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Fifteen films to compete for the Kutxa-New Directors Award

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The 59th edition of San Sebastian Festival will present in the Zabaltegi-New Directors section titles from Iceland, Japan, Israel, Germany, South Korea, Chile, the USA, Austria and the UK, which join the three Spanish movies already announced: Ignacio Ferreras’ Arrugas (Wrinkles), Sandra Sánchez’ Tralas luces (Behind the Lights), and Telmo Esnal’s Urte berri on, amona! All will contend for the Kutxa-New Directors Award along with another three titles in the Official selection: Americano by Mathieu Demy (France), Rampart by Oren Moverman (USA) and Take This Waltz by Sarah Polley (Canada).


Á ANNAN VEG (EITHER WAY) is an Icelandic production directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson, a dramatic comedy on the peculiar friendship between two youngsters who spend their time painting roads that no-one seems to use. First work from director Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson, whose short film Skröltormar landed an award at the Columbia University Film Festival.

EMEK TIFERET (A BEAUTIFUL VALLEY) by Hadar Friedlich is an Israeli-French co-production reflecting on the passing of time through an old woman who watches the kibbutz that has always been her home transform into a completely different reality. Hadar Friedlich previously directed the shorts Ta’anit dibbur (1996), Anashim (1998) and Shiur Moledet: Avdei Hashem (2003).

ENDING NOTE (DEATH OF A JAPANESE SALESMAN) is a Japanese production directed by Mami Sunada. This heartrending documentary follows the last months in the life of the director’s father, based on the diary he left after having been diagnosed with incurable cancer. Mami Sunada worked with the director Hirokazu Kore-eda as a production assistant on Aruitemo, Aruitemo (Still Walking, 2008) and as an assistant director on Kûki ningyô (Air Doll, 2009).

HIUNG-THU (SCARS) is the second film from the South Korean LIM Woo-seong, a dedicated approach to the emotional sufferings of a woman with an unfaithful husband. LIM Woo-seong’s first work, Chaesikjuuija (Vegetarian, 2009), competed at the Sundance Festival.

The German production THE RIVER USED TO BE A MAN (DER FLUSS WAR EINST EIN MENSCH), directed by Jan Zabeil, tells the story of a young German man lost in Africa. With his short films L.H.O. (2007) and Was wei der Tropfen davon (2007), Jan Zabeil received several awards in national and international festivals. The River Used to Be a Man (Der Fluss war einst ein Mensch, 2011) is his feature debut.

SENTADOS FRENTE AL FUEGO (BY THE FIRE), by Alejandro Fernández Almendras, is a co-production between Chile and Germany. The movie narrates the moving love story between a man and a woman afflicted with a terminal illness. This film participated in the Films in Progress sections at San Sebastian Festival’s 58th edition in 2010 and at the Rencontres Cinéma d’Amérique in Toulouse in 2011 and was supported by the World Cinema Fund of the Berlin Festival and the Swiss Visions Sud Est fund. Alejandro Fernández Almendras’ first film, Huacho (2009), participated in the Critics’ Week at Cannes Festival and in Horizontes Latinos at the 57th edition of San Sebastian Festival before going on to enjoy presentation and land awards at various international festivals.

The North-American production SILVER TONGUES, helmed by Simon Arthur brings the disturbing tale of a couple involved in an obscure game of destruction with the people who cross their paths. Directorial debut by Simon Arthur, who had previously made a short on the same subject, Silver Tongues (2007), plus another entitled Rebel Song (2007).

STILLLEBEN (STILL LIFE) is an Austrian film directed by Sebastian Meise on the destruction about a family due to a disturbing observation of Bernhard, the son. His father approaches prostitutes he calls "Lydia". "Lydia" is also the name of Bernhard's sister. Previous shorts directed by Sebastian Meise are Prises de vues (2003), Random (2005) and Dämonen (2006).

WILD BILL, by Dexter Fletcher. The heartfelt comic tale of an ex convict out on parole who returns home to find himself landed with taking care of his teenage boys. WILD BILL is an independent British production and the directorial debut of Dexter Fletcher, an actor whose previous credits include The Elephant Man (1980), The Long Good Friday (1980), Revolution (1985), Caravaggio (1986), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Layer Cake (2004) and the TV series Band of Brothers (2001).

