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.

"Upon Entry, being a film d'auteur, was aimed more at prestige audiences than the mainstream, but we succeeded in bringing it closer to being a thriller"

After winning the FIPRESCI Prize in Tallinn (Estonia) and the Best Film Award at the Kolkata Film Festival (India), 'Upon Entry', the debut feature film by Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez, will feature in the Made in Spain section of the San Sebastian Festival. Carlos Juarez, from Basque Films (one of the producers of the film together with Zabriskie Films and Sygnatia), assesses the background behind this film.

The San Sebastian Film Festival will be represented by a total of 14 Basque productions at its 71st edition

A key event on the international film scene kicks off on 22 September, the 71st edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival, which will fill the city with cinema until 30 September. In addition, the event will have a considerable Basque presence, as it has selected a total of 14 works that show the excellent state of audiovisual production in the Basque Country.

Basque director Victor Iriarte's 'Foremost by Night' will make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Tomorrow, 30 August, the Venice International Film Festival, one of the world's most prestigious film festivals, will begin. Basque director Víctor Iriarte will present his debut film 'Foremost by Night'.

“The ultimate goal of filmmaking is to share a film in the cinema, and it means a lot for it to happen in a prestigious section like Giornate”

Víctor Iriarte will debut his film ‘Foremost By Night’ at Venice International Film Festival, which begins on 30 August. In this interview, the director tells us how he is approaching this prestigious event.

‘Negu Hurbilak’ receives Special Mention from the Jury of Cineasti del Presente section at Locarno Film Festival

The film, directed by Ekain Albite, Adrià Roca, Nicolau Mallofré and Mikel Ibarguren and produced by Maluta films and Cornelius Films, has celebrated its world premiere in the Swiss city and competed with 13 other films by emerging filmmakers presenting their first or second feature-length films.

Strong Presence of Basque Cinema at Prestigious Locarno Festival

The Locarno Festival, one of the main events for experimental and auteur cinema, will take place starting tomorrow, August 2nd, and will provide the perfect platform for the world premiere of the film 'Negu Hurbilak', which has been chosen to participate in the Cineasti del Presente section.

‘Anekumen’, selected to participate in Locarno Residency

Three Basque productions competing at the San Sebastian Festival

‘Negu hurbilak’ will have its premiere at Locarno’s Cineasti del Presente competitive section!

“Being at Locarno is a utopian dream come true”

The MENDI TOUR is on par with the best data with 10800 spectators in the first half of the season

Spectacular data and great atmosphere in the Mendi Tour circuit in 2023. In the winter-spring season, during the first half of the year, it has had 34 venues, with a total of 64 film sessions, and 10,800 spectators.