September brings, as it does every year, one of the most important events in the calendar for Basque cinema. From the 18th to the 26th of September, the city of San Sebastian will provide the perfect setting for the San Sebastian International Film Festival to showcase the strength of the sector and the positive momentum it is currently enjoying.

Official Section

The 74th edition of the festival will feature three Basque productions in the Official Section’s special screenings programme. Bilbao-born director David Pérez Sañudo will return to San Sebastian with his latest film, ‘The Harvester’ (Amania Films, La Claqueta PC and Caviar), which follows an investigation led by a woman determined to prove the guilt of a farmer accused of a series of murders in 19th-century Álava. As well as being screened in the Official Section, the film will also be shown at a gala jointly organised by EITB and RTVE.

Koldo Almandoz, who will attend the festival with two projects, will present ‘The Last Goodbye’ (Txintxua Films, Garabi Films), a black comedy about a funeral director who, faced with a succession of disasters — a new love, an ex-wife, alcohol and debt — begins to wonder what could possibly go wrong. Daniel Monzón will also be attending with ‘Pray For Us’ (Arcadia Motion Pictures, Noodles Production, Amalur Pictures), a story set in 1974 that follows a rebellious young woman whose family sends her to a convent-run reform school, where the friendship of other girls gives her the strength to survive a brutal regime.

The New Directors section will feature ‘This Solitude’ (Fuga de Cuerpos AIE, Balance Media Entertainment, Basajaun Filmak, La embajada), Javier Giner’s feature directorial debut. The film explores loneliness, precarity, exhaustion and the difficulties of starting over.

This year, Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, a space dedicated to presenting innovative work to audiences, will feature two Basque productions. The first is ‘Dust’ (Vitrine Films, Homegreen Films), the latest film by acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker Tsai Ming-Liang. It follows the Buddhist monk from his ‘Walker’ series on a contemplative journey through the landscapes of San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa. Also screening in the section is ‘Hamalau gau’ (Emak Bakia Films), by Oskar Alegria, a nocturnal journey through the world of Jorge Oteiza, with the Basilica of Arantzazu as its main setting, bringing together fourteen nights, fourteen mysteries and a frieze of images and sounds.

Perlak, the section bringing together a selection of the year’s outstanding films that have yet to be released in Spain and have been acclaimed by critics and/or recognised at international festivals, will also feature ‘Sucederá esta noche’ (Bteam Prods, Irusoin, Sacher Film Rome, Fandango Produzione, PAN Cinema), the latest feature by Nanni Moretti. The film tells the story of two people who meet, fall in love and, after seven years apart, find each other again.

Zinemira

Once again, the festival will dedicate a section to local talent with Zinemira, organised in partnership with the Basque Government’s Department of Culture, with the support of Irizar, EITB and Urbil, and in collaboration with Filmoteca Vasca, EPE-IBAIA and Zineuskadi. This year’s selection includes: ‘Lighting Up The Shadows’ (Berde), by Koldo Almandoz and Gorka Bilbao; ‘Septembers’ (IZAR Films, Ametza Films), by Izaskun Arandia; ‘Txakun Txakür’ (Limbus Filmak, Haruru Filmak, Solent Productions, Palette Terre), by Elsa Oliarj-Inès; ‘Un tal Karlos’ (Bainet Teknika), by Arantxa Aguirre; ‘Gatibu, Whitout Saying Goodbye’ (Pausoka), by Jabi Elortegi; ‘My Father Álex’ (Larrua Creaciones), by Alejandro Cortés Calahorra; ‘Daughters Of The Sea’ (Ladyred Producciones), by Gemma González Martínez; ‘Pedro Arrupe, I Survived The Atomic Bomb’ (New Servicing Media, New Servicing Media Euskadi), by Maite Ibañez; ‘Family Drill’ (La Córnea Digital, Grisak Films, Mubox Estudio), by Nitya López Saitua; ‘300 Oaks’ (Muga Productora Audiovisual), by Aitor Aranguren Ordoñez; ‘Winnipeg, Seeds of Hope’ (Dibulitoon Studio, El otro film, Malabar, La ballesta, Dibulitoon), by Elio Quiroga and Beñat Beitia; and ‘Inurri itsuak’ (LAZONA ZINEMA, Lamia Producciones, Buendia Estudios Bizkaia, Bruja del Norte Films, LAZONA Producciones, Sideral Cinema, Caviar Antwerp), by Igor Legarreta. Meanwhile, the Origen: Euskadi section will feature a screening of the medium-length film ‘Ondarea. 50 Years of New Basque Cuisine’ (Baleuko), directed by Ainhoa Alzibar and Beatriz Nieto.

The Made in Spain section will feature ‘Better Class’ (Sayaka Producciones, Buena Pinta Media, Think Studio, Colosé Producciones, Altas capacidades película), by Víctor García León, a comedy about a family facing, among other challenges, the fears and difficulties that arise when making decisions about their children’s education.

Meanwhile, the Velodrome will once again welcome audiences for three productions. The programme will include the premiere of the thirteenth season of ‘Go!azen’ (Pausoka), by Itziar Gómez and Aitor Osa; ‘Karateka’ (Señor y Señora, Atresmedia Cine, Apaches Entertainment, Colosé Producciones, Wrong Men), by Aritz Moreno; and ‘Muguruza FM 40 TOUR’ (Talka Records & Films), by Fermin Muguruza and Ander Merino Etxebeste.

The RTVE Gala will present José Corbacho’s latest film, ‘Burundanga’ (Kowalski Films, Minoría Absoluta, Feelgood Media), a feature-film adaptation of the stage play of the same name. The EITB Gala, meanwhile, will present ‘Blood Moon’ (EITB and Baleuko), by David R. Losada, a fantasy thriller about two childhood friends and the second chances that arise when one of them is given the opportunity to return to the past.

Finally, this year’s Klasikoak section will bring Ana Díez’s ‘Ander eta Yul’ back to the big screen.