You wrote the script for “Miente”. Was it based on a specific real-life story?

No. I live on a street of Madrid that has a lot of prostitutes. One night when I was coming home, my path was blocked by this mafia guy in charge of the girls. I stared him right in the eye and then he said: “OK, you can pass, because I respect you.” At this moment, I realized that there are many girls that come from poor countries who are not as fortunate as me. They simply haven’t got a choice. This was the beginning of an idea. But I also believe that cinema has to be entertaining. I decided to develop the idea and turn it into a thriller story. And this is how it began -- the desire to make a thriller while also showing what happens behind the scenes in the world of prostitution.

Did you come in contact with the real human trafficking victims or their families?

I could not contact the girls directly because they would not want to talk. I did some investigating through an organization in Madrid that helps these girls and also by talking to the police. They told me horrific stories, very violent. Human trafficking is a huge problem in the world, not only in Spain.

Have you thought about making a documentary on this topic?

No. My world is fiction. What I love about making fiction films is the ability to manipulate feelings. It is the best way to make people think. A documentary on the other hand is something that you can’t change or manipulate.

This film starts off with a girl dreaming. She wakes to the sound of flute and then the story ends with a flute in a newspaper. It is a wonderful thread. You have a marvelous eye for subtlety and detail.

Yes. I love that in cinema-when that connection is made to an inner world. Like the flute, the love she has for the younger sister is delicate.

Tell us some more about the lead actress, Sveta Zhukouska.

The funny thing about this girl is that this was her first time in front of the camera. She seems to be a very good actress, no? She is a natural. The thing about her is that in real life, her mother was initially an illegal immigrant so she understood perfectly all the problems they face. She is only 18 but she looks much older. I said to my team: “She has a past in her face. You can see the past in her face.”

Were any of the scenes shot in Bulgaria?

Yes. Those poetic images when the girl is dreaming about her home. They were shot in Bulgaria.

What message do you want people to take from this film?

Thing are not always what they seem to be. In Spain, the media sometimes says that these women want to practice prostitution and this may be true in some instances. But I don’t think this is always the case. There are women who can’t speak up because their families are in danger. What you see is not always how things are. There is another reality.

What advice would you give to a person who is about to make their first film?

You have to be very stubborn. The most important thing is to believe in yourself. It is not a question of talent, but rather whether you are happy making films. If you are happy, then go and do it! This is my fourth short film. The first one was very bad and the second also was a failure. With the third one, I started to recoup some money. This one is a big success! With this one, I paid for the other three. I’m more stubborn than most people I know. You also have to be very passionate about what you’re doing.