Hugo 24: A Madrid Housing Crisis Drama

Luc Knowles' second feature film, 'Hugo 24', follows a young man's 24-hour race to pay rent and avoid eviction in Madrid's Tetuán district. The film stars Arón Piper as Hugo, who lives with his older sister Cris (Marta Etura), who sacrificed her youth to raise him after their mother's imprisonment and father's abandonment. With his best friend (Marco Cáceres), Hugo scrambles to gather money while confronting insecurity and the transition to adulthood. Knowles, a UK-born director based in Spain, shot the film in Tetuán, where he lives, drawing from overheard conversations about low wages and high rents. The film addresses housing unaffordability, youth unemployment, and social disenfranchisement, emphasizing love and solidarity. Piper and Cáceres are real-life childhood friends and roommates, lending authenticity to their performances. The cast also includes Greta Fernández and Javier Pereira. Produced by Clapham Films, RV Entertainment, Dadá Films, NonStop Studios, and Caramel Films, the 85-minute film premiered in 2025. Knowles' debut 'Libélulas' won the Audience Award at the Málaga Film Festival in 2022.