THE LEGENDARY MUSICIAN FROM ‘THE POLICE’, CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST DRUMMERS OF ALL TIME, PRESENTS COPELAND AT THE 53rd HUESCA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
THE DOCUMENTARY, DIRECTED BY ARAGONESE FILMMAKER PABLO ARAGÜÉS, REVIEWS THE MUSICAL LIFE ADVENTURE OF THIS TALENTED ARTIST THROUGH FIVE DECADES OF CAREER
Poster oficial de ‘Copeland’
The renowned drummer of the iconic band The Police, Stewart Copeland, presented the first public screening of Copeland at the 53rd Huesca International Film Festival—a film chronicling his entire musical career, directed by Aragonese filmmaker Pablo Aragüés. “It’s a true honor to see all my achievements compiled into a single movie, and I find it fascinating; I’m really nobody, and when someone asks me what my legacy is, it kind of scares me—because it’s not my goal to leave a legacy. My plan is to always be here, to stay present. As long as there’s a variety of opera, rock—even playing polo—that’s what matters to me, because being here and being present is my mission in life,” said the film’s protagonist, accompanied by director Pablo Aragüés and executive producer Tarquin Gotch.
Stewart Copeland, whose career boasts over 60 million albums sold worldwide and five Grammy Awards, stated during a press conference at the Huesca Provincial Council that he never listens to his albums once they’re finished: “I’m not so concerned about the result but rather the journey along the way. Once I finish something, I move on and start something new.”
This music legend has worked with major names in cinema such as Francis Ford Coppola, Oliver Stone, and Ken Loach. Reflecting on his work composing film scores, he said: “They’re two very different things—when you’re in a band, you’re an artist. But when you write a film score, you’re a craftsman working for the director, who is the artist. Ultimately, the music serves the film; it must have a specific purpose to convey emotion and message to the viewer.” He emphasized that he learned much more as a film composer than as an artist.
“When I did my first movie with Ford Coppola, he told me we’d need strings, and I said, ‘Of course, how exciting!’ But soon after, I had to figure out how to actually do it. That’s when I discovered my composer side—when I had to include an orchestra. If the filmmaker hadn’t taken me down that path, I’d never have explored it. So I feel very lucky, and I have great memories of that process. Now I really am an artist—I do whatever I want and I’ve learned so much!” he exclaimed.
The musician, who is currently working on a book, recently released the album Wild Concerto, a collection of animal sounds. “It includes wolves, hyenas, birds… a compilation by Martyn Stewart, who traveled the world recording these sounds—many from endangered or extinct species. He brought them to me to give them a voice. The idea wasn’t to keep them in a museum collection, but to place them in a musical context where people could experience and connect with them—perhaps for the last time. So we combined them with an orchestra,” he explained.
Copeland is a journey through the life in music of this extraordinary artist, spanning five decades—from The Police to his operas and film scores. A concert in Italy serves as the starting point for this work that transcends the limits of a self-portrait—it’s a direct conversation with the artist himself. Stewart Copeland narrates his life in the first person, recounting events as he experienced them, always seeking a musical parallel.
Zaragoza-born filmmaker Pablo Aragüés expressed his gratitude to the Huesca International Film Festival for hosting the screening of Copeland, “fresh out of the oven,” and explained that he decided to make the film because Stewart’s life is truly fascinating. “He’s dedicated his entire life to music—creating it in every imaginable way—and I’ve always wanted to tell that story. I’ve admired him as a musician and composer since I was a teenager. It was a dream come true.”
“A couple of years ago, the opportunity came up, and I imagined this documentary as a cinematic drum solo—I think that’s what appealed to him and convinced him to go ahead with it,” Aragüés said. He emphasized that one of the things that inspired him most was Stewart’s passion: “He’s overflowing with it. You can tell music means everything to him. So for me, it’s been a privilege to get to know him deeply and explore his entire career.”
Aragüés, who has previously presented short films at the Huesca International Film Festival, noted that from the start there was close collaboration—not only with Stewart but also with executive producer Tarquin Gotch. “We met in April 2023 and just finished the film two days ago. It’s been two years full of everything imaginable, but we’ve worked together to shape the documentary. It was very important to me that everyone involved was happy with the final result.”
