The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival is back in hybrid form

https://film.list.co.uk/article/129641-the-edinburgh-spanish-film-festival-is-back-in-hybrid-form/

In-person and online screenings are planned when the event returns in October

A vibrant and varied programme promising something for everyone has been announced for the eighth edition of the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival, a popular event which returns in-person from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 October, with online access available from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 of the same month. A total of 21 Spanish-language features and eight short films will be showcased.

Marian A. Aréchaga, the festival’s director, explains more: ‘The last couple of years have been challenging for the film and cultural industry. We are delighted to be back at the cinemas and to make our festival a place to share experiences together. The festival shines a light on the best in Spanish cinema and TV and we are thrilled to feature bold and exciting works from a broad spectrum of talent.’

The festival opens in exuberant style on Friday 1 October with The Hive, the directorial debut of actress Mireia Gabilondo, a raucous and inebriated comedy focusing on a hen party that goes wrong. The ESFF is passionate about showcasing first-time filmmakers and other debuts include Karen (dir. María Pérez), Girlfriends (dir. Carol Rodríguez Colás), Goya winner Ane Is Missing (dir. David Pérez Sañudo), The Blameless (dir. Guillermo Benet), The Awakening Of The Ants (dir. Antonella Sudasassi), audio-visual project CartasVivas (dir. Nuria Capdevila) and Camila’s Awakening (dir. Rosario Jiménez-Gili). Theatrical adaptations are also a key theme this year, alongside The Hive, there’s Mariana Barassi’s Game Of Power and Bernabé Rico’s One Careful Owner.

Special tribute will be paid to Luis García Berlanga in his centenary, with a screening of his 1963 masterpiece The Executioner, followed by a roundtable highlighting the director’s importance and cultural legacy. Three highly acclaimed modern directors will be celebrated with screenings of David Trueba’s On This Side Of The World, Cesc Gay’s The People Upstairs and The Others director Alejandro Amenábar’s 2019 feature While At War.

A variety of award-winning directors and industry professionals – including David Trueba, Mariana Barassi, Carol Rodríguez and Bernabé Rico – will be on hand to discuss their work and the artform more widely, while academics such as Professor Nuria Capdevila, Professor Phillip Swanson and Professor Duncan Wheeler will be leading Q&As and discussions.

The festival’s schools programme returns with a special screening of Samuel Kish’s Berlinale award-winner The Wolves on Wednesday 6 October and one of Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning animation Klaus from Sergio Pablos on Thursday 7. A range of discounts and packages will be available to young people, including an online pack of four films aimed at young audiences available for £10.

Screenings will take place at a variety of venues across the country, including Edinburgh’s Filmhouse and the French Institute of Scotland, and the Belmont Picturehouse in Aberdeen. While this hybrid version of the festival, with follow-up online access (including an option to watch all the films for £30), allows the festival to significantly broaden its reach.

The full programme can be found here and for further information about the films featured visit edinburghspanishfilmfestival.com.