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. ArĂ©chaga comments, âThe 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.â
Three recent Spanish feature films Patxi Amezcuaâs SĂ©ptimo, JosĂ© Torregrosaâs La Vida Inesperada and David Trueba's Vivir es fĂĄcil con los ojos cerrados that have never before screened in Edinburgh will be screened this year. The documentaries Mapa and 25 años despuĂ©s 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 JosĂ© Mari Goenaga, and the Galician film by Alfonso Zarauza, Os FenĂłmenos . 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 TĂĄnia BallĂł whose documentary, Las Sinsombrero is the ESFFâs opening film.
Gastronomy returns as a theme with a special screening of the documentary from Cristina Jolonch Snacks, bocados de una RevoluciĂłn, an in-depth study of Spainâs culinary past, present, and future through the countryâs 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 festivalâs mission, with screenings as well as hands-on activities. Juan JosĂ© Campanellaâs 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 MolĂ©sâ 5 dĂas para bailar will be followed by a contemporary dance workshop. A special screening of David Truebaâs Vivir es fĂĄcil 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