Screenwriter Andrés Duprat Bridges Architecture and Cinema at Málaga Film Festival Retrospective

At the Málaga Film Festival, screenwriter Andrés Duprat reveals how his background in architecture shapes his approach to crafting high-brow satirical comedies.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 12:34 PM EDT

Source: Variety

The Blueprint of a Screenplay

Speaking on Tuesday in Málaga, Andrés Duprat shared insights into his collaborative process with his brother, director Gastón Duprat, and filmmaker Mariano Cohn. As the director of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires and a trained architect, Duprat views filmmaking through a structural lens. He famously compared a screenplay to an architectural plan, noting that it is not a piece of literature intended for general readers but a technical guide for specialists—actors, art directors, and cinematographers—to build upon.

From Real-Life Conflict to Cinematic Success

Duprat’s career is defined by transforming personal observations and frustrations into sharp social satire. His second feature, The Man Next Door (2009), was born directly from a domestic dispute involving a neighbor making an illegal hole in a shared wall of his Buenos Aires home. This knack for finding universal conflict in specific, high-brow settings has led to a string of acclaimed projects, including:

Official Competition: Starring Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.

The Distinguished Citizen: A biting comedy about an estranged Nobel laureate.