Official website of the documentary short film AER. A cinematographic work produced, produced and directed by El Claroscuro Films and film music composer Josué Vergara.
The meaning of AER
AER stands for AIRE, in Latin, and is the title of the official musical work of the Spanish Air and Space Army, composed by Josué Vergara in 2018, and performed by soprano Solenne Cavero.
The documentary
El Claroscuro Films and Josué Vergara joined forces to create AER’s audiovisual project, in the form of a short documentary film. Undoubtedly, this is a unique piece in which the soundtrack is the protagonist of the story.
Synopsis
How to compose the air? How to compose its melody? AER documents in a poetic, narrative and conceptual way, the process of how film music composer Josué Vergara faced the challenge -personal and creative- of composing the official musical work for the Spanish Air and Space Army. An unusual assignment for him that -besides being of relevant importance for his career- was going to stir within him doubts, insecurities, fears and feelings that seemed not to exist in Josué until that moment. A very everyday phrase, with the aviator spirit always on the horizon, will put an end to all that fear, and will mark the definitive beginning of the work AER.
AER musical theme
AER is essentially a musical work. In this film, we have extracted the musical score from the documentary short film.
Listen to AER on Spotify. Click on the icon
The Aviator Spirit, the essence of AER
“The Aviator Spirit, that inner strength that traps us all in an infinite flight of illusions and impossible dreams, where humility is combined with the will and perseverance to fly higher and faster every day. The Aviator Spirit is a singular legacy that commits us all and obliges us, because it is not where and when, it is the why and the purpose, it is the oath for a common, collective and unique good that transcends us all“. Colonel Roberto “Little” Garcia-Arroba
About AER
On September 23, 2024, and thanks to the Department of Culture of the City Council of Valencia, in the Palau de la Música de Valencia, the symphonic version of AER was recorded and filmed in parallel with the Orquesta de Valencia performing, together with the soprano Solenne and the EncantaVeus choir.
The official presentation
The symphonic version of AER and the documentary short film were presented at the Palau de la Música de València on June 22, 2025. With the presence of authorities from the City Council of Valencia and the Air and Space Army.
You can see in Josué Vergara’s Youtube channel, the summary of the event by accessing part 1 and part 2. You can also find more information about the presentation in this SoundTrackFest article.
The short film
AER’s documentary short film has also been shot in different locations such as the Air Force and Space Museum in Madrid, the Turia River as it passes through Riba-roja de Turia (Valencia), the Palau de la Música in Valencia and the 14th Wing Air Base in Los Llanos, Albacete.
The documentary features the participation, on screen, of Josué Vergara himself, soprano Solenne Cavero, the EncantaVeus choir, the Valencia orchestra – conducted by Jaume Santonja – and Colonel Roberto “Little” Garcia-Arroba from New York.
Cinematography
The short film breathes texture and cinematic look, among other reasons, because we have shot it at 24 frames per second, and we have used anamorphic lenses, to offer the viewer a widescreen visual experience (panoramic format) and in 4K DCI resolution.
Suitable for all audiences
AER is 10 minutes long and has been rated“suitable for all audiences” by the ICAA (Instituto de la cinematografía y de las artes audiovisuales) of the Ministry of Culture.
News and Press
Valencia City Council announces presentation of AER at the Palau de la Música
June 2025
On the website of the City Council of Valencia, you can find the announcement of the consistory of AER’s presentation event at the Palau. Read it here.
Interview with Josué on 99.9 radio.
June 2025
Josué attended the radio program “Pegando la hebra” on 99.9. You can listen to the interview here.
Levante-EMV reports on the presentation of AER at the Palau de la Música in Valencia on the 22nd.
June 2025
AER will be officially presented next Sunday June 22nd at 18:30h at the Palau de la Música in Valencia. The newspaper El Levante-EMV echoes the news.
AER wins the Los Angeles Short Film Festival
June 2025
AER has finally been the winning short film at the Short Film Awards in Los Angeles.
AER on RTVE’s ‘Días de Cine’.
May 2025
During the presentation of AER at the Alicante Film Festival, we were interviewed for the RTVE program Días de Cine.
The AER team on À Punt Radio
June 2025
We have been with Inma Mateu in her radio program in À Punt, Listen to the interview here (Our intervention is from minute 55:45 to the end).
The billboard
Mini documentary we have made about the “birth” and creative process of the AER billboard. Created and painted by Pepe Royo, Valencian painter and artist with more than 70 years of experience.
Presentation
Video of the presentation in the Patio de Honor of the Air and Space Army Headquarters in Madrid in 2018. Josué and Solenne perform AER for voice and piano with the presence, among other authorities, of the Minister of Defense.
The making Of AER
Shooting this documentary short film has certainly been an experience.
Contact us at
EL CLAROSCURO Films is a film production company registered with the ICAA (Instituto de la Cinematografía y Artes Audiovisuales) of the Ministry of Culture.(Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales) of the Ministry of Culture.
The photographs, videos and soundtracks on this page are original works of EL CLAROSCURO FILMS and Josué Vergara, and are copyrighted.