From March 10 to 19, the Málaga Film Festival, one of the main showcases for the Ibero-American cinema, will become an important platform for many Basque productions. This time, the different sections of the Andalusian festival and its industry zone MAFIZ have selected a total of 21 works created by Basque filmmakers and producers. It should be pointed out that among the many works present in the Andalusian city, a total of 14 have been directed by female filmmakers.

Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren’s ’20.000 Species of Bees’ will be at the Official Selection. The film will make its debut at the state level, after its World Premiere at the Berlinale Competition. Sofia Otero won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the German festival and the film received a warm welcome from both the critics and the public. Other works that will compete for the Golden Biznaga are ‘Upon Entry’ by Alejandro Rojas y Juan Sebastián Vásquez, a drama and a psychological thriller that premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival; ‘Not Such an Easy Life’ by Félix Viscarret which tells the story of a father who struggles with his adult life while navigating through his children’s upbringing; and ‘In the Company of Women’ by Silvia Munt, the story of a 16-year-old girl who throws herself into the fight for making feminism visible in the ‘70s.

Also, at the Short Films Official Selection Leire Apellaniz’s ‘La concha’ will be shown. It is the first fictional short film shot in the Basque Country that has obtained the Albert Sustainable Production Certification and it tells the journey of a young mothers who fights to maintain her happiness and dignity while everything around her starts to crumble. There will also be screenings of ‘Hormak’ by Mikel Uralde, which took part at the last ZINEBI edition; and ‘Chords’ by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, which was nominated for Best Spanish Fiction Short Film at the Goya Awards and has received other important prizes worldwide. Additionaly, ‘The Puppet’ by Sonia Estévez will be presented at the Animazine Official Selection, a short film that explores social issues related to women’s bodies, equality and gender.

In the Cinema Cocina section there will be a screening of Beñat Gereka’s ‘Itsasoak pizten gaitu’. This documentary analyses coastal town Getaria’s relationship with the sea. The Supporting Women’s Rights section will also count with Basque representation, there will be an opportunity to watch Alejandra Bueno de Santiago’s latest work ‘Ezohikoak’ a reflective and empowering story, a work to legitimise women, mothers and diverse and imperfect families. Finally, Cineforum will be the home for Ana Murugarren’s ‘El hotel de los líos. García García 2’. It is the sequel for ‘García y García’ and it tells the new adventures of the two Javier García.

MAFIZ, the Málaga Festival Industry Zone, will also count with a strong Basque presence. Among the films that will be presented at the Spanish Screenings Regional Hub section we have ‘Cabeza y corazón’ by Ainhoa Andraka y Zuri Goikoetxea, a work that follows the Spain women’s national wheelchair basketball team during the Olympic qualifying; and ‘Tetuán’ by Iratxe Fresneda which premiered jointly at the Gijón International Film Festival and ZINEBI.

At Neo Screenings there are two other Basque works: Alberto Gastesi’s first feature-length ‘Stillness in the Storm’ which tells the story of two lovers whose lives could have taken very different ways in other circumstances; and ‘My Way Out’ a documentary by Izaskun Arandia about the The WayOut Club, a transgender nightclub in London. Also, ‘Tears’ by Sonia Estévez will be presented at the Málaga Short Corner. In this work, the artist from Vitoria defends crying, casting serious doubts about the negative vision that it is usually associated to.

Spanish Screenings and, in particular, the Animation Day WIP will be the place to know more about the new project by San Sebastian director Isabel Herguera, which is currently in development. It is called ‘Sultana’s Dream’ and it will arrive at Málaga after having participated and being recognised at many international WIPs. Also, at the Animation Day Market Screening there will be a chance to watch Nuno Beato’s ‘My Grandfather’s Demons’ which was nominated for the Best Animated Feature at the Goya Awards. 

The Next From Spain section will count with Nagore Eceiza’s latest work ‘If You Wish To Make An Apple Pie’ which was part of the Lau Haizetara Documentary Film Co-Production Forum at last year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival; and the gender-themed road trip ‘Caigan las rosas blancas’ by Albertina Carri. Finally, Víctor Iriarte will take part at the Málaga Work In Progress Spain section with ‘Sobre todo de noche’ a project that tells two women’s encounter on the shores of the Duero river.

As usual, the Basque. Audiovisual. firm will once again be present at the market with a stand in which it will provide information about the latest news on the Basque audiovisual sector. Also, as in every festival that the firm attends, a new online version of the catalogue will be presented and it will also be available on the website www.basqueaudiovisual.eus.