA DIRECTION OF PHOTO - GUILLE OLLÉS EDITING - MARTÍ ARBONA SOUND EDITING - MARTÍ ARBONA POSTPRODUCTION - LLUÍS CUENCA MUSIC - JERONI RULLAN MAIN THEME “THE ONLY WAY” - SILVIA ARBONA ART DIRECTION - MARTÍ ARBONA CASTING - MARTÍ ARBONA CAST YASMIN - SILVIA ARBONA HANNA - ELENA ESTARELLAS HAMMID - GUILLE OLLÉS HANS - MARTÍ ARBONA ABRAHAM - LLUÍS CALDAS HAMMID SON - ELIAS LHARIRI HANS SON - PABLO LIROZ SS OFFICER - ANTONI TRIAS SS SOLDIER - ANDRÉS GUERRERO ISIS SOLDIER 1 - JAUME MESTRE ISIS SOLDIER 2 - ANTONIO “TOÑO” MARTÍNEZ ISIS SOLDIER 3 - COLAU PLANELLS SS OFFICER SWISS BORDER - ERIC CIRÓN DRIVER - PEP SOLER SWISS OFFICER - AGUSTÍ SERRA SWISS SOLDIER 1 - ERIK RODRÍGUEZ SWISS SOLDIER 2 - JAVI CUARTERO PAC DOCTOR - JUAN GONZÁLEZ PAC FEMALE DOCTORA - CAMÍ MOYÁ PAC NURSE - SILVIA DOMÍNGUEZ DRIVER CURRENT TIME - TONI ROTGER HANS BABY - LLUC PUIG PÉREZ HAMMID BABY - QUIM SASTRE BERNAT EXTRAS GERMANY MARILÉN COLL MARIA BEL VIGO PEP TONI MARTINEZ JOVANA SCHAFFER JOAN BERNAT ELENA PÉREZ SUSANA PÉREZ PEP SOLER JAUME ARBONA SYRIA JUAN GARELLO JOVANA SCHAFFER ANTONI TRIAS MEDITERRANEAN BIEL BOVER ANDRÉS GUERRERO JAUME ARBONA PARK AMAYA LAHRIRI DUBBING VOICES SABINE HUERTER LLUÍS CALDAS MARTÍ ARBONA DANIEL RICHTER STEVE DAMON ASCHEMBACH VMEG.AI CAMERA OPERATORS MARGA LUQUE GUILLE OLLÉS MARTÍ ARBONA DIRECT SOUND GUILLE OLLÉS JAUME ARBONA EMILIO MATEO MARTÍ ARBONA SOUND DESIGN AND EDITING MARTÍ ARBONA MUSIC JERONI RULLÁN MAIN THEME “EL ÚNICO CAMINO” SILVIA ARBONA RECORDED IN ANDREO ATELIER GRIP ANTONIO MARTINEZ MARIA PONS STILL PHOTO TAL WALLACE PROPS “LOS DEL ÁTICO RECICLARTE” ANTONIO “TOÑO” MARTINEZ NURIA URRACA ELENA PEREZ “LA BATCOVA” JAUME ARBONA MARTÍ ARBONA TAYLORS PAULA SAMPOL ELENA PEREZ NURIA URRACA MARTÍ ARBONA ANIMAL TRAINER JOVANA SCHAFFER SPECIAL EFFECTS MARTÍ ARBONA
The only way is part of the Official Selection of the BIUFF Founding Edition 2026 — 75 films from 32 countries. See the full programme.