Two of the most important events on the international film scene will kick off tomorrow: the Cannes Film Festival and its industry section, Marché de Film. On this occasion, the famous market, which will be held until May 24, will once again have Basque representation in different sections, as well as the presence of Basque professionals who will come to enjoy this important event.

 

On the one hand, the Sitges Film Festival has selected the project 'La ermita', directed by Carlota Pereda and produced by Bixagu Entertainment, to participate in the Fantastic 7 section. This is a section where seven prestigious festivals from around the world select each one a project to be presented to investors, producers, distributors and international sales agents. In addition, the market has selected the Bilbao filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia as the sponsor of this edition.

 

On the other hand, ZINEBI will present four feature-length documentary projects at Cannes Docs, and among the selected works we find 'Itoiz_Udako Sesioak', directed by Larraitz Zuazo and produced by Doxa Producciones. It is a documentary that tries to compile all the material traces of the historical band formed by five young people from Mutriko and Ondarroa.

 

Moreover, Basque animation, which is booming in recent years, will also be represented at Marché du Film, where we will have two participants in the 2cool4school section. This section, that gives visibility to the graduation works of the youngest talents from around the world, has selected 'Conej Steps Out', by Pablo Río (DigiPen Institute of Technology Bilbao), and 'Corpúsculos', by Laura Ibañez López (Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola). In addition, in the ‘Revelation. New Spanish Animation Short Films’ section will feature one of the upcoming productions of the Bilbao-based company Uniko, 'To Bird Or Not To Bird', by Martín Romero.

 

With the help of ICEX, and taking into account that this year Spain is the Guest of Honor of the festival, Basque. Audiovisual. will once again have a stand to offer information on the Basque works in development that are attending the event. For this purpose, there will be a digital catalogue available, as well as a short video that will be shown at the stand itself and that includes fragments of the works present at the event. The professionals attending the market will be able to learn about the following projects: 'All The Roads Are Open', by Iratxe Fresneda (Pimpi & Nella Films); 'Caro Bastiano', by María Elorza (Txintxua Films); 'In A Nearby Field', by Laida Lertxundi and Ren Ebel (Doxa Producciones); 'Karmele', by Asier Altuna Iza (Gastibeltza Filmak and Txintxua Films); 'Spiked Bracelet', by Xabier Iriondo (Txintxua Films); 'Tetuán', by Iratxe Fresneda (Marmoka Films, Pimpi & Nella and Arena Comunicación); 'The Last Goodbye', by Koldo Almandoz (Txintxua Films); 'Tuning Silences', by Patxi del Campo (Maluta Films and Arteman - Komunikazioaren Artisauak); 'Whalemen (At The Ends Of The Earth)', by Baltasar Kormákur (Euskadi Movier AIE); 'White Roses, Fall!', by Albertina Carri (Doxa Producciones) and 'Yerma', by Lara Izagirre (Gariza Films).

 

In addition, on Thursday 18th, at the Palais Stage and within the Fantastic Pavilion Conference, Basque professionals will give the talk 'Basque Country - The Land of the Fantastic'. Josemi Beltrán, head of the Film Unit of the San Sebastian City Council; Iñaki Gómez, producer at Irusoin; the directors Carlota Pereda and Paul Urkijo, who has directed films such as 'Irati' or 'Errementari', will discuss the state of the Basque Country's film industry in a roundtable moderated by Mónica García Massagué, director of the Sitges Foundation.

 

Also at the Critics' Week

 

The Cannes Critics' Week is separe event from the Cannes Film Festival that offers a selection of short films and first or second feature films by new and promising talents with the aim of showing audiences and critics their work. Last year it was presented 'Cuerdas', the successful short film by Estíbaliz Urresola Solaguren, and this time the organization has selected 'Contadores' (Apellaniz y de Sosa, Tractora y Pirenaika), by Irati Gorostidi, which will have its world premiere there. This work by the Navarre filmmaker is about a union negotiation in the 70's and has a casting made up of non-professional actors.