San Sebastian International Film Festival: Basque films

The San Sebastian Film Festival is back for its 68th edition and, although this is a special year, Basque cinema will once again play an important role. The festival, which runs from today until September 26^th, will feature fourteen full-length films, three short films, two series, one medium-length film and another feature film currently in production.

This year a total of 21 films with Basque participation will be part of the Official Selection, New Directors, Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, Culinary Cinema, Zinemira, Made in Spain, and the gala events for Basque Film and EiTB and for WIP Europe.

The Zinemira section, dedicated especially to Basque cinema, will feature eleven films: Nora by Lara Izagirre, Talento by David González, Atarrabi et Mikelats (a film by New York director Eugène Green based on a legend from Basque mythology), Non dago Mikel? by Amaia Merino and Miguel Ángel Llamas, Caminho longe by Josu Martínez and Txaber Larreategi, Hijos de Dios by Ekain Irigoien, El Drogas by Natxo Leuza, Urtzen by Telmo Esnal and Lobster Soup by Pepe Andreu and Rafael Molés. The series El estado contra Pablo Ibar and the medium-length film Jo ta ke will also be screened in Zinemira, although out of competition.

The nine films in Zinemira will compete for the Irizar Basque Film Award, together with four films in other sections: Akelarre by Pablo Agüero (Official Selection); Ane by David P. Sañudo and Hil Kanpaiak by Imanol Rayo (New Directors section); and Arzak Since 1897 by Asier Altuna, which will open the Culinary Cinema section.

Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, a section for films daring to try new angles and formats, will include the short films Autoficción by Laida Lertxundi and Ya no duermo by Marina Palacio. Basque actor Aitor Luna stars in the film La isla de las mentiras, to be premiered in the Made in Spain section; and Arantza Santesteban from Pamplona will present the production of her new film 918 gau in the WIP Europe section, dedicated to work in progress of new films.

Finally, at the Basque Film Gala, to be held on September 22nd at the Victoria Eugenia Theater, the short film Bizimina, directed by Migueltxo Molina, Pablo Iraburu and Jon Maya, will be presented; and at the EiTB Gala, to be held on the 23rd, two episodes of the new series Alardea by David Pérez Sañudo will be screened.