EZAE, the association of cinemas in the Basque Country, will sponsor the Youth Award at this year’s San Sebastian Festival. The decision stems from the association’s commitment to cinematic culture and to the entire film industry. And, above all, from the conviction that far greater effort must be made to find formulas which permit the younger population to frequent cinemas, the perfect setting to enjoy any audiovisual production.

Films in the New Directors section and those in the Horizontes Latinos section which are the first or second work by their director will compete for this award, decided by a Jury of 230 young students aged 18 to 25.

Sponsorship of the Youth Award will continue beyond the San Sebastian Festival proper. EZAE will take advantage of the boost lent by the Festival to the most highly valued films in the section to screen them at special showings in the cinemas associated o EZAE, and at lower prices, in order to promote their viewing among young people. The screenings will be accompanied by a guided debate giving a deeper look at the values of the film.

EZAE considers that its backing of the San Sebastian Festival, which largely develops on the screens of the association, is a magnificent opportunity to encourage young people to frequent cinemas, and to increase the culture of film in the Basque Country.
 

BIRTH OF EZAE

The EZAE association was born only a few months ago to promote, communicate and spread the culture of film, and to foster the revitalisation and maintenance of privately managed cinemas. Its partners, with a long professional background, play a leading role in the Basque cultural scene and contribute to sustaining creation and cinematic cultural diversity.

In parallel fashion, EZAE seeks to integrate the activities and installations of these cinemas to the Basque cultural fabric. As a result of this spirit, EZAE and ZINEUSKADI (the association that backs the Basque audiovisual sector) have joined forces to promote actions making it possible to foster audiovisual consumption and public attendance of film exhibition theatres in the Basque Country. These campaigns are particularly aimed at promoting cinema in the Basque language and European productions.

Among the purposes behind the birth of EZAE, is particularly the promotion of cinematic culture in all of its aspects and variants and, by extension, of culture in general. The association is also pledged to creating spaces for knowledge of and rapprochement to cinema, and to any cultural expression, as vehicles for cohesion, integration and tolerance.