In the 71 edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival, nineteen works of Basque filmmakers, fifteen feature films, a half-film, a short film and two series will be projected in the following sections: Official Section, Special Performances of the Donostia Prize, Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, Made in Spain, Zinemira, Velódromo and the Galas EiTB and RTVE of the Basque Cinema.
The Official Section will feature the animated film "The Dream of the Sultana" by Isabel Herguera, candidate for the Golden Shell.
At the Basque Film Gala, the film "Arnasa Bet, women filmmakers" by directors Bertha Gaztelumendi and Rosa Zufía, based on the experiences of the Basque filmmakers.
In the Zinemira, two works by the renowned filmmaker Josu Martínez will be presented: Bizkarsoro film, composed of five real stories settled in an imaginary town, focused on the theme of linguistic rights and oppression of the Basque Country; and Mirande, also called a draft for a film, an approach to the work of the writer Jon Mirande.
In the Zinemira the last work of Fermin Muguruza will also be projected: Documentary Bidasoa 2018-2023. It focuses on the control and closure of the Bidasoa border and tells about the dramatic journey of migrants to Europe.
On the other hand, the EiTB Gala on September 27 presents the new series of fiction in Basque ETB: Itxaso. The screen will include Jon Plazaola, Nerea Mazo, Itziar Atienza, Jon Mendia and Nere Garmendia.
With regard to EiTB, ETB director Unai Iparragirre has given more details about the Hoberan platform, which will be launched in September, with almost all the contents in Basque and which, among other sections, will be dedicated to the Basque films that have participated in the San Sebastian Festival in the last decades.
Paco Sagarzazu will receive the Zinemira Prize
Donostiarra Paco Sagarzazu will receive the honorary prize for Basque film for his career. The film approached the world in 1976, with the work Balanzatxoa adapted to the cinema (first feature film shot in Basque).
Since then he has usually worked in Spanish, such as Txotx or Aupa Etxebeste! participated in films with Asier Altuna and Telmo Esnal.
Actions of the official section with subtitles in Basque
All films from the Official Section of the Festival will be offered in Basque in Kursaal. Each film will be broadcast in its original version and the Festival will offer the opportunity to see it in the three official languages, not only in Spanish and English, but also in Basque.
Victor Erice, winner of the Donostia Prize this year, asks the journalists of the Festival: “Do you know what the most permanent image holder is?” The answer is not digital media, not photochemical, but oil. Oil painting prevents the scarring of forgetfulness better than... [+]
As if he left the best for the end, it has been a memorable caress 71. Here, by Belgian director Bas Devos, I have seen the last day of the festival. Stefan, a Romanian construction worker, and Shuxiu, an expert researcher in mosses and daughters of Chinese migrants, are in... [+]
On the eighth day of the festival, cinema has lost all ritual and all signs of mysticism. The cinematic experience has become part of the routine: to be credited, to dismiss the staff of the room and to do it directly to the seat. Without magic, it's a mere formality. Today,... [+]
During the search for locations for the new documentary, Martín Benchimol met the castle, the sunset sign of the Argentine aristocracy. Fascinated, he wanted to meet the local owner. In this way, and full of strangeness, he met Justina, with tanned skin, who after spending his... [+]