“Taking part in Genre Rules has been a thrilling and immensely inspiring life experience”

Imanol Ortiz López (Orlok Films) recently participated in Genre Rules, one of the new Inspirational Labs by WEMW. It involves a series of activities designed to encourage selected participants to develop new content and explore innovative business models. The producer has shared insights into the significance of this selection and provided an assessment of the overall experience.

20,000 Species of Bees and To Bird Or Not To Bird, Award-Winning Basque Productions at the Goya ceremony

Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren's film was honored with three accolades, and Martin Romero's work, produced by Uniko, won the prize for Best Animated Short Film.

In February CIMASUB immerses Lasarte-Oria and Zarautz in an underwater show

This February, the International Underwater Film Series, CIMASUB, will captivate lovers of the underwater world in Lasarte-Oria and Zarautz. The 16th edition in Lasarte-Oria will take place on Monday 12th, 19th and 26th February at 19:00 at the Manuel Lekuona Cultural Centre, while the 14th edition in Zarautz will be held on Wednesday 14th, 19th and 28th February at 19:00 at the Modelo cinema.

‘20,000 Species of Bees’, ‘Upon Entry’ and ‘Foremost By Night, awarded Basque productions at the Feroz Awards

'20,000 Species of Bees' stood out as one of the main highlights at the Feroz Awards last night, securing a top accolade for Best Dramatic Film. Patricia López de Arnaiz was also recognized as Best Supporting Actress. Directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, the film was not the only Basque production to shine in the winners' list; 'Upon Entry' and 'Foremost By Night' also received awards.

'20,000 Species Of Bees' wins the Forqué Award for Best Film

The feature film '20,000 Species Of Bees' has won the Best Film Award at the Forqué Awards gala on the 16th of December. The debut film by director Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren was nominated in the top category alongside 'La sociedad de la nieve', ‘Cerrar los ojos’ and 'Upon Entry', and also received the Award for Cinema and Education in Values.

THE GREAT WHITE WHALE, winner of the Mendi Film Grand Prize, an inspiring story of mountaineers and sailors pursuing the dream of climbing Australia's highest and loneliest mountain

The Jury composed of filmmakers Eliza Kubarska (Poland) and Patricia Ayala (Colombia), journalist Michael Pause (Germany), and Basque composers Juantxo Zeberio Etxetxipia and Nerea Alberdi, awarded the prizes in this new edition of the Mendi Film.

17 World premieres at the 16th edition of the BBK Mendi Film Bilbao Bizkaia

The BBK Mendi Film Bilbao-Bizkaia film festival will be held in three cinemas in Bilbao: Sala BBK, the Golem cinemas of Azkuna Zentroa and the Euskalduna Palace. A total of 30 film sessions have been scheduled for the 16th edition. In the parallel activities, 3 exhibitions have been set up, a day will be held for the mountain film industry, 4 masterclasses, a conference, and a panel talk. Tickets for the sessions are available through www.mendifilmfestival.com

The Dock of the Bay Musical Documentary Film Festival will be held from June 3rd to 8th, 2024, and is now open for submissions to its official sections.

This year’s Mendi Tour has been a roadshow of record-breaking proportions: 14,000 spectators in 53 venues

The Mendi Tour 2023 circuit, has once again reached all of Spain, starting from the Basque Country. Mountain cinema sessions have been screened in 53 towns and cities -last year there were 46-, attracting 14,000 spectators and a 25% increase on last season's figure.

Films, exhibitions, conferences, the Jury... This is what the 16th Mendi Film will be like!

In the 16th edition of BBK Mendi Film Bilbao Bizkaia, 57 films will be screened and there will be 3 exhibitions, 4 conferences. Edurne Pasaban will be presented with The WOP Mendi Film award. The IAMF Grand Prize winner, "K2 Touching the sky" by Eliza Kubarska will be screened, a masterclass will be given by the photographer Yhabril and a conference on the mountain film industry will be celebrated.

