Emilio Baños Santos

Birth Date: 10th February 1924 (†21st January 2007)
Birth Place: Vigo (Pontevedra)
 Curriculum

Emilio Baños commercialized films for over fifty years. He was always keen on cinema and after his father’s death he began to work selling newspapers, as a barber assistant, as a bootblack, as a panel beater and as a baker. When he was fifteen, he sold sweets at Royalty and Rosalía de Castro Cinemas. Isaac Fraga, a famous cinematographic businessman, employed him at García Barbón Cinema as an errand boy, handing out programmes and putting up posters. He also worked as a cabin assistant at Tamberlick cinema, being recognised as a cinematographic operator in 1941. Four years later, he married Ana María Márquez. Emilio, his son, has gone on with his business since 1966.

 Work & Activities

Baños Films started in 1953, representing some films handed over by Arturo González (Cesáreo’s brother). He participated in ‘¿Dónde vas, Alfonso XII?’ as a producer and in ‘Sissi’ and ‘Sissi emperatriz’ as an importer. He was manager of Estrellita Castro, Carlos Acuña and Xan das Bolas. He also worked as an actor on several occasions and operator assistant of the No-Do in Galicia. He created Atlántico Films, distributed Pelimex in Galicia and participated in Cesar Films Productions and in the foundation of Unión Films with businessmen from all over Spain. Then, he entered the videofilm world and supported the distribution of the Galician cinema all over Spain, mainly that produced by Chano Piñeiro.

 Other Interesting Aspects

In 1987, the ‘Hermandad de la Mutua del Cine de Barcelona’ paid him a homage. In 2004, he was awarded the Bronze Medal of Galicia (Xunta de Galicia) and published the book ‘Emilio Baños Santos, unha vida entre películas’ by Miguel Anxo Fernández, that summarizes his life. In 1999, he was awarded ‘Fernando Rey’ Prize (Agapi Prizes) for his whole course and paid an homage (‘Semana Internacional de Cine de Autor’, Lugo).