Film producer Xavier Atance arrested accused of sexual assault by three employees

BarcelonaThe Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested film producer Xavier Atance in Barcelona, co-founder of Benecé Produccions, accused of sexually assaulting three female employees, as reported by El Periódico. Mossos d'Esquadra sources have confirmed to ARA that he was arrested yesterday, Wednesday, in Barcelona, and he is expected to be brought before the court this Thursday. The investigation unit of the Mossos in Les Corts is handling the case.

Furthermore, sources close to the investigation detail that "for now" there are three victims who have filed a complaint, but they do not rule out that other victims may decide to report and it could lead "to a new Me Too". In fact, the investigation remains open given this possibility. According to El Periódico, the three complainants are 24, 26, and 30 years old. Atance is 66. The women report sexual harassment, abuse of power, and professional manipulation for sexual purposes. The most serious accusation is the alleged rape of a 26-year-old woman. The complaint describes how she went out partying with colleagues from the production company after the D'A festival. The director joined them and recalls accompanying her to the bar to get a drink. She does not remember how she got home and only has flashes of the night, with Atance in her bed raping her. Over time, she became aware of what might have happened and went to the Clínic, where she was examined and no chemical traces were found in her blood – the nurses admitted to her that it could be due to the time elapsed. The other two women report psychological abuse, unwanted physical contact, and continuous sexist and disparaging comments. None of them work at the company anymore.

Xavier Atance is one of Catalonia's prominent film producers. He has been behind films such as Los condenados and Cravan vs Cravan by Isaki Lacuesta, Dies d'agost by Marc Recha, Fènix 11·23 by Joel Joan and Sergi Lara, or the documentary the documentary Maragall i la Lluna, as well as official productions and for various institutions. He also produced El pallasso i el Führer and Íngrid by Eduard Cortés, a filmmaker who was also accused of sexual harassment in the workplace by dozens of actresses and was blacklisted by the Film Academy.

Atance is a partner of Benecé Produccions, founded in 1986, and of Scenic Drive. In addition, he was manager of Barcelona Media (1989-1991) and director of the music publisher Plusmusic (1992-2000). He has been president of Productors Audiovisuals de Catalunya and the first president of PROA, the federation of audiovisual producers and a reference in the sector. He was one of the partners who contributed to the renaissance of Cinemes Girona.