Autumn treats lie ahead with the second edition of the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival (ESFF) that will include 11 feature films, 5 documentaries, and 5 shorts.
ESFF Director Marian A. Aréchaga comments, “The main objective of this second edition is to support Spanish cinema, and to use this art form as an ideal means of spreading Spanish language and culture beyond our borders. We want to create a platform within the film industry where the ideas and skills of filmmakers from various countries can come together and be shared.”
Three recent Spanish feature films Patxi Amezcua‘s Séptimo, José Torregrosa’s La Vida Inesperada and David Trueba's Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados that have never before screened in Edinburgh will be screened this year. The documentaries Mapa and 25 años después de la muerte de Gil de Biedma and a gem recovered from the history of Spanish cinema from 1971, Mi querida señorita by Jaime de Arminan about sexual orientation, a taboo subject under Franco's regime, are also part of the exciting programme.
There is a special section dedicated to Basque and Galician cinema that includes the Basque films 80 Egunean and Loreak, both by Jon Garaño and José Mari Goenaga, and the Galician film by Alfonso Zarauza, Os Fenómenos . All three directors will attend their film screenings for a Q and A as well as being in attendance at screenings of their films, as will Luis Ordóñez, screenwriter Elvira Lindo and Tánia Balló whose documentary, Las Sinsombrero is the ESFF’s opening film.
Gastronomy returns as a theme with a special screening of the documentary from Cristina Jolonch Snacks, bocados de una Revolución, an in-depth study of Spain’s culinary past, present, and future through the country’s most celebrated chefs. This event will culminate in a discussion with Jolonch and a sampling of Spanish food and beverages.
Youth education is an important part of the festival’s mission, with screenings as well as hands-on activities. Juan José Campanella‘s Metegol and an animation workshop are specially suitable for children of 12 and under as well as for secondary school students, and a screening of Pepe Andreu and Rafa Molés’ 5 días para bailar will be followed by a contemporary dance workshop. A special screening of David Trueba’s Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados will serve as a preamble to a colloquium on music, presented by music educator, manager, and broadcaster Bruce Findlay.
Special events, colloquia, round-table discussions and presentations will round out this second edition of the festival, which is made possible by the support of the Spanish Consulate, the University of Edinburgh, the AECID, ICAA, and Creative Scotland
The closing night film Sidetracked will be followed by a party in the Traverse bar featuring a live show by Spanish music legends, pop duo Single. http://elefant.com/bands/single/biography
The Festival that is supported by the Spanish Consulate, the University of Edinburgh, the AECID, ICAA, and Creative Scotland, runs from 2-10 October 2015 at the Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road and the University of Edinburgh Lecture Theatre, 50 George Square.
Full Programme details at www.edinburghspanishfilmfestival.com