‘It can be very revealing for younger people to discover the story of Lolo, a woman who is more from this era than the one she lived in’

On the 40th anniversary of ‘La bola de cristal’, the iconic television programme that marked an entire generation, the San Sebastian Festival becomes the perfect setting for the premiere of ‘Los poderes de Lolo’. Nino Fontán, Miguel Alba Rico and Itziar Bernaola are the directors of this moving documentary, and we had the opportunity to talk about the significance of bringing this project to the Zinemaldia, its creative process, and the relevance of keeping the legacy of a woman who revolutionised Spanish television alive.

Autumm season of the MENDI TOUR 2024: Monzón, Bergara and Urnieta first stops

The MENDI TOUR will start on the 6th of September, in the city of Monzón, Huesca, the second part of the year, which leads us into autumn

‘Entering the Zinemira section is an enormous achievement, taking into account the weight and influence that Zinemira has on Basque cinema’

‘From Eight To Infinity’ is a film that follows the life of filmmaker Benito Ansola, with writer Miren Agur Meabe as his travelling companion, as well as the history of Basque cinema and cinema in the Basque language. We talked to the director, Naia Laka, about this documentary that will form part of the Zinemira section of the 72nd edition of the San Sebastian Festival.

‘It was an aspiration for us to premiere at the Zinemaldia and it is clear that this means that the selection committee has rated the film very highly’.

‘Replika', a documentary selected for the Zinemira section of the San Sebastian Festival, is a very personal project that reflects on the importance of images and how they allow us to preserve and relive memories. Pello Gutiérrez, scriptwriter and director, explains what inspired the creation of this work.

The Cimasub Tour 23/24 continues: In September we arrive in Hernani and Pasaia

This September, CIMASUB (International Underwater Film Festival) will bring to Hernani and Pasaia an impressive selection of films and photographic exhibitions dedicated to the underwater world. The first edition of the festival in Hernani and the third in Pasaia promise to be a visual and educational journey into the depths of our oceans, with a strong message of conservation and environmental protection.

“Of all the films that have been screened so far, this one must be the most emotional”

40 years after its premiere at the San Sebastian Festival, the feature film ‘Tasio’ (Montxo Armendáriz, 1984), restored by the Basque Film Library, will open the Klasikoak section of the San Sebastian Festival. Joxean Fernández, director of the Basque Film Library, talks about the process involved in restoring the film.

"Participating in the Nest section of the festival provides a boost to believe in and continue trusting the way one conceives cinema"

Nest, the international short film competition for film students at the San Sebastian Film Festival, will feature the screening of ‘The Third Landscape’ by Julen Etxebarria. In this work, produced by Elias Querejeta Zine Eskola, the director will show us how the fungus Microsphaerella dearnessi, which affects the Insignis pine variety, has expanded across the landscape of the Basque Country even infecting the painted forest of Oma, the artwork of the Basque artist Agustin Ibarrola.

20 Basque productions will feature in the line-up for the 72nd edition of the San Sebastian Festival

The San Sebastian Festival, taking place from the 20th to the 28th of September, will be a showcase for Basque cinema, with 20 productions included in the programme. This international event reinforces the fundamental contribution of the Basque audiovisual sector to the film industry.

Presentation of the Official Poster for Cimasub 2024: A whirlwind of underwater life in San Sebastian

San Sebastian is preparing to host the 48th edition of the International Underwater Film Festival, Cimasub 2024, to be held on 21, 22 and 23 November. On this occasion, the official poster for the event features a stunning image captured by the winner of the Golden Banister for Best Photographer at the 2023 edition, Merche Llobera.

Two outstanding underwater film events in August: Bakio and Aquarium San Sebastián

This August, film and ocean lovers have an unmissable date with two events that celebrate the beauty and challenges of the world's seas: the open-air Underwater Cinema in Bakio and the CIMASUB screening at the Itsas Film Festibala at the Aquarium of San Sebastian.

Great success of Cimasub in its first edition in Tenerife

After being open for the whole month of July, the photographic exhibition in the Los Lavaderos hall has come to an end. This exhibition presented 24 impressive images of the Canary Islands and other paradises of the world, captured by photographers from all over the world, including some of the best Canarian photographers. With this, all Cimasub activities in Tenerife have come to an end.

CIMASUB and IUCN SSC Coral Specialist Group partner to boost coral conservation

We are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership between CIMASUB and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our efforts to promote marine conservation and protect coral ecosystems, and we are incredibly excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.

Underwater cinema on board the Mater throughout July as part of the Zero Zabor Uretan campaign

The Zero Zabor Uretan (Zero Garbage in the Water) campaign comes to the Basque Coast in July aboard the Ecoactive Museum Ship Mater. This initiative, now in its fifth edition, aims to raise awareness of the problem of marine litter and promote waste prevention under the slogan "The best waste, the waste that is not generated". Various activities will be carried out to involve citizens in the conservation of the marine environment, highlighting the importance of waste reduction, as 80% of marine litter comes from waste management on land and lack of awareness.

The MENDI FILM BEKA 2025 grant open to amateur and professional filmmakers

Mendi Film and the Biscay Provincial Government announce the 5th edition of the Mendi Film Beka grant, aimed at the creation of documentary film projects whose aim is the audiovisual promotion of Mountain Culture.

REGISTRATIONS OPEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE XVI EXPRESS FILM FESTIVAL OF PORTUGALETE

The Express Film Festival is not an ordinary contest, it is an event where all the short films submitted to the competition are shot on the same day of the festival, in an "express" way. In just 10 hours, and with their own equipment, the participants have to devise, script, shoot and edit the works: quite a challenge!

CIMASUB participates in charity event in Pamplona in support of ALS sufferers

The group “Casino Solidario” has invited Subacuáticas Real Sociedad and Cimasub to participate in a charity event in support of ALS, to be held at the Casino of Pamplona.

DEADLINE FOR WORK IN PROGRESS PROJECT SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED

The 17th of June is the last day to register the proyects

Renan Ozturk awarded with the 2024 IAMF Grand Prize

The International Alliance for Mountain Film is proud to announce that the IAMF 2024 Grand Prize has been awarded to Renan Ozturk, in recognition of his career as a director of movies dedicated to mountains and climbers, realised with the competence of those who are part of the mountaineering community and the sensitivity of an artist, combined with great cinematography skills.

9,600 viewers have enjoyed the best mountain cinema with the MENDI TOUR 2024

The touring exhibition of the BBK Mendi Film Bilbao Bizkaia mountain film festival has just culminated the first part of the 2024 season with very good attendance data: 9,600 people have enjoyed the 59 film sessions programmed in different 31 locations.

In June, CIMASUB visits Tolosa, Bilbao and Tenerife

The Cimasub Tour 2023/2024 continues unstoppable and this month arrives, in different formats, in Tolosa, Bilbao and Tenerife to continue with its objective of spreading the secrets of the seabed and raising awareness of the care and protection of these.