The film Errementari was filmed on December 12 and shot in Donostia-San Sebastián. It is a free adaptation of the popular story Patxi Errementaria, which José Miguel Barandiaran gathers, and which is starring Kandido Uranga, Eneko Sagardoy, Joxean Bengoetxea and Ramón Agirre. The first feature film by Gasteiztarra director Paul Urkijo will be “a rural tale about an infamous blacksmith: man is so bad that demons also fear him.” Urkijo has been working for four years on what has been his favorite story since childhood, “I’ve always wanted to make a film about it.”

Another of the peculiarities of the film is the language: they have given it the trace of a lost dialect, that of the Basque language of Álava. To recover and make understandable this dialect, they have had the help of the linguist Koldo Zuazo, who translated it into Basque. The premiere is scheduled for fall 2017.

Aundiya: myth and reality

Behind Aundiya is also the producer Moriarti, who has created LOREAK films and 80 egunean films. In this case, the direction will be given by Aitor Arrangi and Jon Garaño, who will report the story of Migel Joakin Eleizegi, known as “Altzoko aundiya”. Due to his great and peculiar figure, the man born in Altzo was taken to the Courts of Spain, Portugal, France and England to be seen by the Magi. The film will reflect on myth and reality. The film is cast by Ramon Agirre, Eneko Sagardoy, Joseba Usabiaga, Aia Kruse, Iñigo Aranburu and Iñigo Azpitarte, with the collaboration of ETB. Will they be able to repeat Loreak’s fruitful career?

Waiting for the surprise

We must not forget that it will be the first job of Aitor Bereziartua, Lisbeth. This project was created in collaboration with Aranzadi, in collaboration with anthropologist Olatz Retegi Recalde. The protagonist is a woman born in 1947 in a hamlet in the Donostia neighborhood of Bidebieta, who suffered the cultural, political, economic and linguistic repression of the post-war period. Through this documentary, the director wants to reflect on the past. The program will collect testimonies and tests to work on the subject in a broad way, starting from childhood. The intention is to release it at the San Sebastian Film and Human Rights Festival in April.

The official premiere was last year, but as it had a very small diffusion, to see if this year we have the opportunity to see Argi de Iratxe Mediavilla. The film tells the story of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, set in Elorrio.

We must not forget the 39th edition of Lekeitio’s career. Short films and documentaries seen in the Basque Country Zine Bilera. Among them, N’Diawaldy Bouly by Natxo Leuza, Beti bezperako koplak by Begoña Vicario and Carta astral by Maite Bidar and Koldo García.

The titles of Aundiya and Errementari seem, at least looking ahead, to be the most “Potolos” titles, but don’t forget that one of last year’s surprises was a surreal nautical adventure that nobody expected (Pedaló). Be attentive to the new films that will be announced in the coming weeks and, above all, to the surprises that we will be able to see in the Zinemira section of the San Sebastian Film Festival. As Benito Ansola, honoured at the Basque Film Festival, said, “the important thing is to do film and do it in Basque.”