Z365" or "Festival all year round" is the new strategic point of the Festival in which converge investigation, accompaniment and development of new talents (Ikusmira Berriak, Nest); training and cinematic knowledge transfer (Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, Zinemaldia + Plus, Filmmakers' dialogue); and investigation, disclosure and cinematic thought (Z70 project, Thought and Discussion and Research and publications).
Once again Zabaltegi is divided into three sections: Pearls, New Directors and Specials. The Pearls section of Zabaltegi focuses on films that have already been successful at other festivals, and while last year these included titles by established directors, this year the selection features work by filmmakers that are not so well-known. José Ángel Herrero- Velarde, a member of the Management Board, stressed that these films are top-quality and encouraged filmgoers not to miss these.
Sixteen of the nineteen films competing for the Kutxa- New Directors Award are in the New Directors section, with the emphasis this year on Eastern European cinema, which according to Herrero- Velarde is a reflection of the current vitality of the film industry in this region.
Finally, the Specials section contains four non-fiction films that don’t really fit in any other section.
Another regular feature of the festival are the Zabaltegi get-togethers held in the Sala Club in the Victoria Eugenia at 14.00 each day run by Juan Zavala.