Basque cinema returns to London

Held from September 25 to 29, the London Spanish Film Festival will feature a Basque Window as part of its official programme for the 10th time. Some of the most interesting Basque films of the last few years will come to London, most of them first time releases in the UK. The programme will include two feature films, a short film and a documentary.

Held from September 25 to 29, the London Spanish Film Festival will feature a Basque Window as part of its official programme for the 10th time. Some of the most interesting Basque films of the last few years will come to London, most of them first time releases in the UK. The programme will include two feature films, a short film and a documentary.

The London Spanish Film Festival celebrates its 15th consecutive year with a brilliantly diverse line-up showcasing the very best in contemporary Spanish cinema. The programme mixes film screenings with actor and director Q&As, providing exclusive insight on their craft. The festival also has a Catalan Window, both of which showcase the best films from both regions in the last few years.

The Basque Window is sponsored by the Etxepare Basque Institute with support from the Kimuak programme of short films, the Basque Film Archive and the Basque Government. First up will be The Incredible Shrinking Wknd by Jon Mikel Caballero, on September 27 at the Regent Street Cinema. This sci-fi film tells the story of Alba’s 30^th birthday, when she invites her friends for a weekend in a woodland cottage. However, Alba is suddenly frozen in her own time-loop, condemned to relive the weekend over and over, but with one hour less each time. Before that, there will be a screening of director Aizpea Goenaga’s short film ¡Ya está!

On September 28, Koldo Serra’s 70 Binladens will be screened at Ciné Lumière. In this thriller action movie, when little Alba is kidnapped, her mother Raquel has 24 hours to find €35,000 – or seventy 500-euro notes, known in Spain as ‘binladens’ because everyone talks about them but never sees them.

Finally, on September 29, the Basque Window will wrap up with The Spy Within, by Ana Schulz and Cristóbal Fernández. This documentary tells the real story of Juan Gutiérrez, who worked as a spy during the negotiations between ETA and the Spanish Government.