Selected by Variety in 2019 as a Spanish talent to track and by Screen International in 2021 as a Star of Tomorrow, Álvaro Gago (Vigo, 1986) studied Communication and Music in Pontevedra, Drama in Chicago and Filmmaking at the London Film School, where he graduated with distinction in 2013 with the short film Curricán, which premiered at the Málaga Film Festival. In London, he established himself as a director and editor while teaching at the Young Film School and organizing the Galician Film Forum.
                  In 2017 he directed the Goya-nominated short film Matria which won him over seventy awards including the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. That year he edited Trote, Xacio Baño’s debut film, which had its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival and its Spanish premiere at the San Sebastián Film Festival. His follow-up short film, 16 de decembro, premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and was also nominated for the Goya Awards.
                  His first feature film, Matria, which is based on the short film of the same name, premiered in the Panorama Section of the 73rd edition of the Berlinale, received the Silver Biznaga for Best Actress (María Vázquez) and the ASECAN Award for Best First Film at the Malaga Film Festival, as well as two nominations for Best New Director and Best Actress at the 38th Goya Awards. Matria was released in theatres in Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal.
                 He is currently a member of the teaching team at FilmLab Lac6 and is developing his second feature film, Porto Alegre, with writer Berta Dávila, with the production companies Ringo Media and Sétima Cine. The project took part in the last year's Berlinale Co-Production Market and it is scheduled to start filming in summer 2027.