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Two feature-length films will be shown in the coming days at the “Toulouse Spanish Film Festival,” in France.  On the one hand, Jai Alai Blues, a passionate documentary about the history of the frontons and Jai Alai in America; and on the other, a classic Basque film Amalur (1968), directed by sculptor, Nestor Basterretea and Fernando Larruquert.  There will also be a selection of Basque shorts at the festival that runs from this Friday through October 9th.   

Toulouse, France.  This Friday the 21st Toulouse Spanish Film Festival begins.  The festival will include nearly 100 films through October 9.  One of the themes of this year’s festival is dedicated to Basque film and is entitled “Regard sur le cinéma basque” (A look at Basque Film).

In this setion there will be two full-length films presented along with a selection of shorts with Kimuak.  On October 2, Amalur (Mother Earth) will be shown at the Cinemateca, directed by Fernando Larruquert and Nestor Basterretxea.  This film is a classic, since it was the first film to ever be produced and directed in the Basque Country after the Civil War.  “It is a lyric ode that includes a strong political claim during the hardest years of the Franco regime.”

Next, on October 3, a selection of shorts from the Kimuak Program will be shown including: Ámár by Isabel Herguera, Artalde by Asier Altuna, Daisy Cutter by Enrique García and Rubén Salazar, Democracia by Borja Cobeaga, La gran carrera by Kote Camacho, La media pena by Sergio Barrejón, Minerita by Raúl de la Fuente, Monsters do not Exist by Paul Urkijo, Voice Over by Martín Rosete and Zeinek gehiago iraun by Gregorio Muro. 

On Tuesday, October 4, the screens at the Cinemateca in Toulouse will show Jai Alai Blues, a documentary directed by Gorka Bilbao Ramos, that tells the story of the frontons in America and Jai Alai, a sport that experienced palpable success and which today is fighting to survive.

Finally, on Friday, October 7, there will be another session of Basque shorts by Kimuak, but this time at the Cervantes Institute.

More information is available on the festival’s website.