euskalkultura.eus

Nantes, France.  For the twenty-second year, the Spanish Film Festival of Nantes will provide a section to Basque cinema as part of the Basque Window.  This section is sponsored by the Basque Government and the Etxepare Basque Institute with the cooperation of the Euskadiko Filmategia-Filmoteca Vasca. 

Basque cinema will be represented by two distinguished individuals: director Alex de la Iglesia and writer Bernardo Atxaga.  The first will be honored with a tribute to his career with a cycle of his best pictures as well as the pre-premier of his latest work The Spark of Life.  De la Iglesia will be in Nantes to present his film which also opens the festival.

On the other hand, the cycle “Bernardo Atxaga at the Movies” will show three films inspired by the works of this Basque writer: Obaba by Montxo Armendariz, Bi anai by Imanol Rayo and Zeru Horiek by Aizpea Goenaga. 

Competitive sections

One of these films Bi anai will participate in one of the competitive sections at the festival for the Borau-Opera Prima Foundation award, along with another Basque novel: Urte berri on amona by Telmo Esnal.  In addition, Montxo Armendariz, from Navarre, will compete in the official section with Don’t be Afraid, while El ultimo paso, by Enara Goikoetxea and Iurre Telleria will fight for the Best Documentary Award.  

The Basque representation doesn’t end here, but also includes the documentary Bertsolari by Asier Altuna and Naufragio by Pedro Aguilera, along with two of the first pictures done entirely in Basque by pioneer Gotzon Elortza that were recently restored by the Basque Film Library.  Montxo Armendariz, Aizpea Goenaga, Telmo Esnal, Enara Goikoetxea, Iurre Telleria and Pedro Aguilera will all attend the festival.

Shorts by Kimuak

For another year, shorts will also be included in the Kimuak program.  Many will compete for the award for the Best Short: Lagun mina by Jose Mari Goenaga, Zeinek gehiago iraun by Gregorio Muro, Bucle by Aritz Moreno, She’s lost control by Haritz Moreno and  La media pena by Sergio Barrejón.

It is worth noting that Basque cinema garnered four of the six prizes at this festival in 2011. No controles by Borja Cobeaga (People’s Choice), Balada triste de trompeta by Alex de la Iglesia (Young Jury Prize), Debekatuta dago oroitzea by Josu Martinez and Txaber Larreategi (Prize for Best Documentary)  and 80 egunean (Borau – Opera Prima Foundation Prize).