Thirteen films to compete in San Sebastian Festival's Horizontes Latinos section
The Mexican movie ''Miss Bala'' will open the section

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The Horizontes Latinos programme at the 59 edition of San Sebastian International Film Festival includes thirteen films from Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia. All will compete for the Horizontes Award.


ABRIR PUERTAS Y VENTANAS (BACK TO STAY) is the opera prima from the Argentinean director Milagros Mumenthaler, a subtle portrayal of the everyday lives of three sisters living in their grandmother’s house since her death. In 2000, Milagros Mumenthaler (Córdoba, 1977) filmed her first short, ¿Cuándo llega papá?, followed by El patio (2003), Cape Cod (2003) and Amancay (2005). She won the Pardo d'Oro at the Locarno Film Festival with this first feature, sponsored by the Cannes Festival’s Cinéfondation programme.

LAS ACACIAS by Pablo Giorgelli, a Spanish-Argentinean co-production, landed the Caméra d’Or (best opera prima) at the last Cannes Festival. The movie depicts the relationship between a truck driver and a woman and her baby, established on the long trip from Asunción to Buenos Aires. The woman and her baby have to travel in the truck’s cab, as part of the load. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Pablo Giorgelli, who started in film as an editor and had formerly directed the short El último sueño (1993).

ANÓNIMO (ANONYMOUS), is a Chilean production directed by Renato Pérez, revolving around a man with a dark past who strikes up a peculiar relationship with his landlady’s teenage daughter. The film is the first production from the Film School of the University for Development in Chile’s capital, Santiago, and opera prima from the young filmmaker Renato Pérez (Santiago de Chile, 1986).

ASALTO AL CINE (THE CINEMA HOLD UP) is a Mexican production directed by Iria Gómez Concheiro and winner of the CineCinéma Award as a participant in the Films in Progress section at the Rencontres Cinéma d’Amérique in Toulouse, followed by the Casa de América Award at the Films in Progress section corresponding to the 58th edition of the San Sebastian Festival; since then, it has competed at the Sundance Festival and landed the best Opera Prima award at Guadalajara Festival. This drama about four teenagers who decide to rob a cinema is the first feature from Iria Gómez Concheiro (Mexico City, 1979). Her previous work was the short Dime lo que sientes (2004), winner of the Ariel Award for Best Fiction Short Film.

BONSÁI is the second film from Chilean director Christian Jiménez, a tragic-comical love story between two youngsters amid books, literary quotes, coming-togethers and fall-outs. With this film, Christian Jiménez (Valdivia, 1975) won the Films in Progress Award at the Rencontres Cinéma d’Amérique in Toulouse and participated in the “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes Festival. His first feature, Ilusiones ópticas (Optical Illusions, 2008), was selected for Films in Progress at the Rencontres Cinéma d’Amérique in Toulouse and San Sebastian in 2008 and for the Horizontes Latinos section of the San Sebastian Festival in 2009.

ENTRE LA NOCHE Y EL DÍA (BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY), a Mexican production directed by Bernardo Arellano, tells the story of a solitary man with autism fleeing from domestic abuse and finding a haven in the midst of nature. This film won the Industry Award at the Films in Progress section of San Sebastian Festival’s 58th edition, going on to compete at the Guadalajara Film Festival and won the Award to the Best Opera Prima at the Guanajuato International Film Festival. Bernardo Arellano (Mexico City, 1981) had previously directed the movie La unión (2008) and the short film Zoogocho (2008).

HISTORIAS QUE SÓ EXISTEM QUANDO LEMBRADAS is a Brazilian film directed by Julia Murat about a young man as he attempts to unravel the mysteries of a ghost town inhabited by people who live a life tied to never-ending routines. The film participated in the Films in Progress section of the Rencontres Cinéma d’Amérique in Toulouse, where it landed a special mention and the Cine+ award. It will also participate in the “Giornate degli autori / Venice Days” section of the coming Venice Festival and in the Toronto Festival's Discovery section. This is the first feature from Julia Murat, who had already directed the short film Pendular (2009) and the documentary Dia dos pais (2008).

