Marché du Film: Basque. Audiovisual.

The Cannes Film Festival, one of the most important events on the international film scene, is kicks off today. And once again the Basque Country will be represented at both the Critics´ Week and the highly regarded Marché du Film running until Saturday 28th May.

This year’s Cannes Critics´ Week, dedicated to showing audiences and critics the first and second films by up-and-coming talent, has chosen the film ´Cuerdas´ by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren. Co-produced by Sirimiri Films, Gariza Films, and Katz Estudio, tells the story of a women´s choir in danger of disbanding after losing its city funding. But one of the valley´s largest, most highly polluting companies has offered the group a tempting sponsorship that would save the group. The women have to decide whether to accept the company´s offer.

Basque cinema will also be present at the Marché du Film, one of the most important events of the year. Promoted by Basque. Audiovisual., the film ‘A los libros y a las mujeres canto’ will be part of the Spanish market screenings. The project by María Elorza comes to Cannes after winning the FIDBA and Malaga Festival - WIP Spain awards. It also received the ZINEBI Networking 2021 Award. Produced by Txintxua Films, the film is a song by the director to all the women who intimately resist, without revolution or weapons, while taking care of books.

Marché du Film will also be an exceptional showcase for the short film ´Bat´ by Ane Berriotxoa and the Basque Country Film School, which will form part of the 2Cool4School catalogue. This section is part of the #JustSpainted programme of the ICAA, in the Short Film Corner Library of the Cannes Film Festival.

A revamped website

As usual, Basque. Audiovisual. will once again be at the Marché du Film in Cannes. With support from ICEX, Spain’s Export and Investment organisation, Basque. Audiovisual. will have a space to publicise the latest developments in Basque cinema and the different tax incentives available in our territory. With the aim of gaining greater relevance on the international level, today the brand launches a fresh new website (www.basqueaudiovisual.eus). The powerful search engine will make projects easily identifiable and accessible to all interested professionals. This new space replaces the paper catalogue that used to be presented at festivals and reinforces our commitment to a more sustainable world.

It is also worth highlighting the importance of Basque cinema and, in turn, the Basque. Audiovisual. brand on the world scene. The Quebec Festival has invited the delegation of Basque producers and professionals attending under the umbrella of the B.A. brand to its networking day. And, from this edition onwards, the Bilbao International Documentary and Short Film Festival, ZINEBI, will be one of the collaborators of the #CannnesDocs programme.

Among the Basque filmmakers participating in this important market are Julieta Juncadella and Silvia Cruz from Vitrine Films; Aitor Arenas from Banatu Filmak; Marian Fernández from Txintxua Films; Esti Urresola from Sirimiri Films; Manu Paino from Bainet; Unai Fernández from Barton; Paul Urkijo; Gentzane Martínez de Osaba fromMarmoka Films; Katz Estudio; Katti Pochelu from Gastibeltza, and Irati Fresneda from Pimpi & Nella.