Laura Jou

Laura Jou started her career as a professional actress in the late 1980s. After graduating from the Theatre Institute of Barcelona, she worked in major theatre companies, such as those run by Julieta Serrano and Héctor Alterio, touring extensively throughout Spain. In 2001, following her interest in directing and actors’ psychology, she started working as a coach for child and teenage actors. In this role, she became well-known throughout the country. Her work as a child coach has contributed to wonderful performances, many of them award-winning. She also become a coach for directors like Alejandro Iñarritu, J.A. Bayona and Agustín Villaronga, amongst others. Laura also runs her own acting studio where she trains new actors and professionals in acting techniques, as well as being one of the resident teachers in film direction at ESCAC (Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia). The short film Don’t Leave Me was Laura’s first production as a screenwriter and director. In 2019, she directed her first feature film Life Without Sara Amat, which received several awards and excellent reviews. In 2021, she directed CUCUT, a 5-episode TV series for Tv3, followed by EASY, alongside Anna R Costa, for Movistar Plus+. She is currently in the pre-production process of her film. FILMOGRAPHY as acting coach FILMS Life Without Sara Amat director: Laura Jou prod: La Xal LAIA director: Lluis Danés prod: Brutal media DON’T LEAVE ME Laura Jou prod: Bayona and Maymó (screenwriter and director) A MONSTER CALLS (J.A Bayona / Belén Atienza, Jonathan King, Mitch Horwits) HIDDEN AWAY (Mikel Rueda / Baleuko films) ANOTHER FRONTIER (André Cruz / Cine de garaje) MINDSCAPE (Jorge Dorado/ Roxbury) LETTER TO EVA (Agustí Villaronga / Copia Cero) LA ESTRELLA (Alberto Aranda / Acontraluz Films). Marc Clotet’s coach THE WILD ONES (Patricia Ferreira / Distinto Films). Aina Clotet’s coach YEAR OF GRACE (Ventura Pons / Els films de la Rambla). Oriol Pla’s coach XP3D (Sergio Vizcaíno / Rodar y Rodar) CHILDISH GAMES (Antonio Chavarrías / Oberón) ANIMALS (Marçal Forés / Escándalo Films). SNOWFLAKE (Andrés Shaer / Castelao) EVA (Kike Maíllo / Escándalo Films) BLACK BREAD (Agustí Villaronga / Massa d ́Or) BIUTIFUL (Alejandro Iñárritu / Eurocorp) ELISA K (Judit Colell / Oberon). Aina Clotet’s coach BLOG (Elena Trapé / Escándalo Films) SPANISH MOVIE (Javi Ruiz / Think Studio) SHIVER (Isidro Ortiz / Fausto Producciones). Blanca Suárez’s coach THE ORPHANAGE (J.A. Bayona / Guillermo del Toro and Tv5) LEAVING (Catherine Crosini / Pyramide films) MINISERIES AND TV SERIES POLÒNIA (Toni Soler / Minoria Absoluta Tv3) THE RED BAND SOCIETY 2nd season (Pau Freixas, Marta Pahissa and Pati Font / Tv3 and Castelao) OLOR DE COLÒNIA (Lluis Maria Guell / Diagonal TV) TORNAREM (Felip Solé / Brutal TV and Tv3) THE VOICES OF PAMANO (Lluís Maria Guell / Diagonal TV) VENTDELAPLÀ (Lluís M. Güell / Diagonal TV) ABUELA DE VERANO (Joaquim Oristell, Enric Folch, Yolanda Garcia Serrano / Rodar y Rodar) AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Málaga Film Festival Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Short Film · DON’T LEAVE ME ALFAS DEL PI Best Actor, Best Actress · DON’T LEAVE ME CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL · DON’T LEAVE ME SHORT FILM FEST CANNES · DON’T LEAVE ME CINESPAÑA · DON’T LEAVE ME CORTOGENIA · DON’T LEAVE ME DETMOLD · DON’T LEAVE ME GIJÓN · DON’T LEAVE ME SHANGAY · DON’T LEAVE ME VANCOVVER · DON’T LEAVE ME WOMEN MEDIA ARTS FILM FEST · DON’T LEAVE ME BARCELONA FILM FEST · LIFE WITHOUT SARA AMAT ALE KINO FILM FEST · LIFE WITHOUT SARA AMAT BUFF FILM FEST MALMO · LIFE WITHOUT SARA AMAT NANTES FILM FEST · LIFE WITHOUT SARA AMAT ZLIN FILM FEST · LIFE WITHOUT SARA AMAT SHINGEL FILM FEST · LIFE WITHOUT SARA AMAT