2023-08-01
Strong Presence of Basque Cinema at Prestigious Locarno Festival
The Locarno Festival, one of the main events for experimental and auteur cinema, will take place starting tomorrow, August 2nd, and will provide the perfect platform for the world premiere of the film 'Negu Hurbilak', which has been chosen to participate in the Cineasti del Presente section.
The Locarno Festival, one of the main events for experimental and auteur cinema, will take place starting tomorrow, August 2nd, and will provide the perfect platform for the world premiere of the film 'Negu Hurbilak', which has been chosen to participate in the Cineasti del Presente section.
This section offers a selection of first and second feature films, mainly world premieres, directed by emerging talents from all over the world. ‘Negu Hurbilak', directed by Ekain Albite, Adrià Roca, Nicolau Mallofré and Mikel Ibarguren and produced by Maluta films and Cornelius Films, tells the story of a young woman that escapes, urged on by the chase and wrapped in uncertainty. She doesn't know where she is, where she's going, or if she'II get where she wants to go. She has a clear objective: to cross the border, the "muga", because she knows that this could take her far from her home, where she is no longer safe. Starring Jone Laspiur, the film has participated in the Work In Progress sections of different festivals such as Atlántida, L'Alternativa, REC and FICX, where it has received several awards.
Also at the market
But Basque participation in the Swiss city will not end there, as the Locarno Residency market section, which aims to support the development of first feature films, will offer Irati Gorostidi's 'Anekumen' the opportunity to take part in this year's edition.
Produced by Apellaniz and De Sosa, it is a project that has already had a great run in different international markets. It is worth mentioning that in 2022 it participated in the Ikusmira Berriak programme, which takes place within the framework of the San Sebastian Festival. In addition, in 2023 the work has been selected to participate in the 'Co-production Forum' of Indie Lisboa, and has recently received the Culori Award from FIDLab.
The director, Irati Gorostidi, is one of the great promises of Basque cinema. This year she has already had the opportunity to premiere her short film 'Contadores' at Critics' Week and it has been selected for the Zabaltegi - Tabakalera section of SSIFF.
Set in San Sebastian in 1978, the film tells the story of the workers of a factory that are gathered in assembly to discuss a call for a strike that does not prosper. Disappointed, the most radical decide to leave the factory and join an isolated community in the mountains of Navarra.
