“All films about death are really films about life”

San Sebastian-born director Koldo Almandoz presents ‘The Last Goodbye’, an existentialist comedy shot entirely in Basque, which will have its world premiere in the Official Selection of the San Sebastian Film Festival.

“Identity is always at risk, but it always finds a way to survive”

Aitor Aranguren and Erik Suso are the director and producer, respectively, of the documentary ‘300 Oaks’. In the film, they explore the relationship between Basque cuisine, art and identity. Based on the story of the Mahaia Collective, the film reflects on these themes through a dialogue between gastronomy and other artistic disciplines. They will present their first feature film at the San Sebastian Festival, in the Zinemira section, where it will compete for the Irizar Award.

"What was still missing was a portrait that showed us Oteiza’s mask, not his face"

The number 14 runs throughout ‘Hamalau gau’: the film unfolds over fourteen nights, referring to Oteiza’s fourteen apostles, and it has also been fourteen years since his first visit to the San Sebastián International Film Festival. We spoke to the director about his latest film and his return to Donostia, where Hamalau gau will screen in Zabaltegi-Tabakalera.

“I wanted to get closer to the hibakusha, convinced that they are the ones who can best teach us the value of peace”

Director Maite Ibáñez presents 'Pedro Arrupe, I Survived the Atomic Bomb', a documentary that reconstructs the experience of the Basque Jesuit during the bombing of Hiroshima and, 80 years on, brings the testimonies of the bomb’s survivors back to the fore.

“The film achieves its aim if it makes us question whether we do enough for those who come to us seeking help”

Beñat Beitia, who co-directed ‘Winnipeg, Seeds of Hope’ with Elio Quiroga, discusses the film’s creative process, the decision to tell through animation the story of the ship that carried more than 2,000 Republican refugees to Chile, and the film’s international journey, which brings it to the San Sebastian International Film Festival after screenings in Shanghai and Annecy.

“After 13 seasons, we’re still here thanks to our close connection with our audience”

Xabi Zabaleta, scriptwriter of ‘Go!azen’, explains how the series has evolved alongside its audience without losing its essence, while highlighting its role as a gateway to Basque culture.

"Ander eta Yul' reflects the conflicts that were alive in Euskadi at the time, as well as in other places"

Ana Díez returns to the San Sebastian Festival with Ander eta Yul, her debut feature, restored almost four decades after its release, and receives the Basque Film Archive Award in recognition of her career.

Basque cinema in the spotlight at the San Sebastian International Film Festival

GAMBOA ZINEMALDIA IN VITORIA-GASTEIZ

November 18

ALVARO ARBINA, PRESIDENT OF THE ZINEMALDIA JURY

https://fcmagamboa.blogspot.com/2026/07/alvaro-arbina-gamboa-zinemaldiaren.html