The Spanish-Brazilian co-production GIRIMUNHO, directed by Helvecio Marins Jr. and Clarissa Campolina tells the tale of an old widowed lady who has to deal with life in a small village with the sole company of her granddaughter. The movie will participate in the “Orizzonti” section of the coming Venice Festival. Clarissa Campolina had previously directed the documentary Notas flanantes (2009), while Helvecio Marins Jr had made the short Nascente (2005) and an episode of the collective film Dessassosego (Filme das Maravilhas, 2010).

MISS BALA, a Mexican production directed by Gerardo Naranjo, competed in the “Un Certain Regard” section at the last Cannes Festival. The film narrates the story of an aspiring queen at a beauty contest set upon by warring criminal gangs. Gerardo Naranjo (Mexico City, 1971) formerly directed the films Malachance (2004), Drama/Mex (2006) and Voy a explotar (2008), winner of the FIPRESCI critics’ award at Thessaloniki Festival and three prizes at Guadalajara Festival.

PESCADOR is the fourth movie from the Ecuadorian filmmaker Sebastián Cordero, about a fisherman turned impromptu drug dealer when he stumbles by chance on a load of cocaine. Sebastián Cordero (Quito, 1972) has participated in several international festivals including Venice and Cannes with his previous films: Ratas, ratones, rateros (1999), Crónicas (Scoops, 2004), an entrant in the Horizontes Latinos section at San Sebastian Festival where it landed a Special Jury Mention, and Rabia (Rage, 2009), winner of numerous awards at festivals including Tokyo, Guadalajara and Malaga. Sebastián Cordero chaired the Horizontes Award Jury at the 58th edition of San Sebastian Festival.

The co-production PORFIRIO, directed by the Colombian-Ecuadorian Alejandro Landes, was successfully presented at the last Cannes Festival Directors’ Fortnight. Taking reality as its base and in poetic key, the film tells the tale of a man handicapped during the Colombian conflict who decides to take the law into his own hands using rather unconventional methods, his last resort in dealing with a deaf, bureaucratic State that refuses to support him. Director Alejandro Landes debuted with the film Cocalero (2007), premiered at the Sundance Festival.

TODOS TUS MUERTOS (ALL YOUR DEAD ONES) is a Columbian production from Carlos Moreno which participated in the Films in Progress section at the 58th edition of San Sebastian Festival. It later competed at the Sundance and Rotterdam festivals. The movie narrates the ups and downs of a farmer who finds a pile of dead bodies on his land. Carlos Moreno already made his mark with his first movie Perro come perro (Dog Eat Dog), which competed at the Sundance Festival and landed awards at the Guadalajara and Huelva festivals, in addition to participating in the Horizontes Latinos section at the 56th edition of San Sebastian Festival.

ULISES (ULYSSES) is a Chilean-Argentinean co-production focusing on the misadventures of a Peruvian immigrant in Chile. It is the first movie by the director Óscar Godoy and had its world premiere in the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Fifteen spanish films selected for the San Sebastian International Film Festival's 'Made in Spain' section

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The 59th edition of San Sebastian Festival will present the year’s big Spanish productions in its Made in Spain section.


EL ABRAZO DE LOS PECES (THE EMBRACE OF THE FISHES), Chema Rodríguez
A documentary in which director Chema Rodríguez describes how his 18 year-old daughter - deaf-blind from birth - finds her place in society and the problems she faces every day.

ÁGUILA ROJA, LA PELÍCULA (RED EAGLE, THE MOVIE) José Ramón Ayerra
The adventures of heroic Gonzalo Montalvo hit the movie screens following his TV success. The popular cast of the series, headlining David Janer, Javier Gutiérrez, Inma Cuesta, Francis Lorenzo and Myriam Gallego, is joined on the big screen by Martina Klein.

BALADA TRISTE DE TROMPETA (THE LAST CIRCUS), Álex de la Iglesia
Álex de la Iglesia narrates the tragicomical misfortunes of a clown who made the unfortunate mistake of setting his sights too high: he fell in love with the trapeze artist. Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre and Carolina Bang star in this movie, winner of the Best Directing and Screenplay Awards at Venice Festival plus 15 Goya nominations.

