euskalkultura.eus

basque heritage worldwide

News rss

The Nantes Film Festival honors Alex de la Iglesia and Bernardo Atxaga in “The Basque Window”

03/13/2012

Scene from the film Bi anai by Imanol Rayo and based on the novel by Bernardo Atxaga
Scene from the film Bi anai by Imanol Rayo and based on the novel by Bernardo Atxaga

ADVERTISING

For another year the Nantes Film Festival will dedicate a large part of its program to Basque cinema as part of the cycle “La Fenêtre Basque” or the Basque Window. The 22nd edition of the festival will begin on Thursday and will run until the 25th of March. Director Alex de la Iglesia, from Bilbao, will be featured with a cycle dedicated to his work. In addition the “Bernardo Atxaga at the Movies” section has scheduled three films based on the novels of this Basque writer: Obaba by Montxo Armendariz, Bi anai by Imanol Rayo and Zeru Horiek by Aizpea Goenaga.

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).

 



« previous
next »

© 2014 - 2019 Basque Heritage Elkartea

Bera Bera 73
20009 Donostia / San Sebastián
Tel: (+34) 943 316170
Email: info@euskalkultura.eus

jaurlaritza gipuzkoa bizkaia