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Amy Arnold and Étienne Trépanier got to know the Basque culture on a trip to Newfoundland, Canada; a plan that led the couple to start a project about the Basque Country. “I am aware of national identities and, since I’m Québécois, I could relate to certain aspects of the Basque culture so we decided to start working on this,” Trépanier told EuskalKultura.com. Their website brings a new opportunity to discover online the homeland of the Basques, in English or French.

Ottawa, Canada. Trépanier and Arnold finished editing the documentary a year ago, but they wanted to present it in a comprehensive platform that would include extra footage and information. That’s how Discover the Basque Country was born last September. The multimedia portal offers a selection of short videos and explanations about topics ranging from contemporary and folk music to celebrations and sheepherding, and from bertsolaritza to popular festivals or even tips on traveling through Euskal Herria. But on top of everything, the site provides the possibility to watch the movie online.

The documentary introduces the public, through a nice family-style plan, to the most recognized Basque cities and to the best hidden paradises: from Aralar to Bayonne and Bilbao, and from Donostia-San Sebastian to Laguardia, after talking to some teachers at Ikastolas in Iparralde and before strolling thorugh the streets of old Iruña-Pamplona,during San Fermin.

“Now we are promoting the film and we would like to make presentations, showing the documentary and talking about it with the audience,” said the filmmaker. They are already in contact with Euskaldunak Quebec, who coproduced the film, and will start contacting other institutions such as NABO and Parc de L’aventure Basque en Amérique, as he said.

Trépanier and Arnold did not have any previous contact with the Basque culture but left Euskadi with a good impression. “Something we noticed was that whenever you knock on a door in the Basque Country it will open and you will be welcomed. We were always very warmly welcomed, I will never forget that.” And they actually knocked on very diverse people's doors, from renowned three Michelin stars chef Arzak or Grammy award winner musician Kepa Junkera to an anonymous fisherman Jokin or sheepherder Jon. Trépanier, who describes himself as a daytime lawyer and a night-time filmmaker, adds: “The Basque Country is a very appealing destination for North American people, a place with such a strong personality.”

The directors would like the diaspora to find the film useful and also people not of Basque descent to get to know this culture. That’s why he says they’re now thinking of making a book out of the texts and a CD with the soundtrack, comprised of Basque songs.

Visit their website here.