Considering the power of the big global streamers, this is truly a leap of faith, but 31-year-old Alejandro Vilpa has big dreams and is aiming for a niche market. His main objective is to provide a platform for short filmmakers from around the world, giving them an opportunity to present their work to a global audience. For years it has been a much under-appreciated sector of the industry even though, as Alejandro Vilpa points out, it is the starting point for most filmmakers, where they have the opportunity to learn the necessary skills and develop their abilities to progress, in most cases, on to feature films.
"Vilpa Max is a bridge where talented new voices and Oscar- and Cannes-winning films come together under the same home. We believe in cultural impact and in creating opportunities for filmmakers to be seen, supported, and remembered."
Alejandro Vilpa is an internationally published author, with a background in script development and a member of the Forbes Business Council. He is an alumnus of the National Film & TV School (UK), and he acknowledges the high level of training he received with a professionalism that is imparted to all the students in Beaconsfield. So much so that almost all of the crew on his own productions are also alumni. Although his ultimate aim was always to work in film, he found a neat way to get there, by concentrating on learning how to tell stories by becoming a published author of thrillers: -
“I started as a writer when I was fourteen… because I wanted to go into the film industry but at that time and that age, I didn’t have the tools or the means or direction to get into that. So, my creativity found a path, a way out, and that was by writing. I spent 10 years writing, possibly very badly… but then, I was learning how to write eventually! Then, when I was 26 (I’m 31 right now), I published my first book… I started out writing fantasy and, when I published my first book, it was about the Mafia [although] perhaps it’s more of a love story happening inside the Mafia. From there my direction continued with thrillers and these became more Mexican; thrillers mixed with mystery stories. A strong influence for me has been Juan Rulfo, a Mexican writer (1917-1986). When I first read his stories, I felt a need… and I learned from how he used to write. From the film industry, my greatest influence is Christopher Nolan, so basically, I have mixed the two of them and made my stories out of that.”
The Breath of the Innocents ( English version also available )
A cinephile at heart, Vilpa’s writing is very visual, as he says: -
“From the beginning my readers used to say that reading my books was like watching a movie because of how I built up the atmospheres.”
Alejandro Vilpa filming
With great courage and determination, he made a point of attending the Cannes Film Festival where they have programmes for young artists where he learned, finally taking the plunge to write, produce and direct his first film called “The Undertones of David Jansen.”
Bob Ponomari as David Jansen
When he started considering what a future his film could have, he realized that apart from the festival circuit there is nothing much out there for short films, leaving a big gap in the industry.
“Vilpa Films was born out of this idea of building these bridges for artists to create opportunities and from there Vilpa Max became a way to fulfil this goal... The backbone of our catalogue is, of course, Oscar winning films, or Cannes winners, just because those films are there for a reason, and we normally learn from them. After that, my criteria was that I know a lot of artists that are very talented, with a narrative to tell to the world and with the talent to do it, so my aim was to scout for those projects and invite them into the catalogue, where they can be in the same environment as the Oscar winning films.”
This could be considered a good time to launch such a platform as there is a consensus that many people’s consumption behaviours have changed over the years, seeking shorter length viewings, which is where the short film could find its place as a growing side of the industry. However, due to the presence of the big streamers, there is the danger that Vilpa Max could find itself in competition with other platforms.
“Technically we are [in competition] but our aim is not to compete but to be partners in the industry. As I mentioned before there is a gap, so we want to increase the number of opportunities there are in the industry because the offers outside are very big, but the means to get that into something real, are [absent]. For example, we want to partner with festivals, filmmakers and of course, other platforms.”
Vilpa Max is launching in stages, Initially, they are going live in the UK, the Middle East and North Africa, with clear plans to expand as soon as possible to include the USA and Europe. Vilpa is keen to invite submissions: -
“We are completely open to any kind of film. We don’t like to put boundaries on creativity, but, of course, there are some quality characteristics and standards that we do look for, but what I would say, that many people are getting into animation, people like good animation, also cinematic high impact variety and good photography.”
Returning to his own film: “The Undertones of David Jansen” Vilpa has high hopes for it. He has always had a passion for classical music which is at the heart of this movie and he points out that ‘Amadeus’ was a powerful emotional inspiration: another man obsessed with his art: -
Carla Aquilar López and Bob Ponomari
“The Undertones of David Jansen’ was filmed in Prague and the music was produced in Paris. On this coming Valentine’s Day, we are going to have the pre- sale of the music in Spotify, the official album. The film tells the story of a very talented violinist who loses the leading role in a major production of a Saint-Saëns piece, called ‘Danse Macabre’. The film is about how this character gets darker and darker to the extent that he is willing to do whatever it takes to attain his dream, which is to achieve greatness. It resembles ‘Whiplash’ (2014) by Damien Chazelle.”
Vilpa is very enthusiastic about his experience of filming in the city of Prague;
“It was so cool. There are very beautiful buildings, so we have a couple of very beautiful shots. It was also very challenging because of the language barrier. A lot of people speak English, but a lot don’t. I remember the first time I went to the Conservatoire of Prague, which is one of the best in Europe and [there I was] trying to explain I wanted to make a film when they all spoke only Czech, it was very funny! If I had not found this musician who happened to speak English, then maybe I would not be here talking about it! He was the one who helped me!”
The role of David Jansen is played by Bob Ponomari: -
“He is an amazing actor and he’s actually having a very nice journey right now as an actor. The woman lead, who plays Ivana is Carla Aguilar López. They were both friends of mine that I met at the Cannes film festival, so I already knew that they were very good and when I started trying to cast people, despite opening a whole casting, in the end I just realized that they were the best fit. They did not play violin so I told them they had to learn to play! Do you want to do it or not? You tell me! They wanted to take part, so they learnt!”
The film is now starting on its festival circuit which will last most of the year. Meanwhile Vilpa is concentrating on the new streaming platform and the selections it has to offer at the moment: -
“The variety is very interesting. We have films that won the Oscars for example we have the “Mozart of Pick Pockets” 2006- by Philippe Pollet- Villard, which is a very beautiful French film. [It is] emotional and also it is a satire, so it has humour in it. From the Cannes film Festival, we have a film that has actually become our signature because people are really loving it called “All the Crows in the World” (Yi Tang) that won Cannes in 2021. In Vilpa Max, we also have the selection of Cannes for ‘Emerging Voices’. In ‘Emerging Voices’ we have 7 filmmakers that we scouted out of maybe around 100. So, we decided to invite them into the catalogue and we also have a very beautiful animated film called ‘Café’ that I think people will love. It is from an emerging filmmaker called Arseny, who is working with me now for my next production, which is going to be animation. So, the catalogue will include many beautiful titles that have been carefully curated and I think people will love them.”
The Mozart of Pickpockets
All these films go to prove the richness available in this format, and yet so few people in the world get to hear of so many of these little cinematic gems, even Oscar winners often remain unknown! As a part of this, Vilpa has expressed an interest in also having a section for archival material, from the very earliest short films, many of which are animated. Keen on helping others, not only himself, Vilpa has also expressed an interest in educational aspects by “… creating a platform for the exchange of talent and ideas” that could include masterclasses and other educational elements.
The world is his oyster as they say! Not phased by the logistical aspects of launching a streaming platform, Vilpa is enthusiastic as he juggles with the challenges of such a venture, while somehow finding the time and energy to continue with his own creative work: completing a new Sci-Fi influenced novel he is writing, and preparing the ground work for a new animated series.
Vilpa Max has launched the streaming platform on January 31st 2026
There are two options, watch for free powered by Ads or subscribe for a nominal fee.
Short films can be submitted at business@vilpafilms.com .
Alejandro Vilpa books: -
La Otra Vida de Rebecca Smirnov: a noire thriller Spanish- available n Amazon
El Aliento de los Inocentes- A noire thriller in Spanish, on Amazon and also available in English as The Breath of the Innocents.
