Behind the scenes of our Brand Video
Sobremesa.Curated is a series of online and offline experiences where we collaborate with some of our favorite creatives to bring beautiful ideas into the world.
Curated by Lydia Iracheta.
When we set out to create our brand video, instead of treating it like a standard shoot, we turned it into what a sobremesa is at its core: an experience lived together. We wanted a real one—where conversations unfolded slowly, meals stretched into hours, and everything that makes Sobremesa.Institute what it is—curiosity, creativity, beauty, and human connection—was felt, not forced.
So we went to our beloved Horta de Sant Joan: a hidden gem in Catalonia where time slows down, landscapes stretch endlessly, and the wind flows through the olive trees.
There were no sets. No rehearsals. Just real people, and the quiet magic that happens when you let the moment lead. Because Sobremesa.Institute isn’t just a Spanish school. It’s a world we’re building—one where curiosity is the compass, beauty is in the small things, and language becomes something you live inside of.
Lydia’s Journal
Hola! Lydia here. If there’s one thing I’ve learned at Sobremesa, it’s that meaningful experiences can’t be forced. They happen naturally when people, place, and purpose align. That’s exactly what this video shoot became: not a production, but a shared and unforgettable experience.
Day 1
We left Barcelona behind and slowly made our way south, the road unfolding into softer hills, wider skies, and that feeling that something was shifting—outside and inside.
When we arrived at Mas d’en Xolvi, the silence was immediate. The house sat on a hill like a gentle guardian, with stone walls that had seen centuries pass and wide open fields stretching all around. It was July, and the air was thick with heat and stillness.
We spent the afternoon settling in, walking barefoot, drinking wine, and doing what we do best—talking. The sun began to set, cicadas buzzed in the trees, and the air changed. No schedule, no rush. Just space to be, and to be together.
Day 2
The second day was all about bringing our vision to life. We started early, preparing a big breakfast together. There was a quiet sense of excitement in the air. Then we set the table—a long, beautiful table beneath the almond trees—where the heart of the video would take place. That simple act of setting the scene felt like a ritual, a way of grounding everything we wanted to express.
We didn’t ask anyone to perform. We asked them to show up, listen, speak, and be present. And little by little, without even noticing, we were capturing the rhythm of a true sobremesa.
Carolina Spencer, creative director and floral artist at Matagalán Plantae, imagined flowers blooming from the mouths of the actors—a visual metaphor for language and expression. They gently formed chains of petals between them, symbolizing connection, creativity, and care. It was so poetic and felt like the heart of the video.
And just as we wrapped filming, something magical happened—the full moon rose over the sierra. A perfect ending. No one planned it. But there it was, as if the land was giving us its blessing.
Day 3
We rested deeply. Spent the day laughing, doing stretches, playing backgammon, preparing a delicious paella, and soaking up the calm. Just joy, sunlight, and being together after creating something we knew was truly special.
As we packed up and prepared to leave, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Not just for the footage we captured, but for the experience itself. For the people, for the conversations, for the reminder that Sobremesa is not just something we teach—it’s something we live.
This video is more than a brand film. It’s a reflection of what we believe in: the art of gathering, the power of language, and the beauty of human connection.
I can’t wait for you to see it.
With love,
Lydia
A @sobremesa.institute production:
Director: Mariano Báez
Starring: Rebecca, Rileyanne, Patrick, Flora, Iván, Miriam y Andrei
Producer: Lydia Iracheta
Creative director: Carolina Spencer
Set designer: Leticia Borgo
Make up artist: Sandra Mäesepp
Photographer: Elea García
Floral artist: Carolina Spencer
Script: Josephine Halpin
Voice: Florencia Dávila
Music: Melmann