BLACKTHORN, Mateo Gil
Director Mateo Gil travels to the Bolivian plains to track the adventures of one of the last Wild West outlaws: Butch Cassidy. Eduardo Noriega and Sam Shephard head the cast of this heartfelt homage to the western presented at the Tribeca and Las Palmas Festivals.

CATALUNYA ÜBER ALLES!, Ramón Térmens
Director Ramón Térmens brings us a harsh, precise portrayal of today’s Catalonia with three parallel stories starring a businessman, an ex-convict and an immigrant. The film bagged the Special Jury Prize and Youth Jury Prize at Malaga Festival.

FINISTERRAE (FINISTERRAE), Sergio Caballero
One of the least easily classified and most surprising works to have come out of Spanish film in recent years: two ghosts experience myriad eccentric adventures on the Way of St. James. Helmed by Sergio Caballero, co-director of Barcelona’s Sonar Festival, the film landed the Tiger Award at Rotterdam Festival.

David Seymour
© Courtesy of International Center for Photography, David Seymour Estate and Magnum Photos.
LA MALETA MEXICANA (THE MEXICAN SUITCASE), Trisha Ziff
Documentary on the 4,500 negatives taken by prestigious photographers Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David “Chim” Seymour during the Spanish Civil War; negatives given up for lost during the war and found in a Mexico City apartment 70 years later. It was screened at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.

LA MITAD DE ÓSCAR (HALF OF OSCAR), Manuel Martín Cuenca
Two brothers unite for their grandfather’s death after years of separation. Manuel Martín Cuenca soberly directs this tale of complex human relations starring Antonio de la Torre, Verónica Echegui and Rodrigo Sáenz de Heredia.

EL MUNDO QUE FUE Y EL QUE ES (THE WORLD THAT WAS AND THAT IS), Pablo Llorca
Pablo Llorca’s new movie chronicles the harsh life of Communist Party activists in the post-war period who were constantly hounded and forced to remain underground. Winner of the Best Actor Award (Pedro Casablanc) at the Las Palmas Film Festival.

NO CONTROLES (LOVE STORMING), Borja Cobeaga
Sergio (Únax Ugalde) still can’t get his head round the idea that he’s been left by his girlfriend. That’s why, when they’re stranded in an airport hotel on New Year’s Eve, he puts his all into winning her back with the aid of his outlandish friends. Returning after Pagafantas, Borja Cobega confirms his talent for romantic comedy.

NO TENGAS MIEDO (DON’T BE AFRAID), Montxo Armendáriz
Montxo Armendáriz looks meticulously and delicately at the subject of child abuse through the tale of a young girl still suffering from the trauma of having been abused by her father when she was only a child. Selected for the Official Selection of the Karlovy Vary Festival.

PRIMOS (COUSINHOOD), Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
This film from Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, his 13th, brings us a tale of reunion between three old friends who return to the place where they’d spend their summers as kids. A comedy starring Quim Gutiérrez, Raúl Arevalo, Antonio de la Torre and Inma Cuesta.

¿QUIÉN FUE PILAR MIRÓ?, Diego Galán
Filmmaker Pilar Miró was an essential figure in Spanish film and a character as controversial as she was charming. This documentary takes a closer look at her personality through her confessions and the testimonies of those who knew her best.

TODAS LAS CANCIONES HABLAN DE MÍ (EVERY SONG IS ABOUT ME), Jonás Trueba
Like a hero from one of François Truffaut’s films relocated to modern times, Ramiro (Oriol Vila) wanders the streets of Madrid reflecting on love and trying to understand why his girlfriend has left him. This first work from Jonás Trueba, the youngest in the saga, participated in the Gijon Film Festival and bagged two Goya Award nominations (Best New Director and Best New Actor).

TORRENTE 4, Santiago Segura
Torrente’s beer-belly and dandruff never looked so good as they do in this new 3D adventure, Spain’s biggest box-office smash of the year. Santiago Segura brings the people’s hero back to life amid an oddball cast featuring Spanish national TV’s crème de la crème.

là c'est à priori complet, et franchement sur le papier une édition très solide...

affiche des plus séduisantes. J'avoue être tenté.

Normal : elle bosse depuis plus de vingt ans en Allemagne sur des films quasi tous inédits en France.
Mais avant, quelques Rohmer et Godard à son actif.