Thessaloniki Film Fest will focus on new spanish cinema

48TH INTERNATIONAL THESSALONIKI FILM FESTIVAL
November 16-25, 2007

The main homage of the 48th edition of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival will focus on New Spanish Cinema, showcasing films that have been produced from the period between 2003 and 2007.

“It is now the ideal time for the Thessaloniki Film Festival to present the new wave of Spanish filmmaking. This new generation of filmmakers represents the direct continuation of a long and weighty cinematic tradition that has translated into a booming and creative film industry in the 21st century”, notes Festival director Despina Mouzaki. “Through the work of directors such as Fernando León de Aranoa, Isabel Coixet and Álex de la Iglesia among many others, commercial narrative moviemaking in Spain has attained a successful balance with the clear auteur identity of its filmmakers. Film sales are on a constant climb from 2005, many new sales agents establish companies in order to support the demand of the industry and significant changes in government policy rush to the aid of Spain’s national cinema. It is a film industry at its most creative and most productive. The 48th TIFF will offer to its ever-curious audience the opportunity to experience its variety”, adds Despina Mouzaki.

With a total of 18 films to be shown at the 48th TIFF Tribute to New Spanish Cinema, one of which is a documentary, the fresh and innovative artistic powers-at-play of the Spanish film industry are represented through their diverse work. The Spanish filmmakers attending will not only present to and discuss their films with the audience, but will also conduct a series of open-to-the public Master Classes and Round Table discussions dealing with the cinema of Spain. Javier Bardem, one of the most esteemed actors of his generation and major force of the Spanish cinema, has been invited to attend the 48th TIFF to support the film Invisibiles, which he has produced. In addition, the Festival will produce a publication to accompany the tribute, which will be edited by the team of Cahiers du Cinema España, under the supervision of leading film critic Carlos F. Heredero. In the Festival’s commitment and effort to showcase a well-rounded image of the New Spanish Cinema, significant are the collaborations with Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Embassy in Greece, as well as Spain’s Ministry of Culture - ICAA (Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales).



THE FILMS OF THE TRIBUTE TO NEW SPANISH CINEMA


2003

TE DOY MIS OJOS, Iciar Bollain

2004

ASTRONAUTAS, Santi Amodeo
CRIMEN FERPECTO, Alex de la Iglesia

2005

LA VIDA SECRETA DE LAS PALABRAS, Isabel Coixet
LA DOBLE VIDA DEL FAQUIR, Esteve Riambau & Elisabet Cabeza
SUD EXPRESS, Chema de la Peña
EL TAXISTA FUL, Jo Sol
QUINCE DÍAS CONTIGO, Jesús Ponce
PRINCESAS, Fernando Leon de Aranoa

2006

DIES D'AGOST, Marc Recha
LO QUE SE DE LOLA, Javier Rebollo
HONOR DE CABALLERIA, Albert Serra
FICCIO, Cesc Gay

2007

INVISIBLES, Javier Corcuera, Fernando León de Aranoa, Wim Wenders, Isabel Coixet & Mariano Barroso
EL ORFANATO, Juan Antonio Bayona
LA SOLEDAD, Jaime Rosales
YO, Rafa Cortes
LA NOCHE DE LOS GIRASOLES, Jorge Sanchez Cabezudo