Txikiziklo Submarino begins, an educational immersion in the sea

More than 2,500 pupils from Gipuzkoa took part in this educational tour in 2023 to promote ocean conservation.

Three stunning underwater photography exhibitions open in San Sebastian

A visual immersion into the mysterious seabed and the relationship between man and nature.

CIMASUB 2023 Festival. The underwater visual feast of San Sebastian is here. Presentation of the official trailer.

The 47th edition of the International Underwater Film Series provides a unique opportunity to explore the beauty and challenges of the oceans. Free underwater screenings, exhibitions and educational activities are coming to San Sebastian, organized by Subacuáticas Real Sociedad.

Basque Productions Awarded at SSIFF 71

The 71st edition of the San Sebastian Festival has featured a total of 14 Basque productions, two of which have been awarded. Congratulations!

"I have long thought that there was an untold story in Jon Mirande"

The Bilbao director Josu Martínez will present his second work in the Zinemira section of the San Sebastian Festival. ‘Mirande: film bat egiteko zirriborroa’, is a documentary coproduced by La Tentación Producciones and Gastibeltza about the controversial writer Jon Mirande, considered one of the most important poets in Basque literature of the 20th century. “Mirande is said to be a racist. A paedophile. A Nazi. A misogynist. Immoral. Every time he is mentioned, controversies flare up. We don't know what to do about him. I want to make a film about Mirande. But I don't know how. Perhaps the most interesting thing to do would be to let him have his say”. This is how Josu explains the work he will present at this Zinemaldia.

“‘Bizkarsoro’ is a grassroots project, created with the help of more than 200 residents of Baigorri"

The feature film 'Bizkarsoro,' directed by Josu Martínez, will also compete in the Zinemira section of the San Sebastián Festival. The story encompasses five true stories based on written and oral testimonies, which take place between 1914 and 1982, in a village that does not exist. Produced by Gastibeltza Filmak, Adabaki Ekoizpenak, and Tentazioa Produkzioak, the work highlights the social changes experienced by a small village during the 20th century. The radiation and the end of a language, and the fight to survive.

“Being able to participate in the Cannes Critics' Week was a huge accolade that put ‘Contadores’ in the spotlight and will help promote future projects”

‘Contadores’ is one of several Basque productions that will be on show at the 71st San Sebastian Film Festival. The short film directed by Irati Gorostidi had its world premiere at the Cannes Critics' Week and will compete in the Zabaltegi Tabakalera section of the Zinemaldia. Produced by Apellaniz & de Sosa, as well as Tractora and Pirenaika, the film is about a trade union negotiation in the 1970s and features a cast made up of amateur actors.

Call for entries for the 9th edition of the Bilbao Surf Film Festival 2024!

The highly anticipated Bilbao Surf Film Festival 2024 announces that entries to register films for its next edition are officially open. Filmmakers and surf lovers from around the world will be able to submit their masterpieces until December 15, 2023 free of charge.

“Despite the difficulties and being invisible, women have made films, are making films and will go on to make films, each with her own point of view”

'A Deep Breath’ is the work that will be presented by directors Bertha Gaztelumendi and Rosa Zufía at the Basque Cinema Gala. In the documentary, both directors dive into the films made by female Basque filmmakers of different generations. The film is to be screened today, 26 September, at the Victoria Eugenia Theatre and will compete for the Irizar Basque Film Award. As a sign of the understanding between the two, the directors have agreed to take part in a joint question-and-answer session.

"Although its aesthetics are dark and radical, 'Mission to Mars' appeals to everyone, as well as to human relationships, in particular that of three brothers"

'Mission to Mars' will be screened out of competition in the Zinemira section. Amat Vallmajor del Pozo's film participated in WIP Europe, was also screened at the Berlin Critics' Week and earned a mention at the Gijón Film Festival. The feature film, produced by Elias Querejeta Zine Eskola, Muxika Zinema and Vitrine Films, portrays a post-apocalyptic Basque Country, where two brothers set off on a mission. We spoke to the director about his participation in the San Sebastian Festival and the challenges he has set himself ahead of the film's theatrical release on 29 September.