Interview: Hector Ayuso

I moved to Barcelona when I was just 18 years old to study cinema. That’s when I first fell in love with it, and I haven’t left since. Barcelona offered me everything, professionally and personally.  I was surrounded by artists and people with a lot of positive energy.  It gave me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. The city has allowed me to discover something new every day. I lived in Gràcia for 20 years and I have recently moved to Poblenou, a neighbourhood I’m still exploring and falling in love with more and more each day.

OFFF Festival was born as a mission to join people together  all around the world in one place, a place to get inspired, to play and to meet the talented artists out there. It’s a three-day adventure for everyone wishing to enjoy, learn and leave as a different person who’s able to change their life.

I first came up with the idea when I was sitting one day on my couch thinking of all the things I wanted to do. I wanted to attend an event that could change my life; teach me and offer me the chance to exchange inspiration with people, that’s why I decided to organise OFFF, a festival that will leave as much impact on me as on my audience.

I get inspired by the people I meet, the things I observe in my daily life, music and most importantly, movies. Films have always been there for me, helping me to get inspired and motivated. I have been collecting movies ever since I discovered their magic. From bad to brilliant ones, I learn each day from my collection of 3,000 Blu-rays which is forever growing.

Nobody knows what the future holds. The fun part of living your life is not knowing what’s waiting for you; sometimes you decide your future and other times the future brings you surprising wonders. If I had to choose one thing that I would like the future to hold for me, it would be to direct my own movie and feeling every day’s never-ending excitement.

As cheesy as this will sound, Barcelona has always been at the centre of my heart. I’m a runner and I love to run on its streets, eat tapas in its restaurants or its crowded markets, and explore the wonderfulness hidden inside the bookshops and record stores across the city. Barcelona has always been an ‘alive’ city. You can feel the happiness and the real energetic vibes coming from the people